Studying Organizational Symbolism: What, How, Why?

by Michael Owen Jones

Overview

Gaining a better understanding of the way organizations work through the study of the symbols connected to them is the subject of Studying Organizational Symbolism. Michael Owen Jones briefly discusses the most obvious symbolic aspects of organizations--corporate logos, office sizes, use of titles--but focuses on the less obvious but crucial aspect of expressive forms of symbolism--storytelling, institutional jargon, and workplace personalization, among others. Jones carefully defines organizational symbolism and then explains the various methodologies that assist the researcher in documenting it. Finally, he examines the symbolism inherent in doing research on organizations. Researchers interested in any facet of organizational studies will find Studying Organizational Symbolism to be a useful and necessary guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506338705
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	03/29/1996
Series:	Qualitative Research Methods , #39
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	88
File size:	266 KB

Table of Contents

What Is Organizational Symbolism? How and Why Study It?
Getting Started
Observing Performances, Stylistics, and Meaning Making
Inquiring about Symbolism, Feelings, and Aesthetics
Recording Performances versus Reconstructing Texts
Being Aware of the Symbolics of Research

Editorial Reviews

This thin volume is a pocket guide to understanding symbols found in organizations, and the methodologies to study them. Jones (folklore and history, U. of California) demonstrates specific techniques for identifying and examining various symbolic "domains" such as office architecture, workplace jargon, corridor art, and executive suite folktales. The questions is left to the reader whether the symbols grow from tradition or power, and so is interesting in its nascent inquiry into the nearly unconscious constructs of a working life. Lacks an index. Paper edition (0220-1), $9.50. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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