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Under the Knife: Anatomising Organisation Theory

In: Anatomising Embodiment and Organisation Theory

Author

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  • Karen Dale

Abstract

In an Open University programme on ‘cell structure and function’ there is an incredibly detailed demonstration of how a rat’s kidney is prepared for biological study. Luckily (for my sensibilities, at least) the initial stages of killing and dissecting the rat to obtain its kidney are omitted (see Birke, 1994; Hubbard and Birke, 1995). However, every­thing that follows this is premised on death and fragmentation. The kidney is first of all sliced into paper thin pieces. One piece is then put through a large number of processes to ‘fix’ it, so that the structures will stay in place and not merge, and ‘stain’ it, so that these structures can be differentiated under the microscope. The whole process is acknowledged to be ‘denaturing’; it is also extremely dextrous work. Finally, the fragment, bearing no resemblance to an organ, let alone an animal, is attached to a microscope slide and the ‘true’ scientific work of examining its parts can begin.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Dale, 2001. "Under the Knife: Anatomising Organisation Theory," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Anatomising Embodiment and Organisation Theory, chapter 5, pages 114-152, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-333-99382-8_6
    DOI: 10.1057/9780333993828_6
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