Full papers
Full Papers
Creating The Extraordinary Leader Through 360 Degree Assessments The Role Of Mediating Activities And Expectation Management (237)
Author/s: Emilie Full Papers Hesselbo
Track: Critical Management Studies
Paper Type: Full Paper
Keywords: Leadership development, leadership measures, 360 assessment, norms
Abstract: Leadership measures have gained solid ground within leadership development programmes, answering the call for quantitatively based measures and evaluations that promote high performance and extraordinary leadership. These measures are based on statistical norms and social norms, and thus play a key role in promoting certain leadership behaviours above others. Contributing to literature on numbers performative power, I explore an important but under researched dimension the significance of social actors managing the measurement process. Drawing on semi structured interviews and participant observations, this paper explores the mediating activities and norms surrounding the act of measurement, carried out and constructed by an external consultant. This study suggests that the effects of leadership measures rely on these activities and norms. Ultimately, I argue that the mediating role of the consultant play a significant role in establishing norms, managing expectations and reactions, which in turn allows the measure to perform its power.
Strategy Absence A Professional Firms Response to Managerialism (293)
Author/s: Marc Sweeney
Track: Critical Management Studies
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Strategy, Psychoanalysis, Hermeneutic, Professional Identity
Abstract: This paper is a critical hermeneutic enquiry into the absence of strategy at a professional services firm. Building on the initial conceptualization of strategy absence by Inkpen and Choudhury 1995, the paper extends this concept in that far from strategy absence being a failure of management, it may instead provide the basis for understanding and enquiry into such absence. In the instant research, a preoccupation with the loss of professional identity prevented the formulation and articulation of strategy in the organization studied it instead followed a minimal strategy, presenting as strategy less. The loss of professional identity arose from the use of managerialist practices by their clients, to which the absence of strategy is argued to be a response.
Cat Union and Other Joke Flags of the South Korean Candlelight Revolution 2016- 2017 (397)
Author/s: Chanhyo Jeong
Track: Critical Management Studies
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Inclusivity, Social Movement, Identity, Materiality, Spatiality
Abstract: This paper examines the use of joke flags during South Koreas Candlelight Revolution from 2016 to 2017 that led to the successful regime change without a single case of violence. I attempt to display how defying identity categorisation helps civic mobilisation by motivating individuals to organise beyond the rhetoric of traditional social membership. This qualitative study of the joke flags shows how self parody and subversion of ideologically polarised activism can achieve inclusivity and diversity, which has been an essential strategy for South Korean social movements.
The possible contributions are three fold. First, I will introduce the unique history and culture of Korean social movements that suggests that there are multiple paths to the successful non violent civil resistance. Second, I will address how material artefacts encourage a peaceful protest with a special focus on the use of joke flags. Lastly, I will discuss how humour and fun have created an Eros effect, which turned Seouls public space, Gwanghwamun Square into a space of festival.
If authorities perceive certain category of identity more problematic e.g. labour union, student union, decategorisation could be one way to avoid unnecessary protest policing. By using floating signifier as main rhetorical strategies, participants successfully avoided the burden of identity categorisation hiding the protestors socio-demographic identities altogether. In addition, satire and humour invited more bystanders into the movement and helped to exceed the population participation rate of 3.5 which Chenoweth and her colleagues find to be the threshold for peaceful regime change in their study of non violent conflicts.
High Performance And Workplace Democracy. Can They Be Combined? A Life-cycle Analysis On Specialization. (597)
Author/s: Orestis Varkarolis Daniel King Alistair Mutch
Track: Critical Management Studies
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: High performance, degeneration thesis, cooperative management, workplace democracy, specialization.
Abstract: High performance pressures have been claimed to be a key factor for workplace democracy deterioration within worker cooperatives. While there is empirical material refuting the claim that democratic management of the firm is associated with reduced efficiency, overall, economic performance and democratic functioning have been approached as antagonistic and not dialectic.
In turn, this longitudinal study on a small work collective, argues that though high performance is a necessity to survive in a hostile environment, abandoning workplace democracy is not. By focusing on specialization that has largely been perceived as both a key factor and sign of workplace democracy degeneration, this paper highlights the dialectic attempts of this work collective to harmonize organizational efficiency and democracy over time by tapping on improved levels of cooperative governance, worker-owner engagement and empowering staff management practices.
Along these lines, the radical mantra that favours skill-sharing and rotation as adequate solutions for institutionalizing workplace democracy is challenged, some recommendations and a tool for operationalizing high-performance collective management are presented drawing from a socialist critique on bureaucracy .
Standing out from the Crowd: Enacting Network Cultures of Organisation through Unconferencing (612)
Author/s: Tim Butcher Emma Bell Daniel King
Track: Critical Management Studies
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Entrepreneurialism, Interorganisational networks, Knowledge sharing practices, Unconferencing.
Abstract: This paper seeks to critically understand how information and communication technology ICT workers organise and share knowledge in ways that seek to transcend formal organisational boundaries and navigate the demands of high performance management cultures. We focus on unconferencing, a participant centred, participatory approach to organising. Conceptually and empirically, we seek to understand the cultural values on which unconferencing is based and the knowledge sharing practices it enables. Through analysis of a qualitative interview and observational study of unconference organisers and participants, we identify three themes on which this form of network organisation relies: open source community, structureless organisation and freedom through escape. We show how these themes are used by participants to co construct a culture that differentiates them as a distinct group of knowledgeable experts capable of influencing the sector.
Illuminating Dark Sides Exploring Hidden Challenges Faced by Migrant Workers, As Well As Invisible Barriers For Organisations Striving For High Performance (911)
Author/s: Jan Willem Knuefken
Track: Critical Management Studies
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Migration, Challenges
Abstract: 'Managing migration is one of the most urgent and profound tests international cooperation in our time' (United Nations, 2018, p.2).
This paper addresses topics related to migration by exploring challenges at three levels. The, perhaps hidden, challenges which migrant workers face whilst living and working abroad; contrasts home countries of migrant workers are confronted with; and the invisible barriers organisations face striving for high performance.
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The Role Of Fbos (Faith-Based Organisations) In Combating Social Exclusion For Religious-Minorities: The Case-Study From Pakistan. (1061)
Author/s: Syeda Sidra Idrees
Track: Critical Management Studies
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Faith-based organisations, welfare activities, challenges, religion, management
Abstract: The organisations rooted in faith have played a dominant role over the years to bring about societal change in several parts of the world. The later-half of the 20th century has seen a revival of research on Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs,) which based on their religious affiliations, have performed various welfare activities for the distressed of their community. However, despite the substantial efforts put in by these organisations for social welfare, little is known about the role they played especially in the context of Pakistan to protect the rights of religious minorities. Since Pakistan is a state engrained in faith, these organisations belonging to distinct faiths must be studied to understand their impact to ensure social inclusion in the otherwise religiously radicalised society of Pakistan. Moreover, the challenges these organisations face while carrying-out these activities is also studied. Semi-structured interviews from the representatives of FBOs have been conducted to understand the role and challenges FBOs in Pakistan face while making attempts for the social inclusion of religious minorities. Advocacy, endeavours for social justice and community building have been identified as the key roles performed by these organisations. Whereas, the challenges identified are on political, institutional and social spectrums.
Othering, Power, and Leadership; Insights from the Game of Thrones Book Series (1167)
Author/s: Alexander Kyriakos Kofinas Andrew Clements
Track: Critical Management Studies
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Power, Leadership, Othering, Organization, third person unreliable narrator
Abstract: This work examines the book series A song of Ice and Fire written by George R R Martin and illustrates its significance in terms of the insights it may provide to organisational phenomena. We limit the investigation to the organisational phenomena of othering, power and leadership. ASOIAF can be used to illustrate that firstly, these phenomena are interconnected and secondly that George R. R. Martin subverts the tropes in literature both literary literature but also academic literature to enable the reader to question and reflect on our own assumptions of othering, power and leadership. Martin does so by continuously manipulating the readers perception of the phenomena via the usage of 3rd person unreliable narrators while continuously exposing and ironically appropriating the superficial understandings of the mechanics of othering, power, and leadership.