John Van Maanen

Who is John Van Maanen?

John Eastin Van Maanen is an American organizational theorist, Professor of Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and best known for his contributions to qualitative studies in management and to organizational ethnography.

His studies included longitudinal researches of policemen, fishermen, Disneyland operators, and London detectives. His publications include also methodological studies on writing organizational ethnographies and on power relations in workplace. His Tales of the Field on Writing Ethnography became a classic reading in many doctoral programs in management around the world. His other contributions include studies of high tech industries.