The Micro-Macro Dilemma in Organizational Research

DiMaggio (1991) calls the question of how individual agents produce and reproduce macrostructures the “Holy Grail” of social science theory. He outlines three main analytical bridges across the macro-micro divide: microtranslation, aggregation, and systems explanations. Microtranslation, according to DiMaggio merely involves offering “plausible accounts of how macro-structural models are consistent with…micro-level processes.” (p. 77). Aggregation “requires modeling macro outcomes as cumulations of micro events.” Systems explanations also endeavor to take into account the interactions between the macro level outcomes.

he notes that this problem has lead to "an increasing distance between theory and research and a proliferation of sectarian theoretical solutions"

if we return to Parsonian ideas... return to consider "theory of action"...

DiMaggio is arguing in this article that organizational analyses are a good way to bridge the micro events and macrostructures...



DiMaggio, P. (1991). The Micro-Macro Dilemma in Organizational Research: Implications of Role-System Theory. In J. Huber (Ed.), Macro-Micro Linkages in Sociology (pp. 76-98). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.