Organizational Discourse Research Articles

Learning beyond dialogue

This article outlines the different threads in the dialogic perceptions on learning, principally published in Management Learning journal, and identifies common assumptions underpinning them. It proceeds to contextualize them methodologically and conceptually to problematize dialogic lenses on learning – rather than to critique them. It claims that shunning the instances of non-dialogic learning or overlooking the research contexts in which dialogic inquiry is not expedient risks favouring certain societal and organizational discourses at the expense of others, as well as missing out on lessons which otherwise could have been learned. It concludes with an outline of a non-dialogic perspective on management learning built on existing contributions, with a view to galvanize the conversation ongoing in this journal on positionality of any pre-configured research lenses on learning. Finally, it considers the potential risks and consequences of failing to adjust one’s research accessory in accordance with one’s object of study.

Conceptualizing organizational diversity façade through an integrative theoretical framework: a systematic review

Objective: This study aims to conceptualize Organizational Diversity Façade (DF), and its main dimensions through an integrative theoretical framework. Methodology/Approach: to conceptualize DF a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method was used to analyze the international scientific production on WOS, and SCOPUS databases, between 2011, and 2022, with 52 articles related to false organizational discourses about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Results: DF (provided by Tokenism) is composed of: 1) internal policies, and processes proforma that would favor the DEI) the so-called Administrative or Internal DF; 2) the conveyance of the DEI in the external communication efforts without ballast, the so-called Communicational or External DF, composed by: 1) Marketing DF when it stimulates the consumption of goods, 2) Institutional DF when it builds or maintains a positive organizational appearance. Theoretical/methodological contributions: a clear, and up-to-date panorama, a common nomenclature, and theoretical framework about DF that contributes to the appropriation, and consolidation of the research field, and allows guiding communication, and marketing performance to align its communicational efforts in favor of DEI in a coherent, responsible, more effective way, avoiding financial loss, negative media coverage, stakeholder skepticism, and escalating tensions among minority groups. Relevance/Originality: The theoretical approach combining Façade Theory, and Tokenism contributed to an interdisciplinary theoretical framework that integrates organizational communication phenomena that are distinct and have different nomenclatures but are equally interconnected in the construction of the DF.

UNDERSTANDING ACTIVITY ENGAGEMENT EXPERIENCE AMONG RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA IN LONG-TERM CARE HOMES

Abstract Recreational and meaningful activities in long-term care homes are crucial in promoting well-being among residents with dementia. While existing research primarily focuses on planned activities facilitated by staff, little attention has been given to self-directed activities initiated by residents themselves, reflecting their intrinsic motivation, lifestyle, and lifelong interests such as walking, gardening, meal preparation and other household activities. In this study, activity is defined as personally meaningful behavior, including both programmed and self-directed activities, and supported by social and/or physical environmental stimuli. Utilizing critical ethnography in a long-term care home in Canada, our research aims to: 1) gather descriptive data on the types, diversity and process of residents’ activity engagement, and 2) examine the care home setting in its natural context to uncover the social practices, built environmental features and underlying organizational discourses that influence activity engagement. Observations will focus on residents’ engagement in various activities and their interactions with staff and the physical environment. Interviews will be conducted with activity staff and non-activity staff (e.g., care aides, nurses) to explore their perspectives on activity engagement, person-centered approach, and their respective roles in promoting engagement. This study offers insights into residents’ experiences with both structured and self-directed activities, and the influence of the care home’s social and physical environments on engagement. The study addresses the knowledge gap in meaningful engagement through self-directed activities and the role of social and physical environments. Fieldwork will be completed in summer and preliminary findings based on interviews and initial observations will be presented.

Framing the Immigrant in Labor Unions and the Military in the United States

We present a comparative study of organizational discourses on immigrants in two cornerstone US institutions: labor unions and the US military, both powerful players in setting the terms of immigration debates and policies in the United States. How do unions and the military frame the role of immigrants within their institutions and in US society? We draw on qualitative content analysis of materials produced by AFL-CIO and the US military between 2000 and 2020. Despite significant differences in these institutions, we find that they share the following three core themes in their framing of immigrants: (1) immigrants as potential threats, (2) immigrants as essential workers, and (3) immigrants as a source of diversity. We synthesize existing research on labor unions and the military to contextualize these commonalities, engaging theory on diversity ideology and organizational discourses. We conclude by discussing the implications of these discursive patterns on immigrants and US immigration policies.

Эмоциональное лидерство в студенческих организациях (на примере обучающихся Российского университета дружбы народов)

The article considers the concept of emotional leadership in the context of the managerial discourse of student organizations. An empirical study using the author’s tools created on the basis of D. Goleman’s theory of emo-tional leadership has been implemented. Students of the PFUR were interviewed in order to identify their pre-ferred leadership styles. Information about the types of emotional leadership that students prefer depending on their status (head of a student organization or not) It can help improve management practices. By applying emotional leadership skills, the head of a student organization can improve the quality of management and motivation of the team, as well as attract new members. For the administration of an educational institution, the development of students’ emotional intelligence can be in demand when implementing youth policy at the in-ternal level, as well as improving communication with students.

Through the backdoor - questioning the transformative impact of Social Start-Ups within the digitalization discourse of social services.

The aim of this article is to take an analytical look at Social Start-Ups as organizational discourse actors of a digitalization discourse in the field of social services. The digital transformation is understood as an all-encompassing socio-cultural phenomenon that gives rise to new discourse arenas in the field of social services, in which Social Start-Ups occupy a special position. So far, however, little is known about the actual role of Social Start-Ups in the digitization discourse of social service work, although they differ from established social services and thus occupy a special spokesperson position. Firstly, Social Start-Ups are characterized by a hybrid organizational structure in that they want to realize social services as commercial enterprises and thus reconcile economic and social goals. Secondly, their entire organizational structure and service practice is a priori based on digital tools and practices that established social services tend to negotiate critically for themselves. Against this background, the article empirically discusses and critically examines the discursive influence of Social Start-Ups on the digitization discourse of social work. The article contributes to understanding how Social Start-Ups influence the digitalization discourse in social services, offering new insights into their unique role as hybrid organizations balancing economic and social goals. By examining their use of digital tools, the research sheds light on alternative models that challenge traditional service providers. This is crucial for advancing research on the evolving role of digitalization in social services and its practical implications for improving service delivery.

Environmental Injustice and Multilateral Financing: Conflicts Between International Financial Institutions and Communities in Latin America

In the context of the crisis of multilateralism following the 2008 financial crisis, projects financed by multilateral organizations have exacerbated socio-environmental conflicts in the Global South, particularly in Latin America. The conflict mediation processes conducted by Accountability Mechanisms are expected to result in socio-environmental reparations, a claim that has been disputed by affected communities. This article analyzes the conflicts surrounding International Financial Institution (IFI) Financing in development projects for cities and regions in the Global South. The question is: how have Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) addressed environmental injustices resulting from projects financed by International Financial Institutions? To understand this issue, the objective of the research is to understand the accountability strategies of the Independent Mechanisms and the sustainability discourse of Multilateral Organizations. The research focus was defined based on the activities of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs), which organized several virtual meetings with civil society during 2020 and 2021. The methodology employed participant observation, with findings documented in a field notebook. The theoretical framework draws on the concept of environmental justice, both in its American version, as articulated by Dr. Robert Bullard, and its Latin American counterpart, often referred to as the 'environmentalism of the poor,' by Joan Martínez Alier. The results revealed the limitations of IAMs in mediating and investigating violations of social and environmental safeguards. Socio-environmental reparations for communities affected by projects funded by International Financial Institutions (IFIs) fall outside the scope of IAMs' activities. Additionally, the IFIs have not established socio-environmental reparation funds for these affected communities. The data collected through participant observation and recorded in the field notebook were interpreted and analyzed within this theoretical framework. These findings can provide valuable insights to improve decision-making processes, promoting greater equity and sustainability in the relationships between IFIs and communities impacted by large-scale projects in Latin America.

Civil society coalitions in the EU media regulation: when field theory meets network analysis

ABSTRACT The field of Eurocracy has increasingly been shaped by the emergence of actors lobbying on the area of digital regulation, which has heavily increased during the Von der Leyen Commission. We study the extra-institutional actor networks that have been involved in the EU digital policy formulation, and hypothesise that beyond clearly visible networks of opposition, the subjacent social structure of discourse networks was dominated by Big Tech. We do so by analysing the role of actor coalitions that have emerged to channel specific demands and pressures in relation to the ongoing regulatory struggle, as well as the dominant discourse coalitions. Specifically, we use Social Network Analysis to examine the cooperation and competition patterns among the actors involved. Our work is relevant for the study of EU personnel in two ways. First, digital regulation is a pertinent example of dynamics in emerging fields, where dominating policy entrepreneurs establish discursive dominance over a long time. Second, our innovative methodological approach indicates why analysing organisational discourses are relevant to understand the networks that contribute to the structure of the EU field.

From Being to Doing: Exploring the Situated Discourses and Performances of Work Engagement

What does work engagement mean to employees in contemporary work environments designed to be fun, highly engaging and productive? Engagement studies tend to focus on ‘being engaged’ rather than ‘doing engagement’ with little consideration given to organisational processes which influence employee agency in engagement. This study aims to contextualise the concept of engagement as a situated performance that involves navigating organisational discourses and expectations. Through in-depth interviews, we explore what engagement means to workers, and what performances are required in a contemporary technology company. Our analysis uncovers how ‘engagement’ functions as a discourse to normalise particular behaviours, moving the theoretical focus from the state-based focus on ‘being’ engaged to ‘doing’ engagement. We elucidate the discursive forces dictating what engagement means and the kinds of work/worker that hold value, providing an alternative to the current individualistic framing of engagement, illuminating a missing element in discussions on engagement - the performative element.

THEMATIC EXPLORATION OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: UNLEASHING ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS

Diversity and inclusion are now two significant elements in today’s organizational discourse, as they affect an organization’s performance in addition to the well-being of society in general. This study article provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the topic of diversity, inclusion and organizational performance. Consequently, based on the collected data and thematic analysis of the findings from Pakistani MSMEs, this study attempted to increase the existing body of literature for businesses and in general. Primarily, it explored the constituent elements of Diversity and Inclusion and the impacts it engenders across individual, societal, and organizational levels, ultimately informing organizational outcomes. Secondly, the article also looked into the challenges and opportunities in the promotion of diversity and inclusion in corporations. Thirdly, the study suggested the need and criteria for the emergence of the inclusive business model as a strategy of development for social and economic change

Communication in organizations: An overview and provocations

AbstractThe role that communication plays in social organization and processes of organizing has received considerable scholarly attention from multiple disciplines over several decades. This paper provides a review of the diverse literature that has sought to contribute to the understanding of communication and its implication for management and organization studies. An analysis of the SCOPUS database for the period 1980–2022 enabled us to cluster reference material and identify five perspectives which emerge from a review of the literature: communication as transfer, discourse, conversation (analysis), narrative, and Communicative Constitution of Organizations. These categories are not intended to be exhaustive, but they do provide a useful critical heuristic for navigating a field of study that might otherwise appear overwhelming. To map the terrain's theoretical underpinnings, our study also adopted a problematizing approach to the review which revealed various conspicuous conceptual and empirical absences at a ‘field level’ which merit further attention. The paper offers provocations and suggestions that we expect will inform future studies of organizational communication. Possibilities for developing the field include paying attention to: (a) paralinguistic dimensions of communication; (b) communication in relation to actual work practices; (c) monologic communication and (d) organizational communication in non‐Western contexts.

From Losers to Winners: Overcoming Negative Leader Legacy in Radical Organisational Change

This study examines how a new leader reshapes the negative legacy of a previous leader to influence employee identification during radical organisational change. Drawing on a longitudinal study in one of the world’s oldest airlines, we analyse the organisational discourse surrounding a radical transformation spanning the tenures of two successive Chief Executive Officers (from now on CEO). Our findings show how the first CEO’s coercive discourse of “responsibilisation” led to resistance and conflict, ultimately leading to his departure. Subsequently, the second CEO reframed the negative discursive legacy of the previous CEO into an aspirational identity for the organisation. Our findings elaborate on the conditions these discourses provided for employee identification. We discuss the implications of our study for the literature on leadership legacies and provide new insights into leaders’ restorative use of discourse in the context of organisational change.

Innovation sociale et fourniture de ressources à but non lucratif : une analyse du discours

This research adopts a resource dependency approach to support the process of social innovation application within the context of nonprofit resource procurement using a comparative sample of re- source-providing organizations (n = 8) and nonprofit resource recipients (n = 10). An organizational discourse analysis was adopted to explore concepts of power and legitimacy across groups revealing several ways that social innovation is employed and challenged by both resource recipients and providers. Further, a text coverage analysis revealed several discrepancies with the use of terminology between sub-samples. Together, these novel analytical approaches provide a narrative regarding the ways in which social innovation is co-conceptualized within nonprofit resource provision, including examining the role of language and power between stakeholder groups.

A fairy tale with an unhappy ending: the organizational regulation of “Latina accountant identity” in Spain

PurposeIdentity regulation is part of a management control package. Organizations regulate employees’ self-identity to influence their behaviors. The success of this regulation depends on its trade-off with employees’ work identities and personalities. Organizational discourse nurtures this dynamic and interactive process. We focus on the regulation of an (undesired) organizational identity that is born at the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, sex and migrant discrimination in accounting-related positions. We aim to analyze how Latina accountants who migrate to Spain perceive that their triple status as Latina, women and migrants affects their careers as accountants and interpret whether this triple intersectional discrimination aims to create a Latina accountant’s self-identity.Design/methodology/approachThis critical study follows a phenomenological approach to analyze the experiences of women born in Latin America who migrated to Spain to occupy accounting-related positions. A thematic analysis of their semi-structured interviews allowed us to examine the challenges faced by Latina accountants in their accounting careers in Spain.FindingsOur interviewees' narratives display an internalization of, even resignation to, a self-identity that we label “Latina accountant identity.” This identity is based on explicit discrimination discourses that cause them to suffer from the intersection of racism, sexism and migrant conditions and is nurtured by the discourses of their senior managers, co-workers and subordinates.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to frame the regulation of an intersectional discriminatory identity that is used to control Latina accountants from the inside, acting on the triple condition of Latinas, women and foreigners, influencing their self-perceptions regarding work and personal lives.

Chinese NGOs “Going Out”: Depoliticisation and Diplomatisation

Chinese non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are increasingly active in international development activities. As an emerging force, what will their impact be on global civil society, especially given that they originate from an authoritarian environment that places numerous constraints on them? This study examines the internationalisation of Chinese NGOs and its implications for global civil society by analysing the organisational discourses of Chinese NGOs. This discourse analysis relies on a two-layer analytical framework, one layer using qualitative content analysis and the other employing the discursive legitimation framework. The analysis shows that Chinese NGOs use soft charity discourses instead of critical discourses as a way to avoid “politicising” development issues and utilise discourses that diplomatise their international activities. These discourses help Chinese NGOs achieve legitimacy or avoid de-legitimacy through four discursive legitimation strategies: avoidance, authority, rationalisation, and moralisation. This article shows that Chinese NGOs express a strong national identity, position themselves as “friendship messengers,” and bring the Chinese state’s influence to global civil society even though the Chinese state has not yet mobilised internationalisation at scale.

Dealing with risk in stakeholder dialog: identification of risk indicators in a public service media organization's conversation and discourse with citizens

PurposeThis study operationalizes risks in stakeholder dialog (SD). It conceptualizes SD as co-produced organizational discourse and examines the capacities of organizers' and stakeholders' practices to create a shared understanding of an organization’s risks to their mutual benefit. The meetings and online forum of a German public service media (PSM) organization were used as a case study.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied corpus-driven linguistic discourse analysis (topic modeling) to analyze citizens' (n = 2,452) forum posts (n = 14,744). Conversation analysis was used to examine video-recorded online meetings.FindingsOrganizers suspended actors' reciprocity in meetings. In the forums, topics emerged autonomously. Citizens' articulation of their identities was more diverse than the categories the organizer provided, and organizers did not respond to the autonomous emergence of contextualizations of citizens' perceptions of PSM performance in relation to their identities. The results suggest that risks arise from interactionally achieved occasions that prevent reasoned agreement and from actors' practices, which constituted autonomous discursive formations of topics and identities in the forums.Originality/valueThis study disentangles actors' practices, mutuality orientation and risk enactment during SD. It advances the methodological knowledge of strategic communication research on SD, utilizing social constructivist research methods to examine the contingencies of organization-stakeholder interaction in SD.

The Strategy for Local Community Participation in Tourism Planning Around Conservation Areas in Indonesia

Taman Nasional Bali Barat (TNBB) is a nature conservation areas in Indonesia. TNBB has been designated by the government as a nature tourism destination that admits development precedence because it is one of the national tourism strategic areas (NTSA). The sustainability of tourism in conservation areas is significantly determined by the level of local community participation in the tourism planning process. However, based on previous research, the level of local community participation in the tourism planning process in TNBB is low. This research aims to formulate a strategy for local community participation in the tourism planning process around the conservation areas. The method employed to achieve this objective is Appreciative Inquiry (AI). AI is a qualitative approach in participatory tourism planning. Data is collected and analyzed by following the AI stages or 4D cycle. The results show that local communities participate in tourism decision-making. The level of dialogue that has been taking place so far shows a pattern of decision-making or tourism planning process based on conservation areas. Starting from personal conversations in the context of friendship, then developing into organizational discourse, and later formulated as a shared vision and mission to optimize the function of conservation areas as tourism destinations. The involvement of local communities in the level of dialogue is a strategy for local community participation in the tourism planning process in TNBB.

Ethical Standards and Accountability of Election Organizers in Handling Code of Ethics Violations in Makassar City

The election organizing organization is one of the objects of public administration studies with problems related to ethics and accountability. If the ethical discourse in organizations revolves around the relationship between individuals, values, and the environment, then leadership can be seen as distilling those factors in an individual. One of the district/city-level election organizers, namely the Makassar City KPU, has a significant number of cases of ethical violations by ad hoc bodies. This violation indeed cannot be separated from the leadership of the Makassar City KPU in handling it. This research uses qualitative methods with a case study design. Data collection techniques are carried out by in-depth interviews and document studies. Data was analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions. The results showed that the Makassar City KPU is still partial in showing the characteristics of ethical leadership by Trevino et al. (2003) in the aspects of setting ethical standards and accountability. This is because the Makassar City KPU generally has moral standards and rules for handling ethical violations contained in PKPU No. 8 of 2022. However, the Makassar City KPU still needs to comply with these rules. This is shown from several cases of ethical violations, where the Makassar City KPU was again reported to the DKPP based on procedural non-compliance with KPU Decree No. 337/HK.06.2-Kpt/01/KPU/VII/2020, which contains related to handling violations of the Code of ethics by ad hoc bodies. In addition, implementing ethical standards and managing ethical violations must also be based on local culture, namely siri' culture in the people of Makassar. However, this has not been practiced well by the Makassar City KPU, so it is prone to causing miscommunication and offense between parties.

Relational discretion in social work with persons with disabilities. Intersecting relations between legal, professional and organizational discourses

ABSTRACT This study examines discretion in social work with persons with disabilities in Finland based on texts written by social workers. Discretion is understood as relational and discursive institutional practice. The research question is: What kind of discourses and relations between them are involved in discretion in social work with persons with disabilities? The social workers’ writings are analysed using critical discourse analysis. The findings show how discretion is manifested as relational discretion influenced by a legal, a professional, and an organizational discourse. Discretion is expressed in various ways in the discourses. The discourses are complementary, but highlight tensioned power relationships. The intersecting relations of the discourses form an image of extensive and complex discretion in social work with persons with disabilities, which requires relational agency and relational expertise from social workers.

Framing vulnerability: An ecolinguistic analysis of gender and climate change discourse

This study examines how climate change organizations employ discourse strategies to highlight the vulnerability of women to climate change. It also explores how these strategies disrupt the conventional climate change narrative by integrating gender issues and emphasizing women's social and cultural experiences. The study utilizes the framework of ecolinguistics to examine narratives woven into the textual discourse. The research, based on 40 tweets from organizations such as the UN Environment Program and UN Women, offers insights into how these organizations utilize ecolinguistic techniques in communicating climate issues. The findings of the study revealed that gender intersections with other social identities determine vulnerabilities to environmental changes, as the research highlights the disproportionate impacts on women, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. This study contributes to the existing literature in terms of exploring the depiction of this issue in the Twitter discourse of international organizations.