Metaphor in Organizational Research: Context, Modalities and Implications for Research — Introduction

Abstract

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link: METAPHOR IN ORGANIZATIONAL RESEARCH: AN INTRODUCTION, SYNTHESIS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH AbstractWe provide a general overview of previous work which has explored the use of metaphors in organizational research. Differences in focus and form of research on metaphors are noted. Work in organization theory (OT) and organizational communication (OC) generally features prescriptive metaphors that aid the practice of theorizing and research; research in organizational development (OD) tends to use metaphors for intervention in individual and group decision-making; while studies of organizational behavior (OB) emphasize the metaphors-in-use within individuals' sensemaking accounts of critical events within their organization. Alongside these differences in focus, the form of metaphor analysis also differs across these contexts, ranging from text-and discourse based analysis to the analysis of nonlinguistic modalities such as pictorial signs, gestures and artefacts. Based on our overview of previous work, we call for greater attention to methodological issues around metaphor identification and analysis and outline a number of directions for further research. 3There is a continuous and growing interest in the study of metaphor within organizational research (e.g., Putnam & Boys, 2006). This interest has been spurred in recent years by an increase in the volume of theoretical and empirical work that explores the role of language and discourse in organizational life (e.g., Grant et al., 2004) as well as by developments on metaphor theory and analysis in cognitive, linguistic and discourse work across the social sciences (e.g., Cameron, 2003;Lakoff & Johnson, 1999;Pragglejaz, 2007).As well as using an assortment of methodologies, work on metaphor in organizational research also spans multiple disciplinary domains and literatures -ranging from organizational behavior (e.g., Gioia et al., 1994; Greenberg, 1995;El-Sawad, 2005) and organizational development (e.g., Barrett & Cooperrider, 1990; to organization theory (e.g., Cornelissen, 2005;Morgan, 2006;Weick, 1989) and organizational communication (e.g., Putnam & Boys, 2006;Taylor & Van Every, 2000) 1 .Whilst drawing upon different traditions, the interest in metaphor across these domains shares a view of metaphors as being central to human discourse and understanding (e.g. Cassirer, 1946). Metaphors connect realms of human experience and imagination. They guide our perceptions and interpretations of reality and help us formulate our visions and goals. In doing these things, metaphors facilitate and further our understanding of the world. Similarly, when we attempt to understand organizations (as scholars or as people working within them),we often use metaphors to make organizations compact, intelligible and understood.Metaphors often have this role as they supply "language with flexibility, expressibility and a way to expand ...

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