Metaphor in Nortel's letters to shareholders 1997‐2006
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal
ISSN: 0951-3574
Article publication date: 14 September 2012
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to analyze the use of metaphor in the 1997‐2006 letters to shareholders (LTS) of Nortel Networks Corporation (Nortel). It aims to assess the prevalence of metaphor and changes in the use of metaphor as turnover in corporate leadership took place and as Nortel's financial fortunes changed.
Design/methodology/approach
Metaphors in the LTS are part of a corporation's voluntary disclosures, which in turn may be used for impression management purposes. The paper uses discourse analysis, in particular quantitative and qualitative content analysis, of the LTS to identify key metaphors and to evaluate changes in the prevalence of these metaphors across corporate leaders and during phases of growth and decline.
Findings
Several key metaphors are identified in Nortel's letters to shareholders, including science, journey, vision, construction and theatre. Evidence is also found that demonstrates changes in the prevalence of metaphors across various chief executive officers, and changes in the meaning of metaphors in periods of growth and decline.
Originality/value
The contribution of the paper is to highlight the use of metaphor in the voluntary disclosures (i.e. letters to shareholders) of a major North American corporation during a turbulent decade. The preferences of four very different CEOs are reflected in their choice of metaphor, supporting arguments that metaphor is used in voluntary disclosures as a means of impression management, particularly in relation to trends in corporate financial performance.
Keywords
Citation
Bujaki, M. and McConomy, B. (2012), "Metaphor in Nortel's letters to shareholders 1997‐2006", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 25 No. 7, pp. 1113-1139. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513571211263211
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited