Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Managerial narratives: a dialogical approach to understanding managerial identity

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    McKenna, Stephen
    Date
    2010
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    McKenna, S. 2010. Managerial narratives: a dialogical approach to understanding managerial identity. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal. 5 (1): pp. 5-27.
    Source Title
    Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal
    DOI
    10.1108/17465641011042008
    Additional URLs
    http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/qrom
    ISSN
    1746-5648
    School
    School of Management
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/35600
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of a dialogical approach, associated with the Russian literary critic and philosopher Bakhtin, in understanding the portrayal of managerial identity in management narratives. In particular, it applies these ideas critically to understand how managers’ identities are partly shaped by the dominant discourse or idea about what a manager should “be.” Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on three written narratives of managers. It applies a dialogical approach to consider how they position themselves interactionally in the narratives in such a way as to highlight a managerial identity based on being “enterprising” and “for change,” while simultaneously voicing alternative identities negatively. The use of the written narratives of managers and the application of a dialogical approach is an important contribution to the literature. Findings – The findings suggest that managers, when reflecting on organizational events through narrative, assume a managerial identity that reflects current dominant discourse about what a manager should “be.” In doing so they reject other possible discourses that offer alternatives, not only to managerial “being,” but also to what management and organizations might reflect and represent. The paper also, however, recognizes that some managers reject this identity and its implications for organizational activity. Research limitations/implications – The paper suggests that managerial identity is partly a product of a dominant discursive/ideological formation rather than individual choice. Although managers may reject this interpellation creating an alternative is constrained by the regime of truth that prevails about what management is at any given time. The approach might be considered overly deterministic in its view of managerial identity. Originality/value – The paper extends the understanding of managerial identity and how it is portrayed through narrative by using a dialogical approach to interpretation.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Managerial processes: business process that sustain performance
      Bititci, U.; Ackermann, Fran; Ates, A.; Davies, J.; Garengo, P.; Gibb, S.; MacBryde, J.; Mackay, D.; Maguire, C.; van der Meer, R.; Shafti, F.; Bourne, M.; Firat, S. (2011)
      Purpose – It is argued that whilst operational and support processes deliver performance presently, it is the managerial processes that sustain performance over time. The purpose of this research paper is to better ...
    • Managing, managerial control and managerial identity in the post-bureaucratic world
      McKenna, Stephen; Garcia-lorenzo, L.; Bridgman, T. (2010)
      Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the issues involved in managerial control and managerial identity in relation to the idea of a post-bureaucratic organization. In addition it introduces the ...
    • Does identity shape leadership and management practice? Experiences of PHC facility managers in Cape Town, South Africa
      Daire, Judith; Gilson, L. (2014)
      © The Author 2014; all rights reserved. In South Africa, as elsewhere, Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities are managed by professional nurses. Little is known about the dimensions and challenges of their job, or what ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.