Pragmatic is a philosophy that promotes actionable knowledge, acknowledges the interconnectedness between experience, knowing and acting and defines inquiry as an experiential process. It is a valuable paradigm for researching organizational processes because it provides a guiding epistemological framework anchored in the research process and research practicality (Morgan 2014a).
A pragmatic person cares more about what works than what could or should be. They make decisions based on what will produce the desired outcome rather than getting bogged down in philosophical arguments and discussions. This mindset can help you save time and achieve your goals in a more efficient manner.
In addition to being a helpful tool for problem-solving and decision-making, being pragmatic can lead to greater success in personal and professional life. For example, pragmatic individuals set achievable goals and assess their resources and limitations to ensure they are pursuing objectives that can be accomplished in a timely manner. This helps prevent wasting time on tasks that cannot be completed, as well as reduces the likelihood of becoming discouraged or frustrated by failing to meet expectations.
The philosophy of pragmatism was founded by American philosophers Charles Sanders Peirce, John Dewey and George Herbert Mead in the 19th century. These influential thinkers viewed the world as dynamic and constantly changing, meaning that human knowledge must be constantly interpreted and applied in new situations. They also believed that truth was not a fixed and objective concept but a variable that depended on the successful function of an action or belief.
Although pragmatism had a number of influential followers in its early years, by the 1940s it appeared to have run its course. By this point, most American philosophers had moved on to the more sophisticated and rigorously self-consciously analytic approach of Wittgenstein, Moore and Russell.
A pragmatic perspective can be applied to all aspects of the research process, from conceptualization and planning to data collection, analysis, writing and dissemination. It is a guiding philosophy that supports all forms of qualitative research and can help researchers understand how the different methods they are using can interact with each other to create a comprehensive understanding of an issue or phenomenon (Biesta 2010).
Pragmatism offers three core methodological principles to guide the way we conduct our inquiries: an emphasis on actionable knowledge, recognition of the interconnectedness between experience, knowing and action and the notion that inquiry is an experiential process. These principles are examined through the lens of two doctoral projects on non-government organizations. The results suggest that pragmatism is a worthwhile paradigm for researching organizational processes, as it can be used to strengthen each stage of the research process from project design to data collection and analysis to writing and dissemination. It is a helpful approach to qualitative research and can help us better understand the complexity of organizational processes. It can also be applied to the study of organizational culture, leadership, and management. As the world becomes increasingly complex, pragmatic approaches to knowledge and inquiry will become more useful in helping us navigate these complexities.
