In Search of Subtlety
http://mcq.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/22/1/99
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  peer-reviewed

Whittle, Andrea, Frank Mueller and Anita Mangan
Management Communication Quarterly
2008

Abstract:

What is the role of contradiction in organizational rhetoric? This article argues that existing research tends to focus on contradiction at an institutional level and then develop a distinct but complementary perspective that views contradictory rhetoric at an interactional level and as a practical concern, especially when routine is disrupted and repair tactics are required. Drawing on data from a study of a quality improvement initiative in the United Kingdom, the authors examine the contradictions that were constructed when a 'change champion' attempted to deal with resistance to change. They conclude by depicting how contradiction can emerge when actors reflexively shift their identifications to portray themselves and their actions in a contextually appropriate manner.