Abstract
| Original language | Undefined |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 69-95 |
| Journal | Organization |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2000 |
Keywords
- METIS-149025
- IR-34333
Cite this
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Narrative infrastructure in product creation processes. / Deuten, Jasper; Rip, Arie.
In: Organization, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2000, p. 69-95.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic
TY - JOUR
T1 - Narrative infrastructure in product creation processes
AU - Deuten, Jasper
AU - Rip, Arie
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - In product creation processes, perhaps even more than in organization processes in general, uncertainties are addressed and complexity is reduced. In retrospect, linearized success stories are told. The history of a product innovation in a biotechnology firm is used to show how actually, over time, attributions and typifications in stories, and the implied stories contained in interactions, link up and an overall plot emerges. Such a social-semiotic analysis identifies the narrative infrastructure which enables, as well as constrains, further actions, just like narrative enables and constrains the characters involved. In the specific `genre' of product creation processes, the role of `hero' shifts from the project team to the emerging product itself. Managers and other actors involved can profit from the reflexive understanding offered by social-semiotic analysis, and avoid becoming captive of the path they follow, even though reflexivity may hinder the build-up of thrust in the process.
AB - In product creation processes, perhaps even more than in organization processes in general, uncertainties are addressed and complexity is reduced. In retrospect, linearized success stories are told. The history of a product innovation in a biotechnology firm is used to show how actually, over time, attributions and typifications in stories, and the implied stories contained in interactions, link up and an overall plot emerges. Such a social-semiotic analysis identifies the narrative infrastructure which enables, as well as constrains, further actions, just like narrative enables and constrains the characters involved. In the specific `genre' of product creation processes, the role of `hero' shifts from the project team to the emerging product itself. Managers and other actors involved can profit from the reflexive understanding offered by social-semiotic analysis, and avoid becoming captive of the path they follow, even though reflexivity may hinder the build-up of thrust in the process.
KW - METIS-149025
KW - IR-34333
U2 - 10.1177/135050840071005
DO - 10.1177/135050840071005
M3 - Article
VL - 7
SP - 69
EP - 95
JO - Organization
JF - Organization
SN - 1350-5084
IS - 1
ER -