Web Lecture: Metaphors & Culture

Metaphors and Domination
Weblecture

The power of metaphors is a very interesting part of the web lecture. I find it interesting that metaphors are both a reflection of organizational values as well as tools that help to perpetuate the organizational culture’s values and beliefs. For example, the classical management approached which used the metaphor of the machine saw people as simple components of that machine. Consequently, the lack of value in people was observed in how robber barons used people as simple tools that when damaged, could simply be replaced. When we use the power of metaphor and view it side by side with a critical approach we see that metaphors and domination go hand in hand and served to perpetuate the oppressive relationship that existed while classical management was the predominant form of organizational culture.