Critical Management Studies

'We Are All Customers Now...'Rhetorical Strategy and Ideological Control in Marketing Management Texts*

by Chris Hackley

"We Are All Customers Now": Rhetorical Strategy and Ideological Control in Marketing Management Texts. / Hackley, C..

In: Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2003, p. 1325-1352.

ABSTRACT This paper critically appraises the rhetoric of marketing management texts. Its interpretive frame is... more ABSTRACT This paper critically appraises the rhetoric of marketing management texts. Its interpretive frame is informed respectively by critical management and discourse analytic theoretical traditions. Its main data set is drawn from popular
textbooks written for taught university courses but it also draws attention to similar rhetorical strategies in leading academic marketing journals. In addition, parallels are drawn with other popular management and consulting fields. In this way the paper
attempts to mark out an initial topology of the ideological influence that is enabled and mobilized by marketing's rhetorical strategies. Marketing rhetoric often escapes critical attention precisely because it is platitudinous. Marketing management axioms have become slogans and the slogans have become cliches regularly employed in organizational, educational and political settings. But the prevalence of platitudinous rhetoric in management consulting schemes does not necessarily hinder their popularity or inhibit the deployment of their rhetorical/ideological strategies in other settings. Popular marketing management rhetoric is a special case because it positions itself not only as a prescriptive management-consulting framework but also as a legitimate academic fleld. It is in the latter guise that the success of managerial marketing's rhetorical/ideological strategies has proved most striking.

Parallel Universes and Disciplinary Space: The Bifurcation of Managerialism and Social Science in Marketing Studies’

by Chris Hackley

Hackley, C. (2009) ‘Parallel Universes and Disciplinary Space: The Bifurcation of Managerialism and Social Science in Marketing Studies’, Journal of Marketing Management Vol. 25/7-8, 643-659.

Abstract

The field of marketing studies embraces a striking contradiction. On the one hand, it originated... more Abstract

The field of marketing studies embraces a striking contradiction. On the one hand, it originated in a spirit of critique and dissent which has since been manifest in a rich, diverse and fiercely contested outpouring of marketing scholarship and research. On the other, it is a highly packaged brand with a remarkably uniform identity as a set of universal managerial problem-solving techniques. This paper explores this deep contradiction, positing the notion of parallel universes of disciplinary space, the one characterised by a critical social scientific orientation, the other by a naïve managerial orientation. While such a dialectical figure may lead to some blurring of important distinctions, this paper suggests that an investigation of the historical, political and ideological undercurrents of this bifurcation can contribute significantly to a re-orientation of the disciplinary space of marketing studies.

Critical Management Studies: Engaging with practice.

by Donald Harper

2011

Critical management studies (CMS) might be struggling to find an identity. Upon reviewing much of the published... more Critical management studies (CMS) might be struggling to find an identity. Upon reviewing much of the published discourse for this assignment, what is striking are the significant number of internal debates primarily centred on theoretical approaches, roles of scholars within the university and issues surrounding engagement with management. One possible explanation is that CMS is still an adolescent field of study; one that might be mired in the process of trying to determine what it wants to be when it comes of age.

Book review: Activity theory in practice: Promoting learning across boundaries and agencies

by Juan Felipe Espinosa

Book review of "Activity theory in practice: Promoting learning across boundaries and agencies" Management Learning April 2012; 43 (2)
(Note the error in the country of the University instead of Philippines, Universidad Santo Tomas is located in Santiago of Chile)

The authors of the volume have common interests in the study of practices about knowledge generation and mobilization... more The authors of the volume have common interests in the study of practices about knowledge generation and mobilization (Daniels et al., 2010: 1). This interest is addressed through the lens of what had been called ‘one of the best kept secrets of the academia’ (Roth and Lee, 2007: 186): activity theory, a theory that inherits the constructivist work of Lev Vygotsky and a whole tradition of scholars that developed what is now known as the second and third generation of the cultural historical activity theory (Engeström, 2001).

The Brain Drain: Implications for Regional Economic Integration in the Expanding European Union.

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M. (2012). The brain drain: Implications for regional economic integration in the expanding European Union. In B. Chapalet, & M. Le Berre (Eds.), Producing New Knowledge on Innovation Management. Presses Universitaires de Grenoble, 99 – 111.

This paper provides a review and conceptual analysis of issues surrounding regional economic integration and the... more This paper provides a review and conceptual analysis of issues surrounding regional economic integration and the potential for inter-country brain drain within the expanding European Union (EU). As the EU expands eastward, it absorbs millions of highly skilled knowledge workers and opens opportunities for western European organisations to capitalise on this workforce. The migration of these skilled workers is a macro-exercise in eastern European knowledge management, and could have far-reaching implications at the regional, industry and organisational levels. This paper explores the context and implications of knowledge worker movement across fading borders.

Social Network Mapping and Analysis in the Global Aerospace Community

by Matthew Jelavic

Ogilvie, K., & Jelavic, M. (2010). Social network mapping and analysis in the global aerospace community. Canadian Manager, 35(2), 20 – 21.

Globalization, Knowledge Workers and the Expanding European Union: A Lesson for North America?

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Ogilvie, K. (2010). Globalization, knowledge workers and the expanding European Union: A lesson for North America? Canadian Manager, 35(1), 26 – 27.

Maslow and Management: Universally Applicable or Idiosyncratic?

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Ogilvie, K. (2010). Maslow and management: Universally applicable or idiosyncratic? Canadian Manager, 34(4), 16 – 17.

Interorganizational Macrocultures in the North American Automotive Manufacturing Industry

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Ogilvie, K. (2009). Interorganizational macrocultures in the North American automotive manufacturing industry. Canadian Manager, 34(2), 20 – 21.

Multidisciplinary Technical Teams: A Case Study

by Matthew Jelavic

Ogilvie, K., & Jelavic, M. (2009). Multidisciplinary technical teams: A case study. Canadian Manager, 33(3), 18 – 19.

Socio-Technical Knowledge Management and Epistemological Paradigms: Theoretical Connections at the Individual and Organisational Level

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M. (2011). Socio-technical knowledge management and epistemological paradigms: Theoretical connections at the individual and organisational level. Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge, and Management, 6(1), 1 – 16.

This paper provides an evaluation of the literature pertaining to the autopoietic, connectionist, and cognitivist... more This paper provides an evaluation of the literature pertaining to the autopoietic, connectionist, and cognitivist epistemological paradigms. These paradigms exist at the individual and organisational level through diametrically opposed functionalist versus interpretive and integrative socio-technical knowledge management perspectives. The alignments of individual and organisational epistemologies are essential to the effectiveness of a knowledge management system. Knowl-edge management should consider the roots of knowledge theoretically in order to share or man-age knowledge dissemination successfully in organisations. The term ‘knowledge sharing’ has been emphasised and discussed comprehensively through its epistemological influential factors. This paper concludes the development of a Knowledge Management Epistemological Synthesis Model (KM-ES Model) and a comprehensive discussion and conclusion section focussing on the implications of epistemological influences on the knowledge management system of an organisa-tion. The results from this study provide both researchers and academicians with a clear under-standing of the interplay between epistemologies and a foundation for establishing an effective organisational knowledge management system.

Keywords: socio-technical, knowledge management, knowledge sharing, epistemology, cognitiv-ist, connectionist, autopoietic, functionalist, interpretive, KM-ES Model

Knowledge Management Views in Eastern and Western Cultures: An Integrative Analysis

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Ogilvie, K. (2010). Knowledge management views in eastern and western cultures: An integrative analysis. Journal of Knowledge Globalization, 3(2), 51 – 69.

Traditional eastern and western views of knowledge continue to influence the knowledge management practices in today’s... more Traditional eastern and western views of knowledge continue to influence the knowledge management practices in today’s global workplace. Based on these views, several dominant theories have emerged on how to best manage in the international work environment. This research illustrates contradictions in these theories and extracts a new perspective from the dynamic literature stream. This innovative perspective provides an opportunity to leverage cultures and relationships holistically for effective knowledge transfer and cross-cultural understanding, and hence for effective management

Keywords: Knowledge, Culture, International Management, Knowledge Management, Hofstede Framework

Cultural perspectives on knowledge management in central and eastern Europe: The SECI model of knowledge conversion and ‘ba’

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Ogilvie, K. (2010). Cultural perspectives on knowledge management in central and eastern Europe: The SECI model of knowledge conversion and ‘ba’. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, 9(2), 161 – 169.

This research discusses the SECI Model of Knowledge Conversion as it relates to the 10 Central and Eastern European... more This research discusses the SECI Model of Knowledge Conversion as it relates to the 10 Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) that are now part of the European Union (EU). The socio-economic conversion from socialism to capitalism of these societies is unique in historical precedence, whereby utilising the contextual models in knowledge conversion are applicable for understanding the implications of such a phenomenon. The results indicate that there is a unique set of variables that need to be considered within this context and for future similar situations.

Keywords: SECI; knowledge conversion; national culture; Ba; central and eastern Europe.

Management Consulting: Understanding the Process Using Concepts in Neuroscience

by Matthew Jelavic

Vincenti, M., & Jelavic, M. (2011). Management consulting: Understanding the process using concepts in neuroscience. Canadian Manager, 35(4), 22 – 23.

Competence Management in High-Technology Organizations

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M. (2011). Competence management in high-technology organizations. Canadian Manager, 36(1), 21 – 22.

Tacit Knowledge and Personal Competitive Advantage: An Autopoietic Framework for Knowledge Management in Human Resources

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M. (2011). Tacit knowledge and personal competitive advantage: An autopoietic framework for knowledge management in human resources. Canadian Manager, 36(3), 22 – 23.

The Neurobiology of Experience: Memory-Prediction and Its Role in the Management Decision-Making Process

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Vincenti, M. (2012). The Neurobiology of Experience: Memory-Prediction and Its Role in the Management Decision-Making Process. Canadian Manager, 36(4), 26 – 27.

ORGANIZATION OF PLAY AND WORK

by Ozan Nadir Alakavuklar

Cristia, J. E. & Alakavuklar, O. N. (2010). Organization of play and work. Ephemera Conference – Work, Play & Bordeom (5-7 May). St. Andrews / The UK: University of St. Andrews.
(Presented by Juan F. E. Cristia)

-Abstract-
Living in a transformational age means different discourses and varying narratives about the reality... more -Abstract-
Living in a transformational age means different discourses and varying narratives about the reality of our societies. However, when we look beneath we see the same dynamics of the capitalism. Social Networking Sites (SNS) as a new toy of the last decade have a similar motivation that is represented as an “organization of play and work”. In this study, it is aimed to discuss the multidimensionality of SNS in our lives that in the end SNS turn into the new fields of capitalist relations in the name of sharing, playing, working and enjoying whilst the alternative field creations are also considered.

Keywords: Social Networking Sites, Critical Organization Studies, Capitalism

MARTINEZ M., PEZZILLO IACONO M., BERNI A., Exploring The Relations Between Organizational Change And Dynamics Of Control: An Empirical Analysys In Call Centre Workplace, Proceedings 7th International Critical Management Studies Conference; 978887146778-8, 2011

by Marcello Martinez

AESTHETICS OF EMPTINESS

by Brigitte Biehl-Missal

Aesthesis. International Journal of Art and Aesthetics in Management and Organization Life

Verena Landau’s pass_over reflects the cold atmosphere of shareholder meetings

The work of the painter... more Verena Landau’s pass_over reflects the cold atmosphere of shareholder meetings

The work of the painter Verena Landau sheds both an irreverent and complementary perspective on the Annual Shareholder Meetings commonly depicted by colourful images of ‘success’ in annual reports and newspapers. Landau’s six-pieced edition, pass_over, deal s with the passing over of delegates at these events into empty and cold atmospheres where space, time and identities seem to be annihila ted. here we will use pass_over as a lens through which to focus on aesthetic ‘staging’ -- a mask for oppressive and dehumanizing organizational practice.