This paper argues that the body of knowledge that consti-
 tutes administrative science is a socially constructed prod-
 uct.Intense
 competition between rival paradigms prevails as advocates of
 diverse theoretical positions attempt to persuade others of the
 497/Administrative Science Quarterly, 30 (1985): 497-513
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All use subject to httpsIn an ambitious proposal for enhancing the state of organiza-
 tion theory, Warriner, Hall, and McKelvey (1981: 173) invited all
 organizational scholars to participate in formulating "a standard
 list of operationalized, observable variables for describing orga-
 nizations." This invitation was designed to overcome problems
 resulting from the tendency of different investigators to use
 alternative sets of variables and, consequently, describe orga-
 nizations of the same type, and even the same organizations,
 in quite different ways. Thus, Warriner, Hall, and McKelvey
 (1 981: 1 75) argued that a rMore accurate representation of
 organizational phenomena could be achieved by establishing a
 repository of "pooled data" on operational measures to be
 used in empirical research.No theory can simply "describe" empirical reality in
 neutral linguistic terms; all theoretical perspectives are infused
 by the biases inhering in particular world views. The search for
 a standard list of variables is, consequently, based on a mis-
 apprehension, since differences in perspective between
 theoretical approaches cannot be resolved through an appeal
 to "objective" truth.In this view, the lack
 of standardized measures and variables for describing empiri-
 cal reality greatly impedes scientific progress and should be
 rectified.