Battling with Swords and Shields: a Semantic Analysis of the Paradox of Belonging and Performing in a Cooperative

Authors

  • Bruno Felix Fucape Business School

Keywords:

paradoxo; semântica; storytelling; sensemaking; cooperativa.

Abstract

This study aimed to understand how the semantic analysis of the process of (re)construction of organizational narratives can help a cooperative to manage paradoxical goals. We performed a single case study based on in-depth interviews with 47 employees, non-participant observations, and document analysis in a Brazilian credit cooperative. Our results showed that individuals may tell stories to influence others’ sensemaking of “what is going on here.” When such stories show semantic fit with the linguistic organizational context, they become able to shape others’ sensemaking. As different and competitive stories can coexist, they can reflect both polarized (e. g., “we are financial-centered” versus “we are social-centered”) and paradoxical self-definitions (“we are financial-and-social-centered”). Thus, the semantic element of organizational narratives not only highlights the dialogical nature of organizations but also their paradoxical nature.

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Author Biography

Bruno Felix, Fucape Business School

Ph.D. in Business Administration by Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. Associate Professor at Fucape Business School. Bruno Felix’s studies include issues as Paradoxes, Diversity, Identity at work, and Occupational Callings.

E-mail: bfelix@fucape.br

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6183-009X

Published

2021-12-01

How to Cite

1.
Felix B. Battling with Swords and Shields: a Semantic Analysis of the Paradox of Belonging and Performing in a Cooperative. Organ. Soc. [Internet]. 2021Dec.1 [cited 2024Apr.20];28(99). Available from: https://periodicos.ufba.br/index.php/revistaoes/article/view/30490

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Section

Articles