This document introduces the concept of using phenomenology to study union decision-making. Phenomenology provides a new lens that can provide insights into how unions function. The relevant theory is Edmund Husserl's work on phenomenology, which provides a practical method for inquiring into the real world. Husserl's technique of phenomenological reduction has previously been applied to study local government decision-making, and some of those findings may be relevant to studying union decision-making as well. The authors propose using phenomenology to better understand the essence and imperatives of union decision-making.

1. The phenomenology of union decision-making:
A new way to enquire into reality
ABSTRACT: This paper inaugurates a discussion about the phenomenology of union
decision-making.
Phenomenology provides a new lens that may enable us to gain penetrating insights
into how unions function in the fractious world of human resources management. The
present paper is preliminary to any fieldwork that may be undertaken. Its main
purposes are to identify theory that could be the foundation of further practical work,
relate recent work in the phenomenology of management to union practices and to
propose directions of enquiry.
The relevant theory is that of Edmund Husserl who provides us with a practical method
of enquiry into the real world of human resource practice.
Husserl’s work has already been applied in relation to local government functioning
and some of the findings there appear relevant to the present enquiry. In particular, the
nature and role of plebiscites.

2. The phenomenology of
union decision-making
Ashish Malik
Newcastle Business School
Robert Shaw
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

3. Why unions?
A research method
Phenomenology
Husserl’s technique
Our research programme
Today

4. Why unions?
I n t e r e s t d r a w n i n a w i d e r r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m m e !

5. Real world
Complexity
Limitations of science
Phenomenology
A research method

6. The way in which knowledge appears
Hegel 1807
Husserl 1930s
Heidegger 1930s
Common method in:
Nursing ,Psychiatry
Teaching, Politics
Phenomenology

7. Bracketing (phenomenological reduction)
Skill
Be with
Eliminate categories
Seek essences
Husserl’s technique

8. ANZAM 2010
Husserl’s Phenomenological Method in Management
N o w f o r s o m e q u i c k b a c k g r o u n d t h e o r y . . .
Our research programme

9. M o d e r n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i s m ’ s f o u n d a t i o n a l t e n s i o n
T h e c o n s e n t o f t h e p e o p l e
I n s t i t u t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e s t o c o n s t r a i n p o w e r
T r e n d s
L o c a l i z e d p o l i t i c s
G l o b a l a l t e r n a t i v e s
I n t e l l e c t u a l & p r a c t i c a l d e b a t e s a b o u t
J u s t i f i c a t i o n s o f l i b e r a l d e m o c r a c y & a l t e r n a t i v e s
R e f l e x i v e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i s m – a g r e e o n h o w y o u w i l l a g r e e
.
Western democratic
constitutionalism

10. M o d e l s o f d e m o c r a c y
S t a t e s
U n i o n s
C o m p a n i e s
A d h o c s o c i e t i e s
P u r p o s e s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o r y
I n s t r u m e n t a l
U t i l i t a r i a n f u n c t i o n s
L e g i t i m a t i n g
E n d i n i t s e l f
E x p r e s s i o n o f a n i d e a l
A s s e r t i o n o f e g a l i t a r i a n i s m
O p p o r t u n i t y f o r p r a c t i c e s
R e s e a r c h c o n c l u d e s
D i v e r s e p r a c t i c e s
U n c e r t a i n & i n d e t e r m i n a t e c h a r a c t e r
W e h a v e a n o t h e r w a y o f l o o k i n g a t d e m o c r a c y
Western democracies

11. Previous work:
local government
The essence of local government
Be with ...
Try to eliminate categories
What is the essence?

12. Previous work:
findings
T h e e s s e n c e o f l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t
D e c i s i o n - m a k i n g
V o t i n g
I m p e r a t i v e o f t h e v o t e
R a t i o n a l i t y u n n e c e s s a r y
D e m o c r a c y
W e s t e r n d e m o c r a t i c n a t i o n s

13. P u r p o s e
I m p e r a t i v e s o f d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g
F o r c e o f t h e v o t e
C o n f i r m a t i o n f o r t h e g e n e r a l t h e o r y
H u s s e r l i a n p r o g r a m m e s
J o h n S e a r l e – c o l l e c t i v e i n t e n t i o n a l i t y
S h a w & M a l i k – p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l r e d u c t i o n
The enquiry into unions

14. The phenomenology of union decision-making:
A new way to enquire into reality
Thank you.