Introduction

Rowledge, Lorinda R.; Barton, Russell S.; Brady, Kevin S.

doi:10.9774/gleaf.978-1-909493-10-0_2

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For example, textile laminator Rob Koeppel’s experiences show how thinking and identity can be transformed during interactions staged by a water keeping organization. He made a classic statement following a supplier conference sponsored by Patagonia at which he learned about the environmental impacts of conventionally grown cotton: ‘I came as a representative of business; I left a citizen of the earth’ (Rowledge et al, 1999: 103).…”

Section: The Domination Thesis and New Metaphors Forhuman–water Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metaphors, organizations and water: Generating new images for environmental sustainability

Jermier

Forbes

2016

Human Relations

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Research across the social sciences and related fields has made it clear that metaphors underwrite both scientific and everyday thinking. Gareth Morgan's work in this area, most vividly developed in his classic book Images of Organization, illustrates how metaphors underwrite thinking about organizations and the important role they can play in generating new thinking. In this study, we use and extend Morgan's (2006) thesis of 'organizations as instruments of domination' (IoD) to reflect on critical issues in organizational studies related to water and the broader natural environment. We find extending the IoD image to be helpful: (i) in deriving and elaborating a metaphor that reflects a risky trend ('organizations as water exploiters'); and (ii) in generating and developing a new metaphor that is explicitly normative and nature-centered ('organizations as water keepers'). The water keeper image brings needed attention to water problems and invites further research on activist organizations (businesses and others) seeking to change thinking and practice related to environmental sustainability. We illustrate the water keeper metaphor (and the significant move away from the paradigmatic assumptions of hard anthropocentrism) with examples from environmental champion Patagonia, Inc. We then take up Morgan's challenge to move beyond the IoD metaphor to envision non-dominating forms of organization. We revisit classic nature-inclusive metaphors and the under-explored paradigm of ecocentrism to evoke

show abstract

Section: The Domination Thesis and New Metaphors Forhuman–water Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%