- Title
- "Flexibility" as the rationale for organizational change: a discourse perspective
- Creator
- Dunford, Richard; Cuganesan, Suresh; Grant, David; Palmer, Ian; Beaumont, Rosie; Steele, Cara
- Relation
- Journal of Organizational Change Management Vol. 26, Issue 1, p. 83-97
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09534811311307923
- Publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2013
- Description
- Purpose: The concept "flexibility" is ubiquitous as a rationale for organizational change. However, its broad application is accompanied by a general lack of definitional agreement or theoretical cohesion. The purpose of this paper is to propose the merits of an alternative approach - applying a discourse perspective to the use of flexibility as a rationale for organizational change. Design/methodology/approach: This paper first illustrates the broad referencing of flexibility as a desired organizational characteristic. It then discusses the associated lack of theoretical coherence associated with the use of the concept "flexibility" before arguing the merits of a discourse perspective on flexibility as a rationale for organizational change. Findings: This paper identifies a set of questions to frame a discourse perspective on the use of "flexibility" as a rationale for organizational change. Research limitations/implications: The questions derived in this paper provide a research agenda for an investigation of the use and effects of the concept "flexibility" in the context of organizational change. Practical implications: The questions derived in this paper provide practice-based insights into how the concept "flexibility" is and/or could be used in the context of organizational change. Originality/value: "Flexibility" is a ubiquitous concept as a rationale for organizational change and its use is accompanied by a diversity of definitions and conceptual frameworks. The originality of this paper is that rather than seeking to provide yet another definition - or attempting a resolution of definitional differences - it argues the merits of a discourse perspective on the use and effect of the concept flexibility in the context of organizational change.
- Subject
- flexibility; discourse; rationale for organizational change; organizational design; organizational change
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1300418
- Identifier
- uon:20067
- Identifier
- ISSN:0953-4814
- Language
- eng
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