Music as a metaphor for organizational change

Saku Mantere*, John A A Sillince, Virpi Hämäläinen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose - To explore a musical metaphor in making organizational change a potentially pleasurable experience to participants. Design/methodology/approach - The paper begins by challenging ideological assumptions behind classical change metaphors. To build an alternative, the paper employs musical semiotics to understand the core dimensions in a musical experience. Findings - The paper discusses the dynamics of tension and resolution in the different dimensions of musical experience. Originality/value - The discussion regarding the dynamics of tension and resolution in musical experience helps the reader to make sense of how an individual organizational member can understand, structure and control the experience of organizational change.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)447-459
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Organizational Change Management
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2007

Keywords

  • Metaphors
  • Music
  • Organizational change

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