The epistemology of power in the classic/ rationalist management

Abstract This article analyzes the epistemological fundamentals of power in classical-rationalistic management, describing them as approaches based on its main authors: Barnard, Simon, Drucker, Crozier and Mintzberg. It also highlights the rationality and the values that support this management, especially, taking into account that reflections about power related to organizational objectives have been little elaborated by the North American management theorists. The article presents a theoretical review of the philosophical doctrine whose principal scholar is Vilfredo Pareto. Analysis of instrumental rationality as an epistemological basis for strategic management shows how the interactions between the human and non-human are established through the presence of art and science, including in its later stage social cybernetics in terms of social oscillation and organizational balance/imbalance. In this way, managerial narrative assumes human rationality forms and builds systems of transversal knowledge in a technical instrumental logic. More than questioning the acute asymmetries of organizational power, management has been focused on guiding and training managers, enterprises and organizations by using technologies of domination, under emblems of functional authority supported by communicational devices, and more recently, in inter and trans-organizational networks. Therein lies its strength and legitimacy, more than the foundation of an explicit political frame.

摘要 本文剖析了古典理性主义管理（classical-rationalistic management）中权力的认识论基础，将其界定为以巴纳德（Barnard）、西蒙（Simon）、德鲁克（Drucker）、克罗齐耶（Crozier）及明茨伯格（Mintzberg）为核心代表的研究路径。本文同时阐明了支撑该管理范式的理性内核与价值取向；鉴于北美管理理论家对与组织目标相关的权力议题的阐释仍较为匮乏，这一论述尤具针对性。本文还对以维尔弗雷多·帕累托（Vilfredo Pareto）为核心学者的哲学学说展开了系统梳理。以工具理性作为战略管理的认识论基础展开的分析，揭示了人类与非人类主体间的互动如何通过艺术与科学的融合得以构建，其中后期阶段还涵盖了社会振荡与组织平衡/失衡视角下的社会控制论。在此逻辑框架下，管理叙事依托人类理性形式，构建起遵循技术工具主义逻辑的横向知识体系。相较于质疑组织权力的显著不对称性，管理学始终聚焦于借助支配性技术，在以沟通机制为支撑的职能权威框架下，对管理者、企业及各类组织进行引导与培育；近年来，这一研究与实践方向更延伸至跨组织与超组织网络领域。这正是其力量与合法性的本源所在，而非依托显性政治框架构建的基础。