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Organizational Dischronization: On Meaning and Meaninglessness, Sensemaking and Nonsensemaking

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: This paper contributes to close up studies of how members in organizations experience and act in relationship to what is broadly and vaguely referred to as institutionalized structures and practices. Based on a case study about scorecards, a quality control system, it is illustrated that this practice works poorly, because of inconsistent ideas of purpose and functioning. We introduce the concept of organizational dischronization (OD) to illuminate this. OD indicates a deviation from the ideal of shared or synchronized meanings, and the existence of diverging understandings and lack of clarification of this, in an organization. The paper challenges some core ideas of institutional theory (logics) and sensemaking, suggesting the use of counter concepts such is organizational illogics and nonsensemaking, thus opening up for a broader and less ‘smooth’ understanding of how institutions and sensemaking work than assumed in the literature.

Source: Journal of Management Studies

DOI: 10.1111/joms.12790

Authors: Mats Alvesson, Anna Jonsson

Institutions: The University of Queensland, City, University of London, Lund University, City St George's, University of London

Language: English

Topic: Management and Organizational Studies

Subfield: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,300

OpenAlex ID: W4200018906

FWCI: 5.818

Cites: 79

Cited by: 40

Related to: 10