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Leadership as Social Integrative Action. A Study of a Computer Consultancy CompanyLeadership as social integrative action

Alvesson, Mats LU (1992) In Organization Studies 13(2). p.185-209
Abstract
In this paper it is suggested that leadership, at least in some types of organiza tions, can be conceptualized as social integrative action. Such action is seen as a synthesis of institutional and human relations-oriented leadership. A case study of a computer consultancy company, a professional service adhocracy, supports this argument. This paper also argues for viewing leadership as an expression of those values, virtues, norms and symbolic guidelines for understanding that are usually referred to as corporate culture or ideology. Leadership is consequently seen as subordinated to the cultural context. A less 'commander'- and micro-oriented view on managerial work (the leader as a boss, understood through focus on him/ her and the... (More)
In this paper it is suggested that leadership, at least in some types of organiza tions, can be conceptualized as social integrative action. Such action is seen as a synthesis of institutional and human relations-oriented leadership. A case study of a computer consultancy company, a professional service adhocracy, supports this argument. This paper also argues for viewing leadership as an expression of those values, virtues, norms and symbolic guidelines for understanding that are usually referred to as corporate culture or ideology. Leadership is consequently seen as subordinated to the cultural context. A less 'commander'- and micro-oriented view on managerial work (the leader as a boss, understood through focus on him/ her and the group) than those common in the literature is thus suggested. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Organization Studies
volume
13
issue
2
pages
185 - 209
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:84970126773
ISSN
1741-3044
DOI
10.1177/017084069201300202
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
e0f87868-dfe0-432c-9d1c-1a7ad7c673f6
date added to LUP
2016-06-29 09:29:03
date last changed
2021-06-06 04:35:13
@article{e0f87868-dfe0-432c-9d1c-1a7ad7c673f6,
  abstract     = {{In this paper it is suggested that leadership, at least in some types of organiza tions, can be conceptualized as social integrative action. Such action is seen as a synthesis of institutional and human relations-oriented leadership. A case study of a computer consultancy company, a professional service adhocracy, supports this argument. This paper also argues for viewing leadership as an expression of those values, virtues, norms and symbolic guidelines for understanding that are usually referred to as corporate culture or ideology. Leadership is consequently seen as subordinated to the cultural context. A less 'commander'- and micro-oriented view on managerial work (the leader as a boss, understood through focus on him/ her and the group) than those common in the literature is thus suggested.}},
  author       = {{Alvesson, Mats}},
  issn         = {{1741-3044}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{185--209}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Organization Studies}},
  title        = {{Leadership as Social Integrative Action. A Study of a Computer Consultancy CompanyLeadership as social integrative action}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/017084069201300202}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/017084069201300202}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{1992}},
}