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Organizational Aesthetics: Caught Between Identity Regulation and Culture Jamming

Author

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  • Varda Wasserman

    (The Open University of Israel, 43107 Ra'anana, Israel)

  • Michal Frenkel

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, 91905 Jerusalem, Israel)

Abstract

Applying insights from Lefebvre's spatial theory [Lefebvre, H. 1991. The Production of Space . Blackwell, Oxford, UK] to an analysis of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs---recently relocated to its new award-winning building---the present study seeks to offer a more comprehensive model of the role of organizational aesthetics (OA) in identity regulation and culture jamming. Our contribution is threefold. (1) At the empirical/methodological level, this study attempts to simultaneously analyze the three Lefebvrian spaces in a single organization, demonstrating negotiations and struggles over interpretations of OA. (2) We analyze aesthetic jamming as a form of intentional and unintentional efforts at collective resistance that not only reveals the aesthetic mechanisms of regulation, but actually uses them as a method of counter-regulation. (3) Whereas most studies in this emerging body of literature focus on the regulation of organization-based identities (bureaucratic and professional), we show how the translation of extraorganizational hierarchies of identities (national, ethnic, and gendered) into the organizational control system is also mediated by OA.

Suggested Citation

  • Varda Wasserman & Michal Frenkel, 2011. "Organizational Aesthetics: Caught Between Identity Regulation and Culture Jamming," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(2), pages 503-521, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:22:y:2011:i:2:p:503-521
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1100.0583
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mats Alvesson & Hugh Willmott, 2002. "Identity Regulation as Organizational Control: Producing the Appropriate Individual," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(5), pages 619-644, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. François-Xavier de Vaujany & Nathalie Mitev & Sytze Kingma, 2018. "Proceedings of the 8th Organizations, Artifacts and Practices Workshop, New Ways of Working (NWW): Rematerializing Organizations in the Digital Age. 20nd - 22th June 2018 Amsterdam," Post-Print halshs-01818149, HAL.
    2. François-Xavier de Vaujany & Emmanuelle Vaast, 2016. "Matters of visuality in legitimation practices: Dual iconographies in a meeting room," Post-Print hal-01767067, HAL.
    3. Stéphan Pezé, 2013. "Controlling managers' 'becoming': the practice of identity regulation," Post-Print hal-00849533, HAL.
    4. Risini Ilangasingha, 2023. "Influence of the Aestheticized Work Environment on Managerial Life in Sri Lanka’s Corporate Sector," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(1), pages 924-938, January.
    5. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10083 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Vanessa Conzon & Ruthanne Huising, 2024. "Devoted but Disconnected : Managing Role Conflict Through Interactional Control," Post-Print hal-04553331, HAL.
    7. repec:dau:papers:123456789/15198 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Weinfurtner, Tania & Seidl, David, 2019. "Towards a spatial perspective: An integrative review of research on organisational space," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(2).
    9. Stang Våland, Marianne & Georg, Susse, 2018. "Spacing identity: Unfolding social and spatial-material entanglements of identity performance," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 193-204.
    10. Charles Barthold & Victor Krawczyk & Marco Berti & Vincenza Priola, 2022. "Intersectionality on screen. A coloniality perspective to understand popular culture representations of intersecting oppressions at work," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 1890-1909, November.
    11. Pozzebon, Marlei & Diniz, Eduardo Henrique & Mitev, Nathalie & de Vaujany, François-Xavier & Pina e Cunha, Miguel & Leca, Bernard, 2017. "Unindo-se ao debate sócio-material," RAE - Revista de Administração de Empresas, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil), vol. 57(6), October.
    12. Crevani, Lucia, 2019. "Privilege in place: How organisational practices contribute to meshing privilege in place," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(2).
    13. Nada Endrissat & Aurélie Leclercq Vandelannoitte, 2021. "From sites to vibes: Technology and the spatial production of coworking spaces," Post-Print hal-03332209, HAL.
    14. François-Xavier de Vaujany & Emmanuelle Vaast, 2014. "If These Walls Could Talk: The Mutual Construction of Organizational Space and Legitimacy," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 713-731, June.
    15. Stang Våland, Marianne & Georg, Susse, 2019. "Reprint of: Spacing identity: Unfolding social and spatial-material entanglements of identity performance," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(2).
    16. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10084 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Klaus Weber & M. Tina Dacin, 2011. "The Cultural Construction of Organizational Life: Introduction to the Special Issue," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(2), pages 287-298, April.

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