In search of subtlety: discursive devices and rhetorical competence

Whittle, Andrea ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0837-7403, Mueller, Frank and Mangan, Anita 2008. In search of subtlety: discursive devices and rhetorical competence. Management Communication Quarterly 22 (1) , pp. 99-122. 10.1177/0893318908318515

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Abstract

What is the role of contradiction in organizational rhetoric? This article argues that existing research tends to focus on contradiction at an institutional level and then develop a distinct but complementary perspective that views contradictory rhetoric at an interactional level and as a practical concern, especially when routine is disrupted and repair tactics are required. Drawing on data from a study of a quality improvement initiative in the United Kingdom, the authors examine the contradictions that were constructed when a “change champion” attempted to deal with resistance to change. They conclude by depicting how contradiction can emerge when actors reflexively shift their identifications to portray themselves and their actions in a contextually appropriate manner.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Business (Including Economics)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Contradiction ; Discourse ; Identity ; Identification ; Rhetoric ; Total quality management
Publisher:	Sage
ISSN:	0893-3189
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2022 08:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/18920

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