Bodies, intentions, and affections: reflections for non-representational studies of organizational practices

Abstract

In this article, three discussion points are important for us to present critical reflections on deepening organizational theory. Our central aim is to relate the discussion on corporeality, intentions, and affections as non-representational analytical dimensions for studies of organizational practices, particularly with regard to the (re)creation of power relations when they promote inclusions or exclusions in practice. First, we highlight the problem of organizational theory in neglecting the body, intentions, and affections from an anti-rationalist and anti-cognitivist perspective. We advocate a pre-reflexive immersion in contact with organizational practices. Second, we suggest the analytical category of bodily-affective intentionality to perform such a pre-reflective immersion in understanding organizational practices since it is through this analytical perception that affective atmospheres or flows of affect are constituted. Third, we re-look at the notions of differences, performance, and performativity to understand how the bodily-affective intentionality (re)produces inclusions and exclusions in organizational practice. Finally, we offer reflective questions for further research in the area with the expectation that the proposed analytical relationship imbricated between bodies, intentions, and affections together with the concepts of atmospheres, differences, performance, and performativity, contributes to the area of non-representational Organizational Studies, in general, and to the area of practice-based studies, specifically.

Keywords:
Non-representational theories; Organizational practices; Body-affective intentionality; Atmosphere; Difference