Description
Book SynopsisDiscourse Perspectives in Organizational Communication brings together researchers from the social sciences and humanities to look at discourse and how it shapes organizations and their social actors. Unlike others in the field, this book assumes that language creates and constitutes reality, rather than simply mirroring or describing it. This collection illustrates the variety of organizational phenomena that might be studied and the range of epistemological and methodological approaches that might be used in discourse analysis techniques.
Trade ReviewThe volume is commendable for its rich implicit conception of organizational phenomena related to discourse, power, and inequality. Instead of the more typical focus on a single dimension of difference, the volume attends to such intricate and interwoven issues as domestic relations of diversity and inclusion, heterogeneous national cultures and identities, (post-)colonial relations, power dynamics related to English-language imperatives, and relations with the natural environment. * Discourse & Communication *
I am very excited about Aritz and Walker’s Discourse Perspectives on Organizational Communication. This volume not only demonstrates the continued vibrancy of organizational discourse research, but also pushes it into new and exciting directions. An excellent cadre of scholars introduce new theoretical insights, debate and strike down artificial disciplinary boundaries, examine a host of situated social issues and, not least, consider the role of power and discourse in multi-cultural settings, especially Asian Pacific contexts. This book is a must-read for any scholar or teacher of organizational discourse. You will not be disappointed. -- Cristina Gibson, UWA Business School, University of Western Australia, Winthrop Professor of Organization and Management
I was fascinated and encouraged by this excellent volume. In the introduction, Aritz and Walker provide a wonderful foundation, enlightening us as to the potential benefits of integration across research in the domains of business discourse ( 'little d') and organizational discourse ('big D'). The chapters in the volume deliver just that. We gain greater understanding of both the variety of organizational phenomena that might be studied using discourse methods as well as the range of methodologies that might be used. The editors’ conclusion further illustrates the value of considering how discourse methodologies can be applied in concert and across levels and sets a useful agenda for future research. Not only have my eyes been opened to the potential intersection of discourse approaches but also to the illuminations that such an integration provides in the field of organizational scholarship. -- Gail T. Fairhurst, Professor of Organizational Communication, University of Cincinnati
Aritz and Walker have assembled a truly remarkable collection about the often 'invisible' ways in which ordinary discourses becomes institutionalized in organizing contexts around the globe. Using multidisciplinary lenses, the book chapters explicate their unique theoretical and pragmatic contributions to understanding social constructions and their consequences for addressing everyday issues as well as the grand challenges of our times. From start to finish, this edited collection is a 'must read' that invites reconsiderations of the ways we engage with each other in diverse organizational contexts. -- Patrice Buzzanell, Purdue University
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Four Proposals Toward an Interpretive Theory of the Process of Discursive Reality Construction Chapter 2: Sustainable Change: A Politically Attentive Discursive Analysis of Collaborative Talk Chapter 3: Asian Business Discourse(s) Chapter 4: "Harmonious Disagreement" in Japanese Business Discourse Chapter 5: Problematizing Political Space Through Discursive Analysis: The Case of the United States Cost Guard and the Live Fire Zones of the Great Lakes Chapter 6: The Rhetorical Legitimation of Organizational Exploration and Exploration Initiatives Chapter 7: Introducing British and Spanish Companies to Investors: Building the Corporate Image through the Chairman's Statement Chapter 8: Benchmarking Organizational Identity: How Who "We" Are Emerges in Team Dialogue Chapter 9: Narratives of Diversity in the Corporate Boardroom: What Corporate Insiders Say About Why Diversity Matters Chapter 10: Going Green: How Organizations Use Narrative to Build Commitment to Environmental Values Conclusion Index About the Contributors
