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Strategy, Discourse and Practice: The Intensification of Power

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  • Cynthia Hardy
  • Robyn Thomas

Abstract

We adopt a Foucauldian approach to discourse to show how power relations shape the constitution of strategy. By exploring two particular discourses associated with the strategy of a global telecommunications company, our study shows how the power effects of discourses are intensified through particular discursive and material practices, leading to the production of objects and subjects that are clearly aligned with the strategy. In this way, our study contributes to understanding: the mechanisms whereby discourse bears down on strategy through intensification practices; different forms of resistance; and the way in which strategy objects and subjects reproduce (or undermine) discourse.

Suggested Citation

  • Cynthia Hardy & Robyn Thomas, 2014. "Strategy, Discourse and Practice: The Intensification of Power," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 320-348, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:51:y:2014:i:2:p:320-348
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cynthia Hardy & Robyn Thomas, 2015. "Discourse in a Material World," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(5), pages 680-696, July.
    2. Paul Spee & Paula Jarzabkowski, 2017. "Agreeing on What? Creating Joint Accounts of Strategic Change," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(1), pages 152-176, February.
    3. Filippo Zanin & Maria Lusiani & Carlo Bagnoli, 2020. "The swinging role of visualization in strategic planning," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(4), pages 1019-1054, December.
    4. Eero Vaara & Juha-Antti Lamberg, 2016. "Taking historical embeddedness seriously : Three historical approaches to advance strategy process and practice research," Post-Print hal-02276732, HAL.
    5. Len J Treviño & Jonathan P Doh, 0. "Internationalization of the firm: A discourse-based view," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-19.
    6. Höglund, Linda & Svärdsten, Fredrik, 2018. "Strategy work in the public sector—A balancing act of competing discourses," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 225-232.
    7. Marion Varlet & Florence Allard-Poesi, 2015. "Les Conditions de Performativité du Discours Stratégique Analyses et apports d'Austin, Searle, Butler et Callon," Post-Print hal-01490627, HAL.
    8. Len J Treviño & Jonathan P Doh, 2021. "Internationalization of the firm: A discourse-based view," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(7), pages 1375-1393, September.
    9. Raelin, Joseph A., 2019. "Toward a methodology for studying leadership-as-practice," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 16(4), pages 480-508.
    10. David B. Audretsch & Antje Fiedler, 2023. "Power and entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1573-1592, April.
    11. Jean S. Clarke & Cheryl Hurst & Jennifer Tomlinson, 2024. "Maintaining the meritocracy myth : A critical discourse analytic study of leaders’ talk about merit and gender in academia," Post-Print hal-04479149, HAL.
    12. Shameen Prashantham & Mark P. Healey, 2022. "Strategy as Practice Research: Reflections on its Rationale, Approach, and Contributions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(8), pages 1-17, December.
    13. Harvey, Charles & Yang, Ruomei & Mueller, Frank & Maclean, Mairi, 2020. "Bourdieu, strategy and the field of power," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).

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