'This is a problem (.)' : discursive construction of the organisational 'problems' in a multinational corporate workplace
Problem solving in the workplace is a high stakes activity that has important implications for organisations and individuals. Although problem-solving has attracted a lot of attention, there is little research on the interactional aspects of problem-solving processes. There are also few attempts to make interactional research relevant to business studies on organisational problems. In this thesis, I adopt a discursive approach and understand problems as locally produced in and through interaction. I draw on one case study and discuss data collected in one multinational company. Through interviews and interactional data, the thesis investigates how organisational âproblemsâ are constructed (and occasionally solved). The discussion focuses on the discursive resources employees draw upon in formulating problems and their professional roles and responsibilities negotiated in problem solving meetings. Special attention is paid to the meeting event and the HQ-subsidiary context in relation to the ways in which issues are negotiated and ratified as âproblemsâ. The findings show that in interviews, language and culture, as abstract concepts, constitute key resources for the construction of organisational problems.
Kim, Kyoungmi
BF Psychology ; HD Industries. Land use. Labor
'This is a problem (.)' : discursive construction of the organisational 'problems' in a multinational corporate workplace. Problem solving in the workplace is a high stakes activity that has important implications for organisations and individuals. Although problem-solving has attracted a lot of attention, there is little research on the interactional aspects of problem-solving processes. There are also few attempts to make interactional research relevant to business studies on organisational problems. In this thesis, I adopt a discursive approach and understand problems as locally produced in and through interaction. I draw on one case study and discuss data collected in one multinational company. Through interviews and interactional data, the thesis investigates how organisational âproblemsâ are constructed (and occasionally solved). The discussion focuses on the discursive resources employees draw upon in formulating problems and their professional roles and responsibilities negotiated in problem solving meetings. Special attention is paid to the meeting event and the HQ-subsidiary context in relation to the ways in which issues are negotiated and ratified as âproblemsâ. The findings show that in interviews, language and culture, as abstract concepts, constitute key resources for the construction of organisational problems.
this problem discursive_construction organisational problems multinational corporate workplace problem_solve workplace high stake activity important_implication organisation individual although problem_solving attract lot attention little interactional aspect problem_solving process also attempt_make interactional relevant business study organisational problem adopt discursive problem locally_produce interaction draw case_study discus data_collect multinational company interview interactional data investigate organisational problem construct occasionally solve discussion focus discursive resource employee draw_upon formulate problem professional role_responsibility negotiate problem_solve meeting special_attention_pay meeting event subsidiary context relation way issue negotiate problem finding_show interview language_culture abstract_concept constitute key resource construction organisational problem