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A Beginning, a Middle and an End: Narratives in Organisations

In: Performing Leadership

Author

Listed:
  • Edward Peck

    (University of Birmingham)

  • Helen Dickinson

    (University of Birmingham)

Abstract

This chapter explores the nature of narratives — of myths, stories, anecdotes — in organisational life. It starts by looking at a selection of accounts of structural forms in narratives before focusing on their use in organisations. This focus will highlight three strands in the literature on narratives in organisations: firstly, the emphasis placed on organisational myths by a school of writers concerned with organisational culture during the 1980s and 1990s; secondly, the importance attributed to the analysis of organisational discourse since the mid-1990s; and, thirdly, the efficacy attributed to the use of stories in the pursuit of organisational change over a similar period. There are strong links back to — and examples that illustrate — the notions of postmodernism and sensemaking introduced in Chapter 4. Furthermore, the crucial influence of context is glimpsed on several occasions without any serious attempts being made to articulate any framework within which it could be coherently characterised; the importance of the NDIT framework introduced in Chapter 3 is thus reinforced.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward Peck & Helen Dickinson, 2009. "A Beginning, a Middle and an End: Narratives in Organisations," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Performing Leadership, chapter 7, pages 114-130, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-230-24617-1_7
    DOI: 10.1057/9780230246171_7
    as

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