Sensemaking, metaphors and performance evaluation

Gerardo Patriotta; Andrew D. Brown

doi:10.1016/j.scaman.2010.12.002

Sensemaking, metaphors and performance evaluation

Gerardo Patriotta, Andrew D. Brown

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the linkages between sensemaking, metaphors and performance evaluation in an organizational setting. Drawing on a study of how university students prepared for examinations, it argues that one way people make sense of being evaluated is through metaphors that conventionalize reality and thus contribute to the maintenance of continuity in everyday social action. This is because metaphorical understandings assist people's effort to assign events and situations to familiar categories and thereby turn the 'unusual' into 'business as usual'. Moreover, metaphors are cognitive and more broadly power-laden social resources, which individuals and groups employ in determining how to make sense of and deal with potentially unsettling events such as performance evaluations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	34-43
Number of pages	10
Journal	Scandinavian Journal of Management
Volume	27
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scaman.2010.12.002
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2011

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Cite this

Patriotta, G., & Brown, A. D. (2011). Sensemaking, metaphors and performance evaluation. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 27(1), 34-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scaman.2010.12.002

Sensemaking, metaphors and performance evaluation. / Patriotta, Gerardo; Brown, Andrew D.

In: Scandinavian Journal of Management, Vol. 27, No. 1, 01.03.2011, p. 34-43.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Patriotta, G & Brown, AD 2011, 'Sensemaking, metaphors and performance evaluation', Scandinavian Journal of Management, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 34-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scaman.2010.12.002

Patriotta G, Brown AD. Sensemaking, metaphors and performance evaluation. Scandinavian Journal of Management. 2011 Mar 1;27(1):34-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scaman.2010.12.002

Patriotta, Gerardo ; Brown, Andrew D. / Sensemaking, metaphors and performance evaluation. In: Scandinavian Journal of Management. 2011 ; Vol. 27, No. 1. pp. 34-43.

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Access to Document

10.1016/j.scaman.2010.12.002