This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Adler, P. S. Articles by Heckscher, C. Search for Related Content

Perspective—Professional Work: The Emergence of Collaborative Community

Department of Management and Organization, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08981
padler{at}usc.edu
seokwook{at}ucr.edu
cch{at}heckscher.us

This paper traces the main lines of evolution of the organization of professional work. The argument is illustrated with material on the case of doctors and hospitals. While market and hierarchy principles have become progressively more salient in professional work, we argue that, in parallel, the community principle has been growing more influential, too. We further argue that professional community is mutating from a Gemeinschaft, craft guild form, via Gesellschaft forms, toward a new, collaborative form. This evolution, however, is a difficult one, and the outcome is uncertain. We identify some implications for future research.

Key Words: professionals; work organization; community; collaboration