A Rhetoric-in-Context Approach to Building Commitment to Multiple Strategic Goals

Advanced Institute of Management Research Paper No. 034

57 Pages Posted: 27 Nov 2008

See all articles by Paula Jarzabkowski

Paula Jarzabkowski

Aston University - Aston Business School

John A. A. Sillince

Aston University - Aston Business School

Date Written: Feburary 26, 2006

Abstract

There are still few explanations of the micro detail through which top managers influence employee commitment to multiple strategic goals. This paper argues that through their language, top managers can construct a context for commitment to multiple strategic goals. We therefore propose a rhetoric-in-context approach to illuminate some of the micro practices through which top managers influence employee commitment. Based upon an empirical study of the rhetorical practices through which top managers attempt to influence academic commitment to multiple strategic goals in university contexts, we demonstrate relationships between rhetoric and context. Specifically, we show that rhetorical attempts to shape commitment to multiple goals are associated with the degree of organizational change, the established nature of multiple goals, and the internal consistency of the rhetorical practices used by top managers. AIM Working

Suggested Citation

Jarzabkowski, Paula and Sillince, John A. A., A Rhetoric-in-Context Approach to Building Commitment to Multiple Strategic Goals (Feburary 26, 2006). Advanced Institute of Management Research Paper No. 034 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1307691 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1307691

Paula Jarzabkowski (Contact Author)

Aston University - Aston Business School ( email )

Aston Triangle
Birmingham, B47ET
United Kingdom

John A. A. Sillince

Aston University - Aston Business School ( email )

O&IM Group
Aston Triangle
Birmingham B4 7ET
United Kingdom