Transformation is inevitable for the survival of some organizations. It is argued that metaphors may be a helpful tool for a successful transformation if carefully chosen. Two kinds of methaphors are discussed which describe different transformation processes and outcomes. Illustrations are given for both kinds of metaphors, and the argument is substantiated with examples from a case study about an organization transformation. The use of multiple and adaptive metaphors allowed a wide range for action in that particular case.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ARGYRIS, C. , & SCHON, D. A.Organizational learning: A theory of action perspective. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley , 1978.
2.
BENNIS, W. G.Organization development: Its nature, origins, and prospects. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley , 1969.
3.
BENNIS, W. G.The four competencies of leadership . Training and Development Journal, 1984, 15-19 .
4.
BUCKLEY, W. F.Sociology and modern systems theory. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall , 1967.
5.
BURKE, W.Organization development. Principles and practices. Boston: Little Brown and Company , 1982.
6.
CARNEY, T. F.Content analysis. A technique for systematic inference from communications. University of Manitoba Press, Winnipeg, Canada , 1972.
7.
COCH, L. , & FRENCH, J. R. P.Overcoming resistance to change . Human Relations, 1984, 1, 512-532 .
8.
CULBERT, S. A. , & McDONOUGH, J. J.The invisible war: Pursuing self-interests at work. New York: Wiley , 1980.
9.
FLAMHOLTZ, E. , RANDLE, Y. , & SACKMANN, S. A.Environmental trends and their implications for human resources management to the year 2000. Monograph, Institute of Industrial Relations, University of California Los Angeles , 1986.
10.
FUNK & WAGNALLS . Standard dictionary. New York: Lippincott and Crowell , 1980.
11.
GREINER, L.Evolutionary or revolutionary change . Harvard Business Review, July-August 1972, 37-46 .
12.
KREFTING, L. A. , & FROST, P. J.Untangling webs, surfing waves, and wildcatting. In P. J. Frostet al. (Eds.), Organizational culture. Beverly Hills, California: Sage , 1985.
13.
KUHN, T. S.The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press , 1962.
14.
MARGULIES, N. , & RAIA, A. P.Conceptual foundations of organization development. New York: McGraw-Hill , 1978.
15.
MARTIN, J.Stories and scripts in organizational settings. In A. Hastorf and Isen (Eds.), Cognitive social psychology, New York: Elsevier-North Holland , 1982.
16.
MOORE, L. F. , & BECK, E. F.Leadership among bank managers: A structural comparison of behavioral responses and metaphorical imagery. In J. Hunt , D. Hosking , L. Schriesheim , and R. S. Stewart (Eds.), International perspective on managerial behavior and leadership. Oxford: Pergamon Press . 1984.
17.
MORGAN, G.Paradigms, metaphors, and puzzle solving in organization theory . Administrative Science Quarterly, 1980, 605-622 .
18.
MORGAN, G.Images of organizations. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications , 1986.
19.
NYSTROM, P. C. , & STARBUCK, W. H.To avoid organizational crisis, unlearn . Organizational Dynamics, 1984, 12(4), 53-65 .
20.
ORTONY, A.Why metaphors are necessary and not just nice . Educational Theory, 1975, 25, 450-523 .
21.
PELTON, W. , SACKMANN, S. A. & BOGUSLAW, R.Tough Choices. New York: Dow Jones-LR Win , 1989.
22.
PETRIE, H. G.Metaphor and learning. In A. Ortony (Ed.), Metaphor and thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1979.
23.
PONDY, L. R.The role of metaphors and myths in organizations and in the facilitation of change. In L. R. Pondy , P. J. Frost , G. Morgan , and T. C. Dandridge (Eds.), Organizational symbolism. Greenwich: JAI Press , 1983.
24.
POTTER, J. , & WETHERELL, M.Discourse and social psychology. Beyond attitudes and behaviour. London, Beverly Hills: Sage Publications , 1987.
25.
RASPA, R.As corporate myth-maker: Negotiating the boundaries of work and play at Domino's Pizza Company . Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Organizational Symbolism and Corporate Culture, Milano, June 1987.
26.
SACKMANN, S. A. Organisationskultur: Die unsichtbare Einflussgrosse. Gruppendynamik, 1983, 4, 393406.
27.
SACKMANN, S. A. Cultural knowledge: The link between strategy and organizational processes. Unpublished dissertation, Graduate School of Management, University of California-Los Angeles, 1985.
28.
SACKMANN, S. A.Uncovering culture in organizations: Old and new methods. Working paper, Graduate School of Management, University of California-Los Angeles , 1986.
29.
SAPIENZA, A. M.Believing is seeing: How culture influences the decisions top managers make. In R. H. Kilmann , M. I. Saxton , R. Serpa , and associates (Eds.), Gaining control of the corporate culture. San Francisco, London: Jossey-Bass Publishers , 1985.
30.
SCHEIN, E. H.Organizational culture and leadership. A dynamic view. San Francisco, London: Jossey-Bass Publishers , 1985.
31.
SCHON, D. A.Generative metaphor: A perspective on problem-setting in social policy. In A. Ortony (Ed.), Metaphor and thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1979.
32.
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, Massachusetts: G. & C. Merriam Co. , 1977.
33.
YANKELOVICH, D.New rules, searching for self-fulfillment in a world turned upside down. New York: Bantam Books , 1981.
