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Humiliation: A standard organizational product?

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  • Czarniawska, Barbara

Abstract

Humiliation is treated as a random event, an error in a modern organization. This paper claim is to the contrary—that humiliation, legitimate or not, is a standard organizational by-product, considered to be an unavoidable if regrettable effect of power. The paper presents examples of organizational humiliation and discusses it in the terms of a social act and of an emotion. Contrary to what might be expected, humiliation is not limited to personnel issues; budget and accounting procedures are also arenas permitting humiliation to be produced. The pervasiveness of the phenomenon is scrutinized, ending with a plea for non-instrumental approach to negative phenomena in organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Czarniawska, Barbara, 2008. "Humiliation: A standard organizational product?," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 19(7), pages 1034-1053.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:crpeac:v:19:y:2008:i:7:p:1034-1053
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2007.01.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gabriel, Yiannis, 2000. "Storytelling in Organizations: Facts, Fictions, and Fantasies," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198297062.
    2. Czarniawska-Joerges, Barbara & Kranas, Grazyna, 1991. "Power in the eyes of the innocent (Students talk on power in organizations)," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 41-60.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guénin-Paracini, Henri & Malsch, Bertrand & Paillé, Anne Marché, 2014. "Fear and risk in the audit process," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 264-288.
    2. Gibson, Matthew, 2016. "Constructing pride, shame, and humiliation as a mechanism of control: A case study of an English local authority child protection service," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 120-128.
    3. Dillard, Jesse & Vinnari, Eija, 2017. "A case study of critique: Critical perspectives on critical accounting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 88-109.
    4. Collins, David & Dewing, Ian & Russell, Peter, 2009. "Postcards from the Front: Changing narratives in UK financial services," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 20(8), pages 884-895.
    5. Gilbert, Christine, 2021. "Debt, accounting, and the transformation of individuals into financially responsible neoliberal subjects," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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