Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges: The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dennis Schoeneborn; Consuelo Vásquez; Joep P. Cornelissen

doi:10.1108/S0733-558X20220000079005

Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges: The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review

Standard

Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges: The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic. / Schoeneborn, Dennis; Vásquez, Consuelo; Cornelissen, Joep P.
Research in the Sociology of Organizations. ed. / Ali Aslan Gümüsay; Emilio Martin; Hannah Trittin-Ulbrich; Christopher Wickert. Emerald Publishing Limited, 2022. p. 69-91 (Research in the Sociology of Organizations; Vol. 79).

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review

Harvard

Schoeneborn, D, Vásquez, C & Cornelissen, JP 2022, Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges: The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic. in AA Gümüsay, E Martin, H Trittin-Ulbrich & C Wickert (eds), Research in the Sociology of Organizations. Research in the Sociology of Organizations, vol. 79, Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 69-91. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0733-558X20220000079005

APA

Schoeneborn, D., Vásquez, C., & Cornelissen, J. P. (2022). Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges: The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In A. A. Gümüsay, E. Martin, H. Trittin-Ulbrich, & C. Wickert (Eds.), Research in the Sociology of Organizations (pp. 69-91). (Research in the Sociology of Organizations; Vol. 79). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0733-558X20220000079005

Vancouver

Schoeneborn D, Vásquez C, Cornelissen JP. Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges: The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In Gümüsay AA, Martin E, Trittin-Ulbrich H, Wickert C, editors, Research in the Sociology of Organizations. Emerald Publishing Limited. 2022. p. 69-91. (Research in the Sociology of Organizations). doi: 10.1108/S0733-558X20220000079005

Bibtex

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title = "Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges: The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic",

abstract = "This paper adds to the literature on societal grand challenges by shifting the focus away from business firms and other formal organizations as key actors in addressing such challenges toward the inherent organizing capacity that lies in the use of language itself. More specifically, we focus on the organizing capacities of metaphor-based communication, seeking to ascertain which qualities of metaphors enable them to co-orient collective action toward tackling grand challenges. In addressing this question, we develop an analytical framework based on two qualities of metaphorical communication that can provide such co-orientation: a metaphor{\textquoteright}s (a) vividness and (b) responsible actionability. We illustrate the usefulness of this framework by assessing selected metaphors used in the public discourse to make sense of and organize collective responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, including the flu metaphor/analogy, the war metaphor, and the combined metaphor of “the hammer and the dance.” Our paper contributes to extant research by providing a means to assess the co-orienting potential of metaphors in bridging varied interpretations. In so doing, our framework can pave the way toward more responsible use of metaphorical communication in tackling society{\textquoteright}s grand challenges.",

keywords = "Co-orientation, Communication, Covid-19, Grand challenges, Metaphors, Organization theory, Management studies",

author = "Dennis Schoeneborn and Consuelo V{\'a}squez and Cornelissen, {Joep P.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Dennis Schoeneborn, Consuelo V{\'a}squez and Joep P. Cornelissen. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited.",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

day = "29",

doi = "10.1108/S0733-558X20220000079005",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-83909-829-1",

series = "Research in the Sociology of Organizations",

publisher = "Emerald Publishing Limited",

pages = "69--91",

editor = "G{\"u}m{\"u}say, {Ali Aslan} and Emilio Martin and Hannah Trittin-Ulbrich and Christopher Wickert",

booktitle = "Research in the Sociology of Organizations",

address = "United Kingdom",

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RIS

TY - CHAP

T1 - Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges

T2 - The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic

AU - Schoeneborn, Dennis

AU - Vásquez, Consuelo

AU - Cornelissen, Joep P.

PY - 2022/3/29

Y1 - 2022/3/29

N2 - This paper adds to the literature on societal grand challenges by shifting the focus away from business firms and other formal organizations as key actors in addressing such challenges toward the inherent organizing capacity that lies in the use of language itself. More specifically, we focus on the organizing capacities of metaphor-based communication, seeking to ascertain which qualities of metaphors enable them to co-orient collective action toward tackling grand challenges. In addressing this question, we develop an analytical framework based on two qualities of metaphorical communication that can provide such co-orientation: a metaphor’s (a) vividness and (b) responsible actionability. We illustrate the usefulness of this framework by assessing selected metaphors used in the public discourse to make sense of and organize collective responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, including the flu metaphor/analogy, the war metaphor, and the combined metaphor of “the hammer and the dance.” Our paper contributes to extant research by providing a means to assess the co-orienting potential of metaphors in bridging varied interpretations. In so doing, our framework can pave the way toward more responsible use of metaphorical communication in tackling society’s grand challenges.

AB - This paper adds to the literature on societal grand challenges by shifting the focus away from business firms and other formal organizations as key actors in addressing such challenges toward the inherent organizing capacity that lies in the use of language itself. More specifically, we focus on the organizing capacities of metaphor-based communication, seeking to ascertain which qualities of metaphors enable them to co-orient collective action toward tackling grand challenges. In addressing this question, we develop an analytical framework based on two qualities of metaphorical communication that can provide such co-orientation: a metaphor’s (a) vividness and (b) responsible actionability. We illustrate the usefulness of this framework by assessing selected metaphors used in the public discourse to make sense of and organize collective responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, including the flu metaphor/analogy, the war metaphor, and the combined metaphor of “the hammer and the dance.” Our paper contributes to extant research by providing a means to assess the co-orienting potential of metaphors in bridging varied interpretations. In so doing, our framework can pave the way toward more responsible use of metaphorical communication in tackling society’s grand challenges.

KW - Co-orientation

KW - Communication

KW - Covid-19

KW - Grand challenges

KW - Metaphors

KW - Organization theory

KW - Management studies

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UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/e1188f4d-0abf-3742-ab70-9ccead7cb4a0/

U2 - 10.1108/S0733-558X20220000079005

DO - 10.1108/S0733-558X20220000079005

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85126669763

SN - 978-1-83909-829-1

T3 - Research in the Sociology of Organizations

SP - 69

EP - 91

BT - Research in the Sociology of Organizations

A2 - Gümüsay, Ali Aslan

A2 - Martin, Emilio

A2 - Trittin-Ulbrich, Hannah

A2 - Wickert, Christopher

PB - Emerald Publishing Limited

ER -

Guest Editors' Introduction: New Challenges to the Enlightenment: How Twenty-First-Century Sociotechnological Systems Facilitate Organized Immaturity and How to Counteract It

Scherer, A. G., Neesham, C., Schoeneborn, D. & Scholz, M., 25.07.2023, In: Business Ethics Quarterly. 33, 3, p. 409-439 31 p.

Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research

Handbook of Philosophy of Management

Neesham, C. (Editor), Reihlen, M. (Editor) & Schöneborn, D. (Editor), 23.07.2022, Cham: Springer International Publishing. 1089 p. (Handbooks in Philosophy Series; vol. 9)

Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research

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Theorizing the Role of Metaphors in Co-orienting Collective Action Toward Grand Challenges: The Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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