Metaphor and Organizations - Softcover

Oswick, Cliff

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0803976305 ISBN 13: 9780803976306

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 1996

Synopsis

Metaphors are, according to Gareth Morgan `a way of thinking and a way of seeing′.

The use of metaphor underpins the expectations, behaviour and strategies governing all aspects of organizational life. Written by a team of internationally renowned scholars, this collection of critical essays analyzes the role of metaphor in the theory of organizations.

The book extends existing debates concerning metaphor and the study of organizations, and also generates new concepts and theories in the field. The introduction shows how metaphors work and familiarizes the reader with key areas of debate concerning their use. Part One considers the role of metaphor in creating new theories of organization and in reinterpreting existing theories. Parts Two and Three go beyond the theoretical context, to examine the use of metaphor in our organizational experience. Part Two explores metaphor in organizational discourse and language, showing how the construction of different metaphors can provide powerful tools with which to manage organizations. Part Three investigates the relevance of metaphors in real organizational situations and how they influence attitudes and behaviour. Finally, Part Four offers an agenda for the function of metaphors in organizational research and suggests new directions that this research might take.

About this title

About the Author

Cliff Oswick is Professor of Organization Theory at The Business School (formerly known as Cass), City, University of London (and previously served as Deputy Dean between 2011 and 2016).  Before joining Cass, he spent 4 years at Queen Mary, University of London as Dean of the Faculty of Law & Social Sciences.  His research interests focus on the study of organizing processes and non-traditional approaches to organizational change.  He has published over 150 academic articles and contributions to edited volumes. He is an Associate Editor for Journal of Change Management, a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, an Associate Editor for Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, an elected member of the National Training Laboratory, former chair of the board of trustees for the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (2014-2020), and previously served as chair of the Organization Development and Change Division of the Academy of Management (2015-2020).  Cliff has also undertaken a variety of executive education and consultancy assignments for private and public sector organizations. 

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0803976305
• ISBN 13: 9780803976306
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272
• Editor: Grant David