Paradoxes of Participation: Textual Analysis and Organizational Change

This paper applies literary theory and methods to four accounts of organiza tional change. The paper furthers an understanding of change processes and demonstrates the contribution of literary approaches. With regard to the first purpose, the paper points out several paradoxes connected with organizational change. For example, although the stated aim of the programme was 'involve ment', the texts indicate a constant play between inclusion and exclusion of individuals. As for the second purpose, I argue that the texts produce and reproduce a particular interpretation of change and that literary methods reveal the social construction of organizational change.