Developing Production Theory: What Issues Need to be Taken into Consideration?

The aim of this paper is to establish key issues that a theory of production should address, to conceptualize these issues and to sketch an account of their interaction. Aristotle's analyses of knowledge and causality are used, in conjunction with Wittgenstein's concept of language games, to integrate the insights of transformationflow- value (TFV) theory and the language action perspective (LAP) within a framework derived from Liker (2004). Building on Liker, we identify four language games that are necessary for production: 1. drawing on scientific knowledge to determine the best physical arrangements for the achievement of a pre-given value; 2. two value discourses which determine (a) the target value for (1) and (b) the human relations which will enable the achievement of (1) - Liker's 'long term philosophy' and 'developing people and organization', plus the Language Action Perspective; 3. a discourse of learning and knowledge with the aim of continual improvement. Four of the key concepts used in these games are identified (flow; work, knowledge and commitment) and related to the functions of management. Finally, an overall theoretical framework is proposed.