Discourse and Organization

This major work from renowned scholars in the field, analyzes the role of language and symbolic media and shows how this enables us to move to new levels of understanding of contemporary organizational issues. An introductory chapter examines the role and growing importance of discourse in the study of organizations. It critically evaluates the contributions of various disciplines and defines organizational discourse as a subject area. The chapters in the first section, Talk and Action, explore the relationship between discourse, action and interaction and their impact on organizational structure and behaviour. Stories and Sensemaking focuses on the analytical potential of the 'story' as a means of illuminating the ways in which organizational members make sense of their experience of organization. Discourse and Organization includes contributions which demonstrate the fundamental significance of linguistic usage and discursive construction to the ontologies of 'organization'. Finally, a concluding discourse explores the claims and limitations of organizational discourse as a means of enriching our understanding of organization.