The contraction of meaning:the combined effect of communication, emotions and materiality on sensemaking in the Stockwell shooting

Cornelissen, Joep P. and Mantere, Saku and Vaara, Eero (2014) The contraction of meaning:the combined effect of communication, emotions and materiality on sensemaking in the Stockwell shooting. Journal of Management Studies, 51 (5). pp. 699-736. ISSN 0022-2380

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Abstract

In this paper, we seek to understand how individuals, as part of a collective, commit themselves to a single, and possibly erroneous, frame, as a basis for sensemaking and coordinated actions. Using real-time data from an anti-terrorist police operation that led to the accidental shooting of an innocent civilian, we analyse how individual actors framed their circumstances in communication with one another and how this affected their subsequent interpretations and actions as events unfolded. Our analysis reveals, first, how the collective commitment to a framing of a civilian as a terrorist suicide bomber was built up and reinforced across episodes of collective sensemaking. Second, we elaborate on how the interaction between verbal communication, expressed and felt emotions, and material cues led to a contraction of meaning. This contraction stabilized and reinforced the overall framing at the exclusion of alternative interpretations. With our study we extend prior sensemaking research on environmental enactment and the escalation of commitment and elaborate on the role of emotions and materiality as part of sensemaking.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Management Studies
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1400/1405
Subjects:
?? COMMITMENTEMOTIONS FRAMING MATERIALITY SENSEGIVING SENSEMAKINGBUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENTSTRATEGY AND MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ??
ID Code:
68349
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
24 Jan 2014 05:54
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Sep 2023 00:47