Abstract
What is the role of contradiction in organizational rhetoric? This article argues that existing research tends to focus on contradiction at an institutional level and then develop a distinct but complementary perspective that views contradictory rhetoric at an interactional level and as a practical concern, especially when routine is disrupted and repair tactics are required. Drawing on data from a study of a quality improvement initiative in the United Kingdom, the authors examine the contradictions that were constructed when a "change champion" attempted to deal with resistance to change. They conclude by depicting how contradiction can emerge when actors reflexively shift their identifications to portray themselves and their actions in a contextually appropriate manner.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 99-122 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | Management Communication Quarterly |
Volume | 22 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2008 |
Keywords
- contradiction
- discourse
- identity
- identification
- rhetoric
- total quality management
- DISCOURSE
- MANAGEMENT
- IDENTIFICATION
- ORGANIZATIONS
- CONTRADICTION
- CONSTRUCTION
- TECHNOLOGY
- METAPHOR
- ACCOUNTS
- QUALITY