10 Gener 2009
Home RNMR 2009

  • EUDOKMA - EDAMBA

  • Third Conference on Rhetoric and Narratives in Management Research (RNMR) ESADE (URL) Barcelona, March 12 - 14, 2009

  • Rhetorical persuasion and storytelling pervade the life of organizations and all their activities. They are also basic instruments in management research.

    The recognitions of the functions of rhetoric and narratives in epistemology, methodology and research activities is associated to new views of the notion of science, the debate between modernity and post-modernity and the use of interpretative methods.

    The legitimation of rhetorical and narrative methods is based on the development of phenomenology, sociology, historiography and cognitive psychology.

    The linguistic turn in philosophy introduced a conceptual framework in which the rhetorical turn and the narrative turn emerged.

    The focus of management studies on creating meanings and sensemaking opens an important role of rhetoric and narratives as the main instruments for performing these operations.



  • PROGRAMME



  • INVITED LECTURES



    INNOVATION IN THE FIELD OF FORCES BETWEEN RHETORIC AND LOGIC
    Prof. Hans Siggaard Jensen
    The School of Education
    Aarhus University/Copenhagen Campus

    Innovation is a management area where traditions of scientific research and traditions of the creative arts meet. The lecture will investigate these traditions and see them exemplified in the recent resurgence of the interest on innovation as not only the applications of results from scientific research.


    MARKETING, MEANINGS AND BRANDS
    Prof. Nicholas Ind
    Stockholm University

    In the present competitive environment, companies try to differentiate their products and services building images, identities and brands. These operations of meanings creation and meanings management are performed using rhetorical instruments.


    CONCEPTS AND ROLES OF RHETORIC IN MANAGEMENT
    Prof. Eduard Bonet
    Universitat Ramon Llull – ESADE

    The classical concept of rhetoric as the art of persuading people by words is very important for changing their minds and for moving them to undertake some actions. The modern concept of rhetoric focus on creating meanings and inducing actions by symbolic means. Both conceptions are basic for understanding what managers actually do.


    DISCOURSES THAT IMPRISON, DISCOURSES THAT LIBERATE:
    ON CREATION OF DISCOURSE COMMUNITIES
    Prof. Barbara Czarniawska
    University of Gothenburg

    Theories on learning organizations, corporate learning, knowledge management, action research and communities of practice are interested on conversations that inhibit or foster knowledge creation, learning and innovation. Discourse analysis is a method widely used in social sciences and management research. The lecture takes a further step focussing on the creation of discourse communities.


    HOW TO DO THINGS WITH WORDS IN ECONOMY:
    THOUGTS AND THEOREMS ON LANGUAGE AND BUSINESS IN
    ORDINARY LIFE
    Prof. Deirdre McCloskey
    University of Chicago al Illinois

    Yes, we do things with words in our business affairs. Actions performed by words are very important for creating meanings and dealing with economic situations, including the present crises.


    BUSINESS?
    IT'S ALL JUST RHETORIC?
    Prof. J.C. Spender
    Visiting Professor, Lund University


    The claim that rhetoric has important functions in management involves a quite new view whose acceptance is progressing in the academic world. The lecture takes an advanced position on the boundaries of rhetoric in management.



    PANEL SESSION:



    WORDS, MANAGERS AND LEADERS:
    NEW RHETORICAL AND NARRATIVE APPROACHES
    TO EXECUTIVE AND MASTER’S EDUCATION

    The panel session will focus on the following subjects: Rethinking rhetorical curricula and education in the modern world. Clarifying the role of rhetoric and communication. Presenting experiences and projects on rhetoric and narratives in executive and master’s education.