Structural Theory, suggested by Gidden´s is the reconceptualization of classic actor/structure dualism, where the authors suggests that individuals are as much restricted in their behavioral patterns by the social structure as they are given the possibility to liberate their behaviors. The pillars of the theory by Gidden´s are space and time, and the author looks at the evolution of these two concepts over the decades.
The argument of the theory is that each individual is part of a given social structure, and the constraints of our living are determined by the way we see time and space given for our own control and liberation. It is possible to argue that Gidden´s structural theory attempts to reshape the relationships between social structure and agency as the mutually dependent interaction.
The application of the Gidden´s structural theory demonstrates that the social environment is recursive, where it is not a permanent state or experience of its actors, but rather a set of actions that are recreated and added by individuals to shape this environment. With that, the theory is one of the most widely used sociological frameworks in organizational research.
The theory allows fulfilling the gap that was previously developed by other sociological frameworks in regards to the contrasting of structure and action in the social environment. The author suggests that individuals are able to shape and reproduce the structure that they are part of as the praxis of their social activity. This approach is very relevant to explain organization change and behavior, especially given the fact that modern organizations are seen as collective action, rather than authoritative structure.
