Guest Editorial

It was with great pleasure and a sense of privilege that I received the invitation from Arie Lewin to contribute the guest editorial to this special issue of Organization Science. I was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Organization Studies in January 1992, since when Arie and I have kept in close touch. We are keenly aware of the different yet complementary traditions which stand behind the two journals, and which are manifest in their origins and their titles. We are therefore seeking ways of sharing information and improving mutual communication for the benefit of our readers. The occasional guest editorial is one such initiative, and we are also arranging for the exchange of advertisements and information on forthcoming articles. On this particular occasion, I shall say something about the origins and purpose of Organization Studies and then offer my perceptions of the contrast between the European and North American scenes.