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The Sociomaterial Negotiation of Social Entrepreneurs’ Meaningful Work

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  • Gillian Symon
  • Rebecca Whiting

Abstract

This research examines the role of digital technology in the constitution of meaningful work. Adopting a sociomaterial perspective, we argue that meaningful work emerges as an outcome of a complex negotiation between individuals and their digital devices. This process was explored through video diaries and interviews with social entrepreneurs, capturing moments of their everyday meaning‐making and encouraging reflexivity. Accounting for their sociomaterial practice led participants to reaffirm their work as uniquely meaningful, produce more nuanced accounts of meaningfulness and/or make pragmatic adjustments to their meaning making. Whilst authenticity was a key meta‐narrative in these accounts, it also produced tensional knots which, in their unravelling, required the adoption of more practicable meanings of work. The paper concludes by urging scholars to de‐centre the human from their analysis to provide a more complete account of meaningful work.

Suggested Citation

  • Gillian Symon & Rebecca Whiting, 2019. "The Sociomaterial Negotiation of Social Entrepreneurs’ Meaningful Work," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(3), pages 655-684, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:56:y:2019:i:3:p:655-684
    DOI: 10.1111/joms.12421
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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick Gregori & Patrick Holzmann & David B. Audretsch, 2024. "Sustainable entrepreneurship on digital platforms and the enactment of digital connectivity through business models," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1173-1190, February.
    2. Rebecca Whiting & Gillian Symon, 2020. "Digi-Housekeeping: The Invisible Work of Flexibility," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(6), pages 1079-1096, December.
    3. Arslan, Ahmad & Ahokangas, Petri & Haapanen, Lauri & Golgeci, Ismail & Tarba, Shlomo Y. & Bazel-Shoham, Ofra, 2022. "Generational differences in organizational leaders: an interpretive phenomenological analysis of work meaningfulness in the Nordic high-tech organizations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    4. Wagenschwanz, Anna M. & Grimes, Matthew G., 2021. "Navigating compromise: How founder authenticity affects venture identification amidst organizational hybridity," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(2).
    5. Patrick Gregori & Patrick Holzmann, 2022. "Entrepreneurial practices and the constitution of environmental value for sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3302-3317, November.
    6. Torres, Pedro & Augusto, Mário, 2020. "Digitalisation, social entrepreneurship and national well-being," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Sarah Bankins & Paul Formosa, 2023. "The Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) For Meaningful Work," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(4), pages 725-740, July.
    8. Sarah Kimakwa & Jorge A. Gonzalez & Hale Kaynak, 2023. "Social Entrepreneur Servant Leadership and Social Venture Performance: How are They Related?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 95-118, January.
    9. Sandrine Frémeaux & François Henry, 2023. "Temporality and Meaningful Entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(4), pages 725-739, December.

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