Archives in CCO Research : A Relational View

In this chapter we elaborate on the role and potential of using archives in CCO research. Our starting point is that archives may be expected to be of value for CCO research, because they invite us to engage with the material aspects of time and temporality in organizations, such as the various ways in which traces from the past are mobilized to shape organizational present(s) and future(s). Presenting how a relational view may inform the meanings and use of archives in research, we provide our own definition of archive from a CCO perspective. After that, we propose a typology of five ways of using archives in CCO research, discussing methodological implications and challenges along the way by referring to studies that use CCO or a compatible theoretical frame. This allows us to reflect on the role of the researcher in studying archives from a CCO perspective, and to provide useful insights for researchers wanting to use this type of material in their work.