Work(ing) artefacts: Tools of the trade, totems or trophies?

Abstract

Do workplace artefacts have utility for their custodians beyond the workplace context? A new materiality perspective allowed the conversation to move beyond the parameters of the organisation and into the private spheres of both practicing and retired para-professionals. In this study of chefs, we discover the deliberate acquisition of occupational artefacts beyond their organisational utility. These artefacts betray a post-occupational identity deeply revelatory of materiality. We ask in what ways are these artefacts symbolic, or totemic? Findings provide fresh insights into how artefacts are mobilised as reverent ‘working’ objects, as totems and trophies for nostalgia. This facilitates reflections on how work was or ought to be, and so in turn who or ‘what I am’ or ‘who I was’. Theoretically, this enables us to extend the nexus of materiality and work and materiality and everyday life over both time and place.

New frontiers of fun: sharing and supporting workplace fun in hybrid work

“…Our literature review argued that physical and symbolic artefacts within co-locational and traditional workspaces are often used as anchor points for fun as they provide cultural and behavioural cues (Robinson and Baum, 2020;Schein, 1985Schein, , 2004 as well as opportunities to do fun at work (Alexandersson and Kalonaityte, 2018). Whilst our findings show that such artefacts still play an important part in managing fun at work, it should not be a surprise to organizational scholars that managing the ongoing meaning of cultural artefacts is difficult, and in this instance, virtually impossible.…”

Internship learning as transactional sociomaterial experiences in media industry: What do undergraduate interns tell us?

“…This specificity of materiality for organisation of work activity and learning is also reflected by most interns when they directed researchers' attention during the interviews to resources such as Tik-Tok videos, Instagram postings for events, written news articles, advisory posters and webinar links to events organised to demonstrate the products of their learning when asked to elaborate on their greatest achievements during the internship period. Just as the physicality of career resumés (or curricula vitae), written manuals, documentation make visible organizational, occupational phenomena (Robinson & Baum, 2020), the materials and workflow as described above are hence associated with the implements that distinguish the work of the intern.…”