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From a New Workplace to a New Way of Working: Legitimizing Organizational Change

Author

Listed:
  • Grégory Jemine

    (HEC École de Gestion de l'Université de Liège)

  • Christophe Dubois

    (Université de Liège)

  • François Pichault

    (HEC École de Gestion de l'Université de Liège)

Abstract

Several studies have recently documented projects of organizational transformation and modernization which, commonly clustered under the umbrella term "New Ways of Working" (NWoW), simultaneously entail material, technological, cultural and managerial dimensions. Academic contributions, however, have paid little attention to the mechanisms allowing such projects to progressively become legitimized in organizational discourses and practices. The paper aims to investigate the distinctive features of the legitimation process underlying the implementation of NWoW projects. The paper relies on a longitudinal, three-year analysis of a large insurance company. Data were collected through qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews (48), periods of observation (3 months), and document analysis (78). The paper develops a grounded and integrative framework of legitimation processes underlying "NWoW" change projects. The framework emphasizes four decisive operations of translation in "NWoW" design and implementation: translating material constraints into strategic opportunities; translating strategic opportunities into a quantitative business plan supported by the top management; translating compelling discourses around "NWoW" into an organizational machinery; translating a transformation project into discourses of unequivocal success, conveyed by legitimate spokespeople within and beyond the organization. Besides contributing to the understanding of a managerial fashion which has received little academic attention so far, the paper also offers an original integrative framework to account for legitimation processes that combines two theoretical approaches-the sociology of translation and research on institutionalist work.

Suggested Citation

  • Grégory Jemine & Christophe Dubois & François Pichault, 2019. "From a New Workplace to a New Way of Working: Legitimizing Organizational Change," Post-Print hal-03043287, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03043287
    DOI: 10.1108/QROM-10-2018-1690
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03043287
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lounsbury, Michael, 2008. "Institutional rationality and practice variation: New directions in the institutional analysis of practice," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(4-5), pages 349-361.
    2. Madeleine Akrich & Michel Callon & Bruno Latour & Adrian Monaghan, 2002. "The Key To Success In Innovation Part Ii: The Art Of Choosing Good Spokespersons," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 6(02), pages 207-225.
    3. Gerards, Ruud & de Grip, Andries & Weustink, A., 2018. "Do new ways of working increase informal learning?," Research Memorandum 010, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    4. repec:dau:papers:123456789/2887 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Madeleine Akrich & Michel Callon & Bruno Latour & Adrian Monaghan, 2002. "The Key To Success In Innovation Part I: The Art Of Interessement," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 6(02), pages 187-206.
    6. Isabelle Huault & Frédérique Dejean & Jean-Pascal Gond & Bernard Leca, 2006. "Institutional Entrepreneurs as Translators," Post-Print halshs-00151211, HAL.
    7. C. Blondeau, 2005. "Banque, assurance, bancassurance, assurfinance, lignes de partages : une spécificité française ?," Post-Print hal-00285786, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Karine Renard & Frederic Cornu & Yves Emery & David Giauque, 2021. "The Impact of New Ways of Working on Organizations and Employees: A Systematic Review of Literature," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Legitimation process; new ways of working; organizational change; sociology of translation; institutional work; nwow; nww;
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