Finding Sense in Organization Studies: Assumptions and Features of K. Weick’s Sensemaking Approach

This article discusses some of the theoretical foundation of the sensemaking approach introduced by Karl Weick within the fields of organizational psychology and organizational theory. Weick, Sutcliffe, and Obstfeld wrote that “Sensemaking involves the ongoing retrospective development of plausible images that rationalize what people are doing” (2005: 409), or, in more general terms, making sense out of what is happening in order to reduce uncertainty and to act upon it. For this purpose, according to Weick, an individual deals with two questions: “What is going on? and, what should I do about it?” Answers to these questions and their following implications in the individual’s actions depend on the seven characteristics of the sensemaking: the individual’s identity, retrospective, enactment, social activity, ongoing [events and flux of experience], cues, and plausibility. Weick offers a “navigation of social space [of organization] with cultural maps in hand”, and draws inspiration from the analysis of jazz improvisation. His works, still lacking attention in Russia, offer an instrument for both crisis situations with dramatic “loss of sense” and quite common everyday events. Weick’s ideas were broadly developed within research on communication, identity, language, narratives, power, and other aspects of organizational activity. At the same time, sensemaking is believed to be one of the main theoretical inspirations for the processual approach in organization studies, which is focused on organizational becoming, or organizing.

Strategi Komunikasi Pelayanan Publik Terpadu Satu Pintu Kota Bengkulu

The purpose of this study was to determine the organizational communication strategy used by the Office of Investment and Integrated Licensing Services at the One Door of Bengkulu City in an effort to improve public services, as well as to identify the obstacles that arise when implementing organizational communication strategies. The theory used in this study is the theory put forward by Karl Weick in 1969 in which organizations were not formed from structures and positions but from communication activities. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach. Informants from the study consisted of 10 employees of the Office of Investment and Integrated Licensing Services of One Door Bengkulu City Government who were selected based on purposive sampling technique. Data collection techniques used in this study were interviews and observation. The results showed that the strategy used was building internal communication among members of the organization, building emotional closeness and increasing awareness of members of the organization, evaluating the performance that has been done, always being tolerant of the fellow members of the organization. Barriers that arise during communication are differences in the character of each person, frequent mutations and employee movements, lack of competent ability of some employees. Conclusion, if communication between organizations is effective, then all systems can run well, including in terms of public services. Keywords : Communication Strategies, Public Services, DPMPTSP

Leitura do institucionalismo organizacional a partir da teoria do organizar de Karl Weick

Resumo O objetivo central deste artigo é evidenciar as possibilidades de uso da teoria do organizar de Karl Weick como microfundamento para o institucionalismo organizacional, considerando que essa abordagem da ação se mostra mais adequada do que aquelas predominantes nos estudos institucionalistas. Partindo do pressuposto de que a ação em organizações se orienta por ordens institucionais abrangentes que não estão desconectadas da interação social e dos processos de construção de sentidos, propõe-se a integração entre o institucionalismo organizacional e a teoria do organizar como base para a análise de processos organizativos. Por meio de revisão das denominadas “ondas” da teoria neoinstitucional em organizações, aborda-se a relação entre o organizar, a construção de sentidos e as instituições. Além de apresentar uma síntese da trajetória do institucionalismo organizacional, destacam-se deslocamentos epistemológicos observados no âmbito desse corpo teórico ao longo do tempo. Por fim, apresentam-se as potenciais contribuições do uso da teoria do organizar (WEICK, 1979) como microfundamento teórico adequado para a análise institucional de estratégias e práticas empregadas para a manutenção de organizações.

Pola Komunikasi Organisasi Dalam Pengembangan Program Studi Ilmu Komunikasi Fakultas Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Fatah Palembang

Communication in organization is very necessary. Because if the organization without good communication, then the common goal will not be achieved. So that’s why, the effective and efficient communication systems are needed. Communication is not only can be done through verbal, but it also can be done through the writing. Based on the context above, the purpose of this research is to answer the question of how the Communications System of Organization in the development of Communication Studies at Faculty of Social and Politic Science, Raden Fatah Islamic State University . The methodology used in this research is descriptive, with qualitative approach. The theory for this research is using organizational information theory from karl Weick. The researcher will do observation, interview, guidelines, and documentation. Data collection techniques are primary data and secondary data. The data collection technique in this research is using primary data in the form of interview data from informants that were considered relevant and become the main source in this reserch, then secondary data that use official records such as documentations, books, etc. Data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions is used for data analysis techniques. The theory used is organization information. System is the absolute form (structure). Communication is a message delivered from the communicator to the communicant through verbal or writings then the occurrence of feedback. Organizations are a number of individuals organized to achieved certain goals. The organizational communication system used by Communication Study Program is a star pattern. Communication is carried out by not only work hour, but also the familiarity outside woring hoursthey do. The media which are used such as whatsapp, email, instagram, telephone, or in person. Barriers that occur are the lack of employess in updating information through online media, language, and distances. Communicaton between the employees occur in openness and good relationships are established. Communication that occurs is very positive. All stakeholders in the Communication Study Program, Faculty of Social and Politic Science are very open with staffs, lectures, and students.

Entendimento Compartilhado de Demandas em Projetos de Desenvolvimento de Sistemas: uma Análise de Episódios Autoetnográficos segundo o Modelo de Organização de Weick

Este trabalho objetiva investigar a contribuição do modelo de organização de Karl Weick como fundamentação teórica para o processo de entendimento compartilhado entre usuários e desenvolvedores sobre demandas de sistemas de informação. Seguindo uma tendência atual nas pesquisas sobre o tema, considera-se o desenvolvimento de software como um serviço. O modelo processual de Weick fundamenta o argumento de que o entendimento compartilhado das demandas de desenvolvimento resulta de um processo de organização entre os atores para a redução ou eliminação da ambiguidade das informações, de modo que a compreensão das demandas faça sentido para todos. Propõe-se aqui uma pesquisa exploratória, que busca compreender o processo segundo a percepção dos atores no contexto de sua atuação profissional diária. É realizada uma pesquisa autoetnográfica que relata episódios de experiências vivenciadas no dia-a-dia profissional da pesquisadora relacionados ao processo de entendimento compartilhado sobre as demandas para o desenvolvimento de sistemas que envolve determinadas equipes de usuários e desenvolvedores de uma empresa selecionada. A técnica de Análise de Conteúdo procura identificar indícios dos elementos do modelo processual de Weick ao descrever a dinâmica do processo. Como resultado, percebe-se que o modelo processual e sistêmico de organização de Weick pode constituir uma lente teórica promissora para a compreensão deste processo. Percebem-se contribuições do modelo para o campo de conhecimento dos Sistemas de Informação por seu potencial explicativo para os aspectos dinâmicos de relacionamento interpessoal e resolução de ambiguidade inerentes ao processo. Como contribuição gerencial, espera-se que esta abordagem proporcione uma compreensão mais ampla e mais aprofundada para os gerentes de projeto, desenvolvedores e usuários, que possa auxiliá-los a solucionar os frequentes problemas de entendimento que ocorrem na fase de levantamento e análise de requisitos de software.

The existential dimensions of the paradox of becoming in the process turn in organisation studies

This article offers a theory of becoming a manager which goes beyond Maslow and Rogers’ theory of self-actualisation. Based on two process perspectives in the context of organisations and management, it argues that becoming is less about ‘inner-self’ but emerges out of the dialectical interaction between a person and the world: a manager only becomes a manager as they engage with the world. Based on existential philosophers, it argues that the dialectical activity of becoming a manager through interacting with the world presupposes the willingness to leap through the anxiety of the unfamiliar and unknown so that a managerial identity and way of being can emerge. Existentialism and Organization Studies–based process theory are brought together by the way in which Karl Weick uses a quotation from Kierkegaard: ‘Life is lived forward and understood backward’. This statement is also used as a basis for suggesting a way of working with the relationship between theory and practice in management.