Metaphor, cultural imagery, and the study of change in public organizations
Journal of Organizational Change Management
ISSN: 0953-4814
Article publication date: 4 September 2007
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how mechanistic and organic metaphors might be fused through the application of cultural imagery.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is a theoretical examination of metaphor and its application in public organizations. Specifically, this paper examines the possibility that images from popular culture might offer some insights. Selected metaphors linked by elective methodological affinities are examined in order to determine potential significance of the Robocop metaphor for guiding research in organizations.
Findings
The popular culture image Robocop from 1980s films can help us detect what is not being included in most theoretical analyses of public organizations, while simultaneously helping us to purge the negative connotations of the Robocop image.
Research limitations/implications
The popular culture image can help us to understand change in public organizations.
Originality/value
It is one of the few, if any, papers using popular culture images to bridge metaphor and imagery in the study of organizational change.
Keywords
Citation
Sementelli, A.J. and Abel, C.F. (2007), "Metaphor, cultural imagery, and the study of change in public organizations", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 652-670. https://doi.org/10.1108/09534810710779081
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited