Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorBarter, Nick
dc.contributor.authorRussell, Sally
dc.contributor.editorProf. Carol Adams
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-03T16:03:32Z
dc.date.available2017-05-03T16:03:32Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.date.modified2014-03-24T04:44:30Z
dc.identifier.issn20408021
dc.identifier.doi10.1108/SAMPJ-Jan-2012-0002
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/53222
dc.description.abstractPurpose - In this paper the authors aimto examine the dominance of machine and organism metaphors in organisational studies. They argue that these metaphors impede progress towards sustainable development because they perpetuate a story that dehumanises and de-prioritises humans at the expense of the organisation which in turn becomes a rarefied and prioritised subject. This result is not consistent with the whole of humanity narrative that is entwined within sustainable development. To develop these arguments, the authors discuss sustainable development, highlighting how the concept implicates the central role of humans. They then discuss the limitations of the machine and organism metaphors relative to sustainable development. The paper then offers a different view of metaphors and suggests a more holistic understanding that is compatible with the achievement of sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach - As a conceptual paper, this article reviews existing literature and offers critique of the use of the dominant metaphors of machine and organism. Findings - Machine and organism metaphors perpetuate a language and understanding that dehumanises work and organisations. The implication of this is that organisational practice and research needs to adopt new metaphors to facilitate sustainable development. Research limitations/implications - As a conceptual document, this manuscript offers new avenues for future research and practice. Practical implications - The arguments presented challenge scholars', educators' and practitioners' use of machine and organism metaphors when discussing organisations. Originality/value - The originality/value of this paper lies in reflecting upon the metaphors of organism and machine relative to sustainable development and in turn reflecting upon the metaphors associated with and the central role of humans within the sustainable development concept. Keywords Metaphors, Sustainable development, Machine, Organism Paper type Viewpoint
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.format.extent177534 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherEmerald
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationN
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom145
dc.relation.ispartofpageto162
dc.relation.ispartofissue2
dc.relation.ispartofjournalSustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal
dc.relation.ispartofvolume4
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchEconomics
dc.subject.fieldofresearchCommerce, management, tourism and services
dc.subject.fieldofresearchOrganisation and management theory
dc.subject.fieldofresearchHuman society
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode38
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode35
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode350709
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode44
dc.titleOrganisational metaphors and sustainable development: enabling or inhibiting?
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.facultyGriffith Business School, Department of International Business and Asian Studies
gro.rights.copyright© 2013 Emerald. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
gro.date.issued2013
gro.hasfulltextFull Text
gro.griffith.authorBarter, Nick J.


Files in this item

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

  • Journal articles
    Contains articles published by Griffith authors in scholarly journals.

Show simple item record