Download full text
(316.1Kb)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-459053
Exports for your reference manager
The polyphony of values and the value of polyphony
La polyphonie des valueurs et la valeur de la polyphonie
[journal article]
Abstract While human communication is inherently symbolic and thus potentially vague, ambiguous and polyphonic, there is a growing emphasis on certainty, accuracy and consistency in everything contemporary organizations say and do. Organizational messages about corporate values, in particular, are expected t... view more
While human communication is inherently symbolic and thus potentially vague, ambiguous and polyphonic, there is a growing emphasis on certainty, accuracy and consistency in everything contemporary organizations say and do. Organizational messages about corporate values, in particular, are expected to accurately and unambiguously depict the organizational sender “behind” the words. Current communication principles, in other words, seek to reduce or eliminate the polyphonic potential of symbolic communication. In this paper we challenge this trend, arguing that the polyphony of corporate values is valuable because it facilitates change by inviting alternative interpretations and stimulating participation and critique. Lack of accuracy in organizational messages – including inconsistencies between what organizations say and what they do – may be an important driver of organizational and social change, because such differences have potential to raise expectations and apply pressure on organizational actors to improve their practices.... view less
Keywords
symbol; communication requirements; communication; enterprise; value; value-orientation; organizational culture; organizational change; social change
Classification
Basic Research, General Concepts and History of the Science of Communication
Free Keywords
Polyphony; aspirations
Document language
English
Publication Year
2015
Page/Pages
p. 9-25
Journal
ESSACHESS - Journal for Communication Studies, 8 (2015) 1
Issue topic
Symbolic Communication
ISSN
1775-352X
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed