The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Portrait of Mats Alvesson. Photo.

Mats Alvesson

Professor

Portrait of Mats Alvesson. Photo.

‘Is it worth doing this or is it better to commit suicide?’ : On ethical clearance at a university

Author

  • Mats Alvesson

Summary, in English

The article examines the formal process of ‘ethical clearance’ for social science research at a large university and illuminates how it functions to undermine its stated purpose. We find that rather than promoting ethical standards, the bureaucratic process creates negative and cynical attitudes and game playing. For almost all participants, the entire procedure is counterproductive and experienced as absurd, creating a boomerang effect. The findings reveal how a specific rationalization effort leads to widespread experiences of irrationality, where detailed and strict organization merges with experiences of the bizarre. The article develops concepts capturing the experience and resulting organizational type: ‘orbizzarization’ and ‘absurdocracy’. These concepts enrich our understanding of toxic/irrational organizations, including Kafkaesque organizations.

Department/s

  • Organizational Studies

Publishing year

2024

Language

English

Publication/Series

Human Relations

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Business Administration

Keywords

  • absurd
  • bureaucracy
  • ethical regulation
  • Kafkaesque
  • research ethics

Status

Epub

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0018-7267