In this book, Mats Alvesson aims to demystify some popular and upbeat claims about a range of phenomena, including the knowledge society, consumption, branding, higher education, organizational change, professionalization, and leadership. He contends that a culture of grandiosity is leading to numerous inflated claims. We no longer talk about plans but 'strategies'. Supervisors have been replaced by 'managers', managers are referred to as executives. Management is about 'leadership'. Giving advice is 'coaching'. Companies become 'knowledge-intensive firms'. The book views the contemporary economy as an economy of persuasion, where firms and other institutions increasingly assign talent, energy, and resources to rhetoric, image, branding, reputation, and visibility. Using a wide range of empirical examples to illuminate the realms of consumption, higher education, organization, and leadership, this provocative and engaging book challenges established assumptions and contributes to a critical understanding of society as a whole.
Les mer
The book views the contemporary economy as an economy of persuasion where firms and institutions assign resources to rhetoric, image and reputation rather than production of goods and services. It examines critically phenomena such as the knowledge society, consumption, higher education, organizational change, professionalization and leadership
Les mer
1. Introduction - Zero-Sum Games, Grandiosity, and Illusion Tricks ; 2. Consumption - the Shortcomings of Affluence ; 3. Explaining the Consumption Paradox: Why aren't People (More) Satisfied? ; 4. Higher Education - Triumph of the Knowledge Intensive Society or a Statistical Cosmetics Project? ; 5. Higher Education - an Image-Boosting Business? ; 6. Modern Working Life and Organizations - Change, Dynamism, and Post-Bureaucracy? ; 7. Organizational Structures on the Beauty Parade: Imitation and Shop-Window Dressing ; 8. A Place in the Sun - Occupational Groups' Professionalization Projects and Other Status and Influence Ambitions ; 9. Leadership - A Driving Force or Empty Talk ; 10. The Triumph of Imagology - A Paradise for Tricksters? ; 11. The Costs of Grandiosity
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In The Triumph of Emptiness Mats Alvesson demonstrates the considerable value of critical theory for understanding everyday life in contemporary Western societies. Refreshingly astute as regards our current state of institutional being, this book is engagingly written and well-grounded in the best critical thought has to offer. Alvesson has once again accomplished what he does so wellthink a vital subject through with wit and insight.
Les mer
Polemical book of organisational and cultural critique by a leading organisational theoristOffers a critique of materialism, consumerism, and brandingDebunks inflated rhetoric and narcissism of contemporary worldEmploys a wealth of wide-ranging empirical examples
Les mer
Mats Alvesson is Professor of Business Administration at the University of Lund, Sweden and at University of Queensland Business School, Australia. Recent books include Qualitative Research and Theory Development (Sage 2011, with Dan Kärreman), Interpreting Interviews (Sage 2011), Metaphor We Lead By: Understanding Leadership in the Real World (Routledge 2011, ed with Andre Spicer), The Oxford Handbook of Critical Management Studies (Oxford University Press, edited with Todd Bridgman and Hugh Willmott), Understanding Gender and Organizations (Sage, 2009, 2nd ed, with Yvonne Billing), Reflexive Methodology (Sage, 2009, 2nd ed, with Kaj Skoldberg), Changing Organizational Culture (Routledge 2008, with Stefan Sveningsson), Knowledge Work and Knowledge-Intensive Firms (Oxford University Press, 2004).
Les mer
Polemical book of organisational and cultural critique by a leading organisational theoristOffers a critique of materialism, consumerism, and brandingDebunks inflated rhetoric and narcissism of contemporary worldEmploys a wealth of wide-ranging empirical examples
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780198708803
Publisert
2014
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
402 gr
Høyde
234 mm
Bredde
164 mm
Dybde
20 mm
Aldersnivå
UP, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
256

Forfatter

Biographical note

Mats Alvesson is Professor of Business Administration at the University of Lund, Sweden and at University of Queensland Business School, Australia. Recent books include Qualitative Research and Theory Development (Sage 2011, with Dan Kärreman), Interpreting Interviews (Sage 2011), Metaphor we Lead By: Understanding Leadership in the Real World (Routledge 2011, ed with Andre Spicer), The Oxford Handbook of Critical Management Studies (Oxford University Press, edited with Todd Bridgman and Hugh Willmott), Understanding Gender and Organizations (Sage, 2009, 2nd ed, with Yvonne Billing), Reflexive Methodology (Sage, 2009, 2nd ed, with Kaj Skoldberg), Changing Organizational Culture (Routledge 2008, with Stefan Sveningsson), Knowledge Work and Knowledge-Intensive Firms (Oxford University Press, 2004).