Exploring Resistance from a Rhetorical Perspective

Abstract

Contemporary accounts of resistance at work have emphasized processes of identity construction and regulation (e.g. Alvesson and Willmott 2002). Case study examinations (e.g. Knights and McCabe 2000;Ezzamel et al. 2001) have been recently extended by detailed studies of the operation of discourse at the level of talk (e.g. Dick and Cassell 2002). This paper adds to these recent accounts by providing an analysis of arguments for and against a technological change project in a UK public sector organization. The objective is to demonstrate how such arguments are constructed to achieve particular interpretations of reality while resisting others (i.e. the use of persuasive rhetoric). In the examples analysed here, rhetorical strategies included: producing a range of identities for 'the resistant', IT support staff and others; disputing the 'realness' of people, things and processes (e.g. information, participation); producing and negotiating various boundaries (e.g. we/other, production worker/support staff); and drawing on local and broader cultural discourse. In this example, we also see how 'subjectivity', 'agency' and (political) 'structures' may serve as rhetorical resources. This paper argues that the focus on counter-argument (as resistance) demonstrates the disputative, politically oriented and dialogical nature of identity construction.

Material Construction of Care Workers’ Identity

“…The accounts of the care workers 1 do not mirror reality as such, nor are they supposed to represent 'real' experiences and the analysis is not supposed to reveal the simple and ultimate truth about the effects of materiality on identity (on the idea of deconstructing 'reality' see Symon 2005). Talk is social action and care workers in their accounts take different positions in regard to their physical work environment and thus construct their identity, too.…”

Beyond ourselves: Passion and the dark side of identification in an ethical organization

“…I chose to focus upon the ethical living discourse because it emerged as one that was at once dominant, surprising (Davis, 1971) and of potential interest to other organization studies researchers (Pratt, 2000). In this case, ethical living is conceived of as a local construction, specific to EWH (Symon, 2005). This 'close-range' approach to discourse enables richer insights into the operation of power and identification Karreman, 2000: 1134;Geertz, 1973).…”

“…Reflecting on this, I acknowledge that my presence at EWH inevitably involved co-constitution of subjectivity between myself and my 'colleagues ' (Wray-Bliss, 2003), as is made clear further on. In order to reflect the engaged nature of this process, I have attempted to write myself into the account that follows, and to paint a picture of my own subject position as researcher (Dick and Cassell, 2002;Symon, 2005;Walsham, 1995).…”

Mitos no Desengajamento Moral: Retóricas da Samarco em um Crime Corporativo

“…4, pp. 70-91, janeiro/fevereiro, 2018 www.anpad.org.br/rac uma audiência sobre a veracidade de seus argumentos (Moufahim, Reed, & Humphreys, 2015;Symon, 2005).…”