Sonenshein (2010)

Question 1

Main message

Answer 1

We’re changing—or are we? Untangling the role of progressive, regressive, and stability narratives during strategic change implementation

Narrative is used to shape own understanding (sensemaking), as a tool to influence other’s understanding (sensegiving) and the outcome is the collective construction of meaning
- Progressive: change leads to improved organization = GOOD
- Regressive: change leads to worse organization = BAD
- Stability narrative: organization is not undergoing major change, status quo remains Used to reduce uncertainty or to preserve existing org. meanings

Meanings can present change as preservational or transformational
o Preservational: small adjustments, preserve existing meanings. Insignificant change
Unfreeze through progressive narratives, moving meanings to new construct
o Transformational: wide in scope, new org. meanings. Significant change.
Freezing existing meaning by stability narratives

Meanings can be supportive or subversive
o Supportive: consistent with managerial intentions, positive
o Subversive: undermined managerial views of change, negative