Even though the use of myths, rituals, symbols, and metaphors in organization development is becoming increasingly common, there has been little written on specific ways to use metaphors in organizational change interventions. This article summarizes work to date and presents conceptual and intervention models using metaphorical analysis. A case application is presented, and suggestions for further research are offered.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Berger, P.
, & Luckmann, T. (1966). The social construction of reality: A treatise on the sociology of knowledge. New York: Doubleday.
2.
Boje, D.
, Fedor, D., & Rowland, K. (1982). Myth making: A qualitative step in OD interventions. Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences, 18(1), 17-28.
3.
Conrad, C.
(1983). Organizational power: Faces and symbolic forms. In L. Putnam & M. Pacanowsky (Eds.), Communication and organizations: An interpretive approach (pp. 173-194). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
4.
Cummings, T.
, & Mohrman, S. (1985). Assessing innovative organizational design. In R. Tannenbaum, N. Margulies, F. Massarek, & Associates (Eds.), Human systems development: New perspectives on people and organizations (pp. 520-546). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
5.
Daft, R.
(1983). Symbols in organizations. In L Pondy, T. Dandridge, P. Frost, & G. Morgan (Eds.), Organizational symbolism (pp. 199-206). Greenwich, Cr: JAI.
6.
Davis, L.
(1985). Guides to the design and redesign of organizations. In R. Tannenbaum, N. Margulies, F. Massarek, & Associates (Eds.), Human systems development: New perspectives on people and organizations (pp. 143-166). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
7.
Donnellon, A.
, Gray, B., & Bougon, M. (1986). Communication, meaning, and organizational action. Administrative Science Quarterly, 31, 43-55.
8.
Eisenhardt, K.
(1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14, 532-550.
9.
Ferris, D.
, Fedor, J., Cachere, J., & Pondy, L. (1989). Myths and politics in organizational context. Group & Organization Studies, 14, 83-103.
10.
Fulmer, R.
, & Gilkey, R. (1988). Blending corporate families: Management and organization development in postmerger environments. Academy of Management Executive, 2, 275-283.
11.
Jones, M.
, Moore, M., & Snyder, R. (1988). Inside organizations: Understanding the human dimensions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
12.
Jung, C.
(1964). Man and his symbols. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
13.
Koch, S.
, & Deetz, S. (1981). Metaphor analysis of social reality in organizations. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 9(1), 1-15.
14.
Kreps, G.
(1983). Using interpretive research: The development of a socialization program at RCA. In L. Putnam & M. Pacanowsky (Eds.), Communication and organizations: An interpretive approach (pp. 251-252). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
15.
Lakoff, G.
, & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
16.
Lincoln, Y.
(Ed.). (1985). Organizational theory and inquiry: The paradigm revolution. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
17.
Meyer, A.
(1984). Mingling decision making metaphors. Academy of Management Review, 9, 6-17.
18.
Mitroff, I.
(1987). Business not as usual. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
19.
Mohrman, A.
, & Lawler, E. (1985). The diffusion of QWL as a paradigm shift. In W. Bennis, K. Benne, & R. Chin, (Eds.), The planning of change (4th ed., pp. 149-159). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
20.
Morgan, G.
(1986). Images of organization. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
21.
Nietzche, F.
(1966). The will to power. New York: Vintage.
22.
Ortony, A.
(Eds.). (1979). Metaphor and thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
23.
Ott, S.
(1989). The organizational culture perspective. Chicago: Dorsey Press.
24.
Owen, H.
(1984). Facilitating organizational transformation: The uses of myth and ritual. In J. Adams (Ed.), Transforming work (pp. 209-224). Alexandria, VA: Miles River Press.
25.
Owen, H.
(1990). Leadership is. Potomac, MD: Abbott.
26.
Perrow, C.
(1986). Complex organizations: A critical essay (3rd ed., pp. 265-272) New York: Random House.
27.
Peters, T.
(1978). Symbols, patterns, and settings: An optimistic case for getting things done. Organizational Dynamics, 7, 3-23.
28.
Peters, T.
, & Waterman, R. (1982). In search of excellence. New York: Harper & Row.
29.
Pfeffer, J.
(1981). Management as symbolic action: The creation and maintenance of organizational paradigms. Research in Organizational Behavior, 3, 1-51.
30.
Pfeiffer, J.
(1991). Metaphors: Characterizing the organization. The 1991 annual: Developing human resources (pp. 125-131). San Diego: University Associates.
31.
Pondy, L
(1983). The role of metaphors and myths in organization and in the facilitation of change. In L. Pondy, T. Dandridge, P. Frost, & G. Morgan (Eds.), Organizational symbolism (pp. 157-166). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
32.
Quinn, R.
(1988). Beyond rational management. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
33.
Taylor, W.
, Asping, D., Elliot, R., Charlton, K., Hudson, B., Lawton, D., Holton, G., & Wilson, R. (Eds.). (1984). Metaphors of education. Exeter, NH: Hienemann Educational Books.
34.
Tichey, N.
(1983). Managing strategic change. New York: Wiley.
35.
Trice, H.
, & Beyer, J. (1984). Studying organizational cultures through rites and ceremonials. Academy of Management Review, 9, 653-669.
36.
Tsoukas, H.
(1991). The missing link: A transformational view of metaphors in organizational science. Academy of Management Review, 16, 566-585.
37.
Vaill, P.
(1983). Strategic planning for managers (pp. 9-10). Arlington, VA: NTL Institute.
38.
Weiss, A.
(1987). Babies and bath water, forests and trees [Book review].Academy of Management Review, 12, 381-385.
39.
Weiss, R.
, & Miller, L (1987). The concept of ideology in organizational analysis: The sociology of knowledge or the social psychology of beliefs? Academy of Management Review, 12, 104-116.
40.
Yin, R.
(1984). Case study research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
