Title: The concept of newness

Authors: Debabrata Chattopadhyay, B.N. Srivastava

Addresses: Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, Diamond Harbour Road, P.O. Joka, Calcutta – 700 104, India. ' Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, Diamond Harbour Road, P.O. Joka, Calcutta – 700 104, India

Abstract: In this paper, we argue that it is necessary to have a philosophical understanding of the concept of newness if we are to make sense of a wide range of organisational phenomena. Drawing chiefly on the philosophy of Martin Heidegger, we argue that newness, as a quality, is rooted in our knowledge of the world. This knowledge is part of a structure of names of all things in the world – the part that is of consequence to our existence. Newness exists as long as a name is outside this part of the structure.

Keywords: newness; innovation; change; knowledge; practice; Heidegger; management philosophy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2007.014999

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2007 Vol.2 No.3, pp.240 - 245

Published online: 30 Aug 2007 *

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