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How to Conduct a Practice-Based Study. Problems and Methods. By Silvia Gherardi, University of Trento, Italy. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, Northampton, MA, USA, 2012, 241 pagesThe aim of Silvia Gherardi's book is to develop the readers' methodological sensibility. She does so through a presentation and discussion of the work of scholars, who use a practice-based approach in organization studies. In order to develop this methodological sensibility, she poses four basic questions: 1) which types of questions have the scholars posed?, 2) how have the scholars sought answers to their questions?, 3) what further questions remain?, and 4) how should future research be set up?In this review I first present the structure of the book. Thereafter I focus on selected chapters. These are Chapter 2: How ordinary work is practically accomplished. The chapter is chosen because of its overall centrality of the relation between work, organization, and practice. Also selected is Chapter 3: Sensible knowledge and knowledgeable bodies. The chapter is chosen because it acknowledges the body and its senses as integrated part of understanding work.A well-structured bookThe book is structured within nine chapters. Each chapter has an informative title, which gives an overview of the content of the book, focusing on 'learning to talk in practice,' 'technological environments,' and 'knowing the rules.' Each chapter follows this structure:* A clear introduction to the content and aim of the chapter;* Two to five condensed positioning statements, like: 'Too often, in fact, it is forgotten that work activities are performed by a body, by its psycho-physical capacities, and that bodies are different sexed. Gender relations are therefore part of working practices' (p. 6);* A box with examples from classical empirical studies;* A summary;* Notes elaborating on the text, references to further reading, touching upon relevant discussions.This structure worked fine for me; the examples presented in boxes as 1-2 pages gave body to my thoughts and invited ongoing discussions with the text. The boxes were also refreshing for establishing rhythm in the reading. Empirical examples are also used across chapters. This links the discussion between chapters and supports the argumentation in the book. The many statements and summaries used in the book gives on the one hand a good overview; on the other hand, it makes the reader more dependent on Gherardi's reading of the classical studies.How ordinary work is practically accomplished?'What do people do when they work? When they work is that all they do? How does work differ from non-work?' (p. 6). Posing these questions Gherardi invites the reader to consider practices as working practices. Building her theoretical position on phenomenology (Alfred Schutz) and symbolic interactionism (Everett Hughes), she argues that work must be understood as a 'situated activity.' This is empirically illustrated by a wellwritten example on how a delivery boy uses many skills in his work; he uses his body, his senses (breathing the polluted air), his communicative skills, his technology skills, etc. Gherardi's choice of a practical study to illustrate her theoretical position is perfect. The job as a delivery boy would normally be understood as a banal job, but in the analysis it becomes clear how many skills the job demands. Gherardi hereby invites the reader to go into dialogue with the text.I will also draw attention to Gherardi's understanding of 'practical knowledge.' Her main argument is that knowledge does not reside in the heads of people, but is anchored in the material world. In short form Gherardi characterizes practical knowledge as follows: A pragmatic stance (being able to take decisions); a specific temporality; an anchoring in materiality; an anchoring in discursive practices; a historical- cultural anchoring (p. 25). I find Gherardi's argument that knowledge is anchored in the material world convincing. …

nordic journal of working life studies

How to Conduct a Practice-Based Study. Problems and Methods. By Silvia Gherardi, University of Trento, Italy. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, Northampton, MA, USA, 2012, 241 pages