The well-known metaphor of ‘panopticon’, derived from Bentham's project and popularized by Foucault, has long informed scholarly conversations in management and organization studies (MOS). Herein, we question the power of this emblematic metaphor. Through an in-depth literature review specifying its form, principle and goal, coupled to an investigation of Bentham's original writings, we identify two readings of the panopticon. First, we disentangle the uses of this concept in MOS literature and highlight a rather uniform and negative interpretation of the panopticon as a mechanism of social control and surveillance (first reading). Beyond this dominant interpretation, we contend that the panopticon is a richer concept than MOS literature acknowledges. Going back to Bentham's initial project, entailing not only one but plural types of panopticons, we propose a more comprehensive conceptualization of the panopticon (second reading) as: (1) a rewarding functional dispositive based on freedom and autonomy (form); (2) relying on information sharing, transparency and visibility (principle); and (3) striving for harmony and efficiency as ultimate ends (goal). In doing so, we generate a new way of seeing the panopticon in MOS research. We also reveal an inherent tension between both readings, interpreted as dystopia and utopia, and show that their combination allows grasping the ambivalence of panopticism in practice in ways that can inform further research on liberal management. As a practice of freedom, panopticism in practice might indeed turn into an instrument furthering control. To conclude, we highlight some analytical paths to help MOS scholars disentangle such ambivalence.

中文翻译：

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圆形监狱，管理和组织研究中的一个标志性概念：天堂还是地狱？

源自 Bentham 的项目并由 Foucault 推广的著名比喻“圆形监狱”长期以来一直在管理和组织研究 (MOS) 中进行学术对话。在此，我们质疑这个象征性隐喻的力量。通过详细说明其形式、原则和目标的深入文献回顾，结合对边沁原著的调查，我们确定了圆形监狱的两种解读。首先，我们理清了这个概念在 MOS 文献中的使用，并强调了对圆形监狱作为社会控制和监视机制的相当统一和消极的解释（第一次阅读). 除了这种占主导地位的解释之外，我们认为圆形监狱是一个比 MOS 文献承认的更丰富的概念。回到 Bentham 的初始项目，不仅涉及一种而是多种类型的圆形监狱，我们提出了一个更全面的圆形监狱概念化（二读）作为：（1）基于自由和自主（形式）的有益功能处置；(2) 依托信息共享、透明可见（原则）；（3）以和谐高效为最终目的（目标). 这样做，我们产生了一种新的方式来看待 MOS 研究中的圆形监狱。我们还揭示了两种解读之间的内在张力，被解释为反乌托邦和乌托邦，并表明它们的结合允许在实践中以可以为自由主义管理的进一步研究提供信息的方式把握全景主义的矛盾心理。作为一种自由实践，全景主义在实践中可能确实会变成一种进一步控制的工具。最后，我们强调了一些分析路径，以帮助 MOS 学者理清这种矛盾心理。