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The Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism SCOS XX Speed: Research and Representation in the Age of Instantaneous Organization 10th-13th July 2002 Budapest, Hungary Speed... is of the essence, or so we are endlessly told. Nearly one hundred years since Marinetti announced ... 'that the world's magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed', we remain in its thrall. Not just the 'powerful mechanical beasts' that so enamoured Marinetti, but also the 'instantaneous' transmission of more ephemeral 'information'. For speed is never satisfied, acceleration is integral. From fast-cycle resourcing to just in time, from compressed development to shorter product life cycles, our innovatory call is faster, faster. We need the new, new thing and we need it NOW! Where do you want to go today? Well, why not go to Budapest? Take some time to consider the compression of time and space on your journey. You could maybe ponder what is happening to your consciousness into the bargain. Is it becoming more fragmented, excessively rationalised, alienated even? What do the philosophers and social theorists have to say about this? Cite Benjamin, Bergson and Bauman. Refer to Giddens, Harvey... Virilio, Weber and Zizek. And what's going on under your feet to nations, political systems and the global economy as you speed through space in an insulated metal box? Let alone `under your feet', what about the plethora of electromagnetic signals that are passing invisibly through your body as you sit there? What is such ubiquitous mass-mediation doing to you, to `us' or to the organisations and cultures of which we form a `networked' part? And what of the many people, attitudes, places and things that are `othered' in the feverish pursuit of speed? So many things to think about as you sit there consuming your pre-packed, microwaved in-flight food (at least it's quick and convenient, even if it does give you indigestion). Come to the conference, give your paper, listen to others, view the city (or at least the important bits that we've selected to show you on our whistle-stop tour), and fly out again. Pack more in. Time is of the essence. If you can afford to create some space in your busy schedule, write an abstract and send it to us (see below for details). Keep it brief. We're busy. What are you waiting for? Executive Summary (This one has bullet points) SCOS XX invites interdisciplinary empirical, methodological or theoretical contributions addressing the phenomenon of `speed and organisation'. Recommendations. Possible themes might include the following (the list is intended to be suggestive only and we welcome creative interpretations of the conference title): Speed and the VIRTUAL or CYBORGANISATION The GENDERING of speed in organisations Speed and CONSUMPTION PHILOSOPHIES of speed HISTORIES of speed ANTHROPOLOGIES of speed SOCIOLOGIES of speed GEOGRAPHIES of speed Speed and POSTMODERNITY Speed and MODERNITY `Speed' and PREMODERNITY Speed and GLOBALISATION The ETHICS of speed The POLITICS of speed COMIC or TRAGIC aspects of speed The AESTHETICS of speed (just think of Glenn Gould) Organisational AMPHETAMINES The RHETORIC of speed CULTURES of rapid CHANGE and TRANSFORMATION Fast moving MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Technologies and METHODS of rapid research Organisation by `bullet point' Open Stream The SCOS Annual Conference is intended as a forum where the latest developments in research on Organisational Culture and Symbolism may be presented, regardless of their direct relevance to the conference theme, and an Open Stream is set aside for this purpose. Papers are invited on any aspect of theory, methodology, fieldwork, interventions or themes which are of continuing interest to the SCOS community. Workshops We welcome suggestions for workshops, performances or similar events as well as traditional paper presentations. Outlines of proposed workshops should be not less than the length of a paper abstract and should clearly indicate the resources required, number of participants accommodated, time required, the approach to be taken, and the objectives of the session. Abstracts Abstracts of up to 500 words (who has time to write more?) should be submitted by Friday 30th November 2001 to: Email: [log in to unmask] Please send abstracts in MS Word97 or Rich Text format. Snail mail: Peter Case SCOS XX Business School Oxford Brookes University Wheatley Oxford OX33 1HX UK For inclusion in published proceedings, full papers should be submitted no later than Monday 22nd April 2002 (acceptance will be notified by mid-January 2002). Conference organisers: Peter Case, Oxford Brookes University; Simon Lilley, University of Keele; Tom Owens, International Business School, Budapest. URL: http://www.scos.org/conference2002/index.htm ************************************************************************************ Distributed through Cyber-Society-Live [CSL]: CSL is a moderated discussion list made up of people who are interested in the interdisciplinary academic study of Cyber Society in all its manifestations.To join the list please visit: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/cyber-society-live.html *************************************************************************************