Understanding Modernity, Postmodernity Theories, and Organizational Leadership in Postmodern Times

Abstract

Leadership in leading and managing organizations is a complex reality that needs to be seriously addressed to be effective and productive in a competitive business world in postmodern times. Best and Kellner (1991) stated: "Modernity was a revolution of meaning grounded in the secure moorings of the dialectic of history, the economy . . . the postmodern world is devoid of meaning; it is a universe of nihilism where theories float in a void, unanchored in any secure harbor" (p. 127). In this light, I seek to highlight what are effective leadership and followership dynamics in postmodern organizations. In doing so, 1) I define and compare modern and postmodern theories; 2) define and explain multicultural education method as both modern and postmodern field of study and an emergent discipline; 3) explain the implications of Hirschhorn's (1997) arguments through the lens of postmodern approach to social science in comparison to Cooper and Burrell's (1988) perspective on leadership and followership dynamics in postmodern organization; and 4) explain multicultural education method as an appropriate leadership and teaching method in postmodern public school institutions.