| 1. |
- Dobers, Peter, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
-
Translation and inscription in development projects : Understanding environmental and health care-related organizational change
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - : Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. - 0953-4814 .- 1758-7816. ; 22:5, s. 480-493
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to argue that the interface between projects is of particular interest when organizing development projects. It offers a theoretical discussion of translation and inscription phases, not only because they are important to the understanding of mobilizing action in development projects, but also because they are crucial in a chain of sequential projects that are organized as responses to new situations. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses illustrations of development projects in public management in Sweden to discuss a fundamental organizing problem of projects: how project delimitation and formation take place. Findings – The paper has focused on organizational change and development projects regarding environmental and health care organization renewal projects. It has analyzed how such projects are organized and linked to context. Development problems and their solutions cannot be divided into a functional structure since they overlap and demand attention by a multitude of perspectives during translation. Research limitations/implications – It is theoretically interesting to highlight certain slices of the organizational reality in projects. The paper has chosen a project perspective and focus at the beginning and end of projects. In theoretical terms, it has chosen to call these phases translation and inscription. Practical implications – Projects are different compared with permanent organizations due to the existence of beginnings and endings. On the one hand, permanent organizations are normally “going concerns” where the start is back in history and the end is clouded in a distant future. On the other hand, in a project, translation and inscription phases are unavoidable as they are triggered by the specific conditions underlying beginnings and endings. Originality/value – Projects with clear boundary-overlapping character cannot be judged with concepts stemming from the methods of construction project management. In contrary, the paper argues that there are two other concepts that can better explain the special organizing problems invoked by the cases cited here: translation and inscription.
|
|
| 2. |
- Alvesson, Mats, et al.
(författare)
-
(Un)Conditional surrender? Why do professionals willingly comply with managerialism
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - 0953-4814. ; 29:1, s. 1-19
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the question – why do professionals surrender their autonomy? This paper looks at the case of academics, in particular business school academics. It traces how this group of professionals have progressively surrendered their autonomy and complied with the demands of managerialism. Design/methodology/approach – This largely theoretical paper looks to develop an understanding of (over)compliance with the bureaucratization of research using the four faces of power – coercive, agenda setting, ideological and discursive.Findings– The discussion of this paper argues that the surrendering of autonomy has been reinforced through coercive forms of power like rewards and punishment and bureaucratization; manipulation and mainstreaming through pushing a particular version of research to the top of the agenda; domination through shaping norms and values; and subjectification through creating new identities.Originality/value– The paper explores how academics deal with tensions and paradoxes such as compliance and resistance, as well as love of work and loathing of it. To deal with these paradoxes, academics often treat their work as a game and see themselves as players. While this process enables academics to reconcile themselves with their loss of autonomy, it has troubling collective outcomes: the production of increasing uninteresting and irrelevant research.
|
|
| 3. |
- Andersen, Jon Aarum, 1944-
(författare)
-
An organization called Harry
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 0953-4814 .- 1758-7816. ; 21:2, s. 174-187
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to gods, plants, animals or inanimate objects (the wind, rocks, etc.). This paper sets out to disprove the association of anthropomorphic characteristics with individual organizations.Design/methodology/approach: This paper discusses anthropomorphism in organization theory because many scholars argue that organizations are human or like human beings. Some examples of “An organization called Harry” in organization literature are presented.Findings: Three causes of anthropomorphism can be traced. The negative, rather than any positive, consequences of anthropomorphism in organization literature are discussed.Originality/value: A new agenda for organizational studies is suggested where anthropomorphism is avoided together with the fallacy of the human metaphor. Anthropomorphism creates confusion rather than advancing the field of organization theory.
|
|
| 4. |
- Björkman, Hans, et al.
(författare)
-
Political entrepreneurship in action research : learning from two cases
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - : Emerald. - 1758-7816 .- 0953-4814. ; 18:5, s. 399-415
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose To discuss political entrepreneurship as a capability to enable durable insider action research projects. Design/methodology/approach The two authors utilize auto‐ethnographic methods in order to evaluate and draw inferences from their own actions as insider action researchers. The paper draws on action research theory and theories on political entrepreneurship. Findings Political entrepreneurship is an important factor behind success or failure in action research projects, but has, despite this, been scarcely discussed in the action research literature. Findings indicate that a political entrepreneurship repertoire consisting of capabilities to find red‐hot issues for one's research, to use the inside of the organization in the research efforts, to use and diffuse the research results, and, finally, to work on the positioning of one's relational platform. Research limitations/implications The study is based upon case studies in two organizations. Its implications may be further developed through studies in a wider array of settings. Practical implications The study provides valuable knowledge for organizations intending to participate in (insider) action research as well as for (insider) action researchers. Originality/value Political entrepreneurship in action research is scarcely discussed in action research theory and hence the paper addresses an important research gap. Moreover, the presented implications have a certain practical value for organizations and researchers.
|
|
| 5. |
- Bloom, Peter, et al.
(författare)
-
"The sky's the limit": fantasy in the age of market rationality
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - : Emerald. - 0953-4814. ; 22:2, s. 159-180
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose - This paper has three purposes. The first is to introduce the concept of fantasy, based on Lacanian pyschoanlysis, in order to link theoretically the role of narrative and affect in organizational strategies of control. The second is to use this concept to illuminate the fantasmatic as well as ideological character of so-called "market rationality." The third is to reveal three dominant fantasies organizations draw on in an age of market rationality. Design/methodology/approach This paper is primarily a conceptual investigation into the ways Lacanian psychoanalytic theories can help link the phenomena of narrative and affect within strategies of organizational control and second, how this relates to current trends of market rationalism. Findings - Drawing on a psychoanalytic register, the paper argues that organizational control strategies revolve around the presence of a fantasy which is comprised of a symbiotic stable fantasy promising psychological wholeness and an unstable fantasy threatening to prevent this achievement. Further, it reflects on how emergent notions of market rationality, analogous to themes of a "boundaryless" or "protean" career, draw on a particular anti-organizational fantasies to affectively grip subjects within their values and practices. "Three fantasies employed by organizations in an age of marker rationalism were then identified. Research limitations/implications - In broader terms future research cats turn to the concept of fantasy to better explain organizational control and ideological interpellation of employees; particularly in regard to concepts of narrative and emotion for this process. Specifically, this paper offers an innovative way to understand and investigate market rationality and changing cultures of organizations within the globalizing economy. Originality/value - This paper offers the category of Lacanian fantasy for linking narrative and affect in managerial ideologies. Additionally it draws on Lacanian theory to provide a more coherent and theoretically sophisticated account of market rationality and organizational strategies countering this trend.
|
|
| 6. |
- Bojesson, Catarina, et al.
(författare)
-
Exploring microfoundations of dynamic capabilities – challenges, barriers, and enablers of organizational change
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - 0953-4814 .- 1758-7816. ; 34:1, s. 206-222
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting an organization’s dynamic capability and, consequently, its ability to manage organizational change. Design/methodology/approach: A single case study was conducted to provide a deeper understanding of the situation that the case company experienced during a specific phase of reconfiguration. Data were collected through nine in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Gioia methodology. Findings: Challenges, barriers and enablers affecting the organization's dynamic capability in the reconfiguration phase were identified. Originality/value: This study contributes to the theory of dynamic capabilities and to the current investigatory stream regarding microfoundations by presenting practical examples of challenges, barriers and enablers that affect an organization’s ability to succeed during an organizational reconfiguration. These examples are intended to aid in discussions on microfoundations of dynamic capabilities and their impact in practice.
|
|
| 7. |
- Brunninge, Olof, 1972-
(författare)
-
Using history in organizations : How managers make purposeful reference to history in strategy processes.
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 0953-4814 .- 1758-7816. ; 22:1, s. 8-26
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract This paper aims to explore how organizational actors make reference to history and how they use historical reference purposefully in order to affect strategy-making. The paper draws on in-depth case studies on two Swedish MNCs. Data have been collected through 79 interviews as well as participant observation and archival studies. Organizational actors purposefully construct and use history in order to establish continuity in strategy processes. The use of historical references legitimizes or delegitimizes specific strategic options. Two old firms with a clear interest in organizational history have been studied. Future research on additional companies, including young firms and firms with less interest in history, is needed. Practical implications – The purposeful use of history can be a powerful tool for managers to influence organizational change processes. Very little research on the use of history in business organizations has so far been done. In an interdisciplinary manner the paper introduces concepts from research in history to management research. Based on two rich case studies the paper contributes by outlining what role different uses of history play in strategic and organizational change.
|
|
| 8. |
- Cacioppe, Ron, et al.
(författare)
-
Adjusting blurred visions : A typology of integral approaches to organisations
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - : Emerald. - 0953-4814 .- 1758-7816. ; 18:3, s. 230-246
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose - The growing interest in developing and applying "integral" approaches to organisations has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in different ways of interpreting this term. This article aims to present a set of criteria to help in defining the varieties of integral approaches to the study of organisations.Design/methodology/approach - These criteria are derived from Ken Wilber's integral framework. The constitutive elements of Wilber's multi-paradigm framework are used to develop a typology that honours the many forms that integral approaches can take.Findings - It is proposed that the key criteria for assessing integral approaches to organisational life are: the structural focus, the engagement with process, and the emphasis on spirituality or essential purpose. Four type categories result from applying the structural criteria. These range from a general type that utilises broadly holistic concepts through to type which employs the detailed application of developmental quadrant and level concepts that formally define the integral approach as conceived by Ken Wilber. The engagement and spirituality criteria are additional enriching criteria that establish the integrity of the methods and purposes used in truly integral approaches.Originality/value - The proposed typology will help in understanding how different authors, researchers and practitioners represent and apply the term "integral" within organisational contexts.
|
|
| 9. |
- Corvellec, Hervé, et al.
(författare)
-
From ‘Less Landfilling’ to ‘Wasting Less’: Societal narratives, socio-materiality, and organizations
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - : Emerald. - 0953-4814. ; 25:2, s. 297-314
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract in UndeterminedPurpose - The purpose of this paper is to show that organizational change depends on societal narratives - narratives about the character, history, or envisioned future of societies. Design/methodology/approach - A case study of a Swedish municipal waste management company serves as an illustration. Findings - Swedish waste governance is powered by two main narratives: "less landfilling" and "wasting less". Less landfilling has been the dominant narrative for several decades, but wasting less is gaining momentum, and a new narrative order is establishing itself. This new narrative order significantly redefines the socio-material status of waste and imposes major changes on waste management organizations. Research limitations/implications - Based on the case of waste governance in Sweden, the authors conclude that organizations should be aware that societal narrative affects the legitimacy and nature of their operations; therefore, they must integrate a watch for narrative change in their strategic reflections. Originality/value - This paper establishes the relevance of the notion of societal narrative to understand organizational change.
|
|
| 10. |
- Czarniawska, Barbara, 1948
(författare)
-
Distant readings: anthropology of organizations through novels
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Organizational Change Management. - : Emerald. - 0953-4814. ; 22:4, s. 357-372
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract: Purpose – Although it is commonly assumed that comparative studies are the best way to proceed in constructing theories of organizing, the practical fulfillment of this postulate has always been problematic. For example, anthropologists should have given organization theorists a clue long ago: they made the stories of their exotic localities interesting by using a variety of fictional approaches in their reporting. The purpose of this paper is to call for the development of anthropologies of organization through “distant reading” of novels. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses insights from literary theory, notably Iser and Moretti, to discuss the benefits of “distant readings” of novels for scholars and students within the discipline of organization studies. Findings – Distant readings can make it possible for those studying organizations to consider novels as sources in historical anthropology; can enable an exploration of the theories embedded in the novel; can contribute to advancement in approaches to reading fieldwork material, and can help organization theorists better delineate the boundaries of their own literary genre. Originality/value – The paper broadens the understanding of the relationship between the novel and organization through explaining how reading novels through the glasses of an organization theoretician might produce “novel readings” but also novel insights into the practices of organizing – across times and places.
|
|
