Dr Harry goes to Grantham: a momentary perspective on narrative construction, omission & interpretation
Date
2014-12-01Abstract
This chapter takes its central idea as ‘the moment’: a point in time when experience is remembered, meaning generated and stories created. Narratives hinge on ‘critical moments’ when storied ‘turning points’ and realisations occur. It outlines the cultural significance of the moment, connecting related domains of knowledge in philosophy, literature, social psychology and, learning. It deploys a short story to demonstrate the significance of moments and the misuse of power in the lives of Higher Education organisations, and explore their symbolic importance in narrative construction. This poses questions of whether such a story should, or should not be told; and whether, once told it can be ‘untold’.
Description
A chapter in the book 'Untold Stories in Organizations'. Book abstract below.
The field of organizational storytelling research is productive, vibrant and diverse. Over three decades we have come to understand how organizations are not only full of stories but also how stories are actively making, sustaining and changing organizations. This edited collection contributes to this body of work by paying specific attention to stories that are neglected, edited out, unintentionally omitted or deliberately left silent.
Despite the fact that such stories are not voiced they have a role to play in organizational analysis. The chapters in this volume variously explore how certain realities become excluded or silenced. The stories that remain below the audible range in organizations offer researchers an access to study political practices which marginalise certain organisational realities whilst promoting others. This volume offers a further contribution by paying heed to silence and the processes of silencing. These silences influence the choice of issues on organisational agendas, the choice of audience(s) to which these discourses are addressed and the ways of addressing them.
In exploring these relatively understudied terrains, Untold Stories in Organizations comprises an important contribution to the organizational storytelling space, opening paths for new trajectories in storytelling research.
Citation : Rae, D. (2014) Dr Harry Goes to Grantham: A Momentary Perspective on Narrative Construction, Omission & Interpretation. In: Untold Stories in Organizations, Edited by Michal Izak, Linda Hitchin, David Anderson, Routledge
ISBN : 9781138790018
Research Institute : Centre for Enterprise and Innovation (CEI)
Peer Reviewed : Yes