Making the Tacit xplicit – Narrative in Exploring Change 在探索变化使隐性显性–叙事.docVIP

ESREA Research Network Biographie and Life History European perspectives on Life History Research: Theory and Practice of Biographical Narratives 7 – 10 March 2002 John Knox Centre, Geneva Narrative, Organisational Change, Development and Learning Submitted by: Stefanie C. Reissner PhD-Student University of Durham Contact s.c.reissner@durham.ac.uk Abstract This theoretical paper explores briefly the nature of narrative by examining its key characteristics as a communication tool and an independent mode of thought in the form of a literature review. The author establishes links between narrative, change and learning through the concept of sense-making. Changing a story equals learning in at least two different ways, although this learning process is most often unconscious for the individual. Despite being a theoretical paper, the main issues are illustrated by interview material from a current case study in a UK manufacturing company. The types of stories prevalent in business organisations are introduced and discussed using interview excerpts, focusing also on the function of narrative as basis of organisational culture. The author argues that mainstream management literature is still missing the trick by widely leaving out narrative as a key instrument in the management of change and organisational learning. Narrative, Organisational Change, Development and Learning Introduction The last few decades witnessed not only global macro-changes, but also profound changes in society and personal identities (Alheit and Dausien, 1999), and the structures of employment (Cross, 1981). On a global level, these changes are summarised by the term ‘globalisation’ (Castells, 2000a), being widely, and sometimes controversially (e.g. Gorz, 1999), discussed. The enormous technological developments, especially in information technology, since the Second World War are often regarded a major reason for this trend as well as for the major societal changes (Castells, 2000b). As