“It is already in our DNA, isn’t it?”
Narratives as means to make sense of organizational sustainability strategy transformation
Keywords:
Narrative, sustainability, organization, organizational identity, Tensions, SensemakingAbstract
Organizational narratives can serve as means for communicating organizational strategies for organizational members, but they can also help organizational members to make sense of organizational change processes. However, currently we lack knowledge on the interplay and tensions between organization’s official strategy narratives and the same narratives on the lower levels of the organization, particularly during organizational change processes. Therefore, this study focusses on tension between different organizational narratives during a sustainability strategy transformation process in a Dutch case organization. The results discuss four pillars of sustainability narrative and the tensions related to each of them.
References
References:
Bartel, C. A., & Garud, R. (2009). The role of narratives in sustaining organizational innovation. Organization science, 20(1), 107-117.
Gössling, T. (2011). Corporate social responsibility and business performance: Theories and evidence about organizational responsibility. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Matejek, S., & Gössling, T. (2014). Beyond legitimacy: A case study in BP’s “Green Lashing”. Journal of Business Ethics, 120(4), 571-584.
Perey, R. (2015). Making sense of sustainability through an individual interview narrative. Culture and Organization, 21(2), 147-173.
Preuss, L., & Dawson, D. (2009). On the quality and legitimacy of green narratives in business: A framework for evaluation. Journal of Business Ethics, 84(1), 135-149.
Soyka, P.A. 2012 Creating a sustainable organization: Approaches for Enhancing corporate value through sustainability. FT Press, New Jersey.
Starkey, K., & Crane, A. (2003). Toward green narrative: Management and the evolutionary epic. Academy of Management Review, 28(2), 220-237.
Bartel, C. A., & Garud, R. (2009). The role of narratives in sustaining organizational innovation. Organization science, 20(1), 107-117.
Gössling, T. (2011). Corporate social responsibility and business performance: Theories and evidence about organizational responsibility. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Matejek, S., & Gössling, T. (2014). Beyond legitimacy: A case study in BP’s “Green Lashing”. Journal of Business Ethics, 120(4), 571-584.
Perey, R. (2015). Making sense of sustainability through an individual interview narrative. Culture and Organization, 21(2), 147-173.
Preuss, L., & Dawson, D. (2009). On the quality and legitimacy of green narratives in business: A framework for evaluation. Journal of Business Ethics, 84(1), 135-149.
Soyka, P.A. 2012 Creating a sustainable organization: Approaches for Enhancing corporate value through sustainability. FT Press, New Jersey.
Starkey, K., & Crane, A. (2003). Toward green narrative: Management and the evolutionary epic. Academy of Management Review, 28(2), 220-237.
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Published
2022-08-10
Issue
Section
6.4 Organizational and Strategic Communication
