Making sense of theory construction: Metaphor and disciplined imagination

Cornelissen, J.P. (2006) Making sense of theory construction: Metaphor and disciplined imagination. Organization Studies, 27 (11). pp. 1579-1597. ISSN 1741-3044

Full text available as:

Preview

Text Cornelissenj1_paperOSWeickfinalversion.pdf Available under License : See the attached licence file. Download (185Kb)

Abstract

This article draws upon Karl Weick’s insights into the nature of theorizing, and extends and refines his conception of theory construction as ‘disciplined imagination’. An essential ingredient in Weick’s ‘disciplined imagination’ involves his assertion that thought trials and theoretical representations typically involve a transfer from one epistemic sphere to another through the creative use of metaphor. The article follows up on this point and draws out how metaphor works, how processes of metaphorical imagination partake in theory construction, and how insightful metaphors and the theoretical representations that result from them can be selected. The paper also includes a discussion of metaphors-in-use (organizational improvisation as jazz and organizational behavior as collective mind) which Weick proposed in his own writings. The whole purpose of this exercise is to theoretically augment and ground the concept of ‘disciplined imagination’, and in particular to refine the nature of thought trials and selection within it. In doing so, we also aim to provide pointers for the use of metaphorical imagination in the process of theory construction.

Item Type:	Article
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	© 2006 SAGE Publications. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Organization Studies. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.
Keywords:	metaphor, disciplined imagination, theorizing, creativity, analogy, jazz, organization theory
Academic Units:	The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business
Depositing User:	Repository Officer
Date Deposited:	23 Jan 2007
Last Modified:	08 Feb 2013 17:03
Published Version:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0170840606068333
Status:	Published
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Refereed:	Yes
Identification Number:	10.1177/0170840606068333
URI:	http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/1921

Actions (login required)

View Item