O’Connor, Maureen (2017). Understanding sensemaking in organisational change: a cognitive mapping approach. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.
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O'Connor17PhD.pdf
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Abstract
In this thesis I argue for consideration of an anticipatory level of sensemaking that influences how individuals think about and respond to organisational change. In asking how knowledgeable agents understand an altered environment, I adopt a holistic view of organisational and cognitive sensemaking literatures, to produce a sensemaking template identifying four key relational influences: Equilibration, Intentionality, Temporal Context, and Knowledge Structures.
The sensemaking template is used to inform the design of an interpretive study. A single local authority in the West Midlands region of England is the setting for the field research which was working to meet increasing demands for local services against a backdrop of austerity budgets and decreasing resources in 2012-2013. I employ cognitive mapping as part of a multi-method approach to identify previously tacit frames of reference used by research participants in making sense of self-selected episodes of change in the organisation.
In arguing that organisational change emerges through the enactment of cognitive agency, I use empirical data to expound on a previously invisible sensemaking process that is complex and nuanced, and which offers methodological, theoretical and analytical contributions to knowledge.
Type of Work: | Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Award Type: | Doctorates > Ph.D. | ||||||||||||||||||
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College/Faculty: | Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Social Sciences | ||||||||||||||||||
School or Department: | School of Government and Society, Institute of Local Government Studies | ||||||||||||||||||
Funders: | None/not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government |
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URI: | http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/7164 |
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