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From ‘Less Landfilling’ to ‘Wasting Less’: Societal narratives, socio-materiality, and organizations

Corvellec, Hervé LU orcid and Hultman, Johan LU (2012) In Journal of Organizational Change Management 25(2). p.297-314
Abstract
Abstract in Undetermined
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to show that organizational change depends on societal narratives - narratives about the character, history, or envisioned future of societies. Design/methodology/approach - A case study of a Swedish municipal waste management company serves as an illustration. Findings - Swedish waste governance is powered by two main narratives: "less landfilling" and "wasting less". Less landfilling has been the dominant narrative for several decades, but wasting less is gaining momentum, and a new narrative order is establishing itself. This new narrative order significantly redefines the socio-material status of waste and imposes major changes on waste management organizations.... (More)
Abstract in Undetermined
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to show that organizational change depends on societal narratives - narratives about the character, history, or envisioned future of societies. Design/methodology/approach - A case study of a Swedish municipal waste management company serves as an illustration. Findings - Swedish waste governance is powered by two main narratives: "less landfilling" and "wasting less". Less landfilling has been the dominant narrative for several decades, but wasting less is gaining momentum, and a new narrative order is establishing itself. This new narrative order significantly redefines the socio-material status of waste and imposes major changes on waste management organizations. Research limitations/implications - Based on the case of waste governance in Sweden, the authors conclude that organizations should be aware that societal narrative affects the legitimacy and nature of their operations; therefore, they must integrate a watch for narrative change in their strategic reflections. Originality/value - This paper establishes the relevance of the notion of societal narrative to understand organizational change. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Society, Narratives, Sweden, Waste management, Social change, Sustainability, Organizational change, Organizational processes
in
Journal of Organizational Change Management
volume
25
issue
2
pages
297 - 314
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • wos:000303842700008
  • scopus:84858809061
ISSN
0953-4814
DOI
10.1108/09534811211213964
project
Organizing critical infrastructure services-The case of Waste Management
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c8342a62-05ba-4be9-b3a0-6a82729b4cbe (old id 2227265)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:07:59
date last changed
2023-01-03 21:09:09
@article{c8342a62-05ba-4be9-b3a0-6a82729b4cbe,
  abstract     = {{Abstract in Undetermined<br/>Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to show that organizational change depends on societal narratives - narratives about the character, history, or envisioned future of societies. Design/methodology/approach - A case study of a Swedish municipal waste management company serves as an illustration. Findings - Swedish waste governance is powered by two main narratives: "less landfilling" and "wasting less". Less landfilling has been the dominant narrative for several decades, but wasting less is gaining momentum, and a new narrative order is establishing itself. This new narrative order significantly redefines the socio-material status of waste and imposes major changes on waste management organizations. Research limitations/implications - Based on the case of waste governance in Sweden, the authors conclude that organizations should be aware that societal narrative affects the legitimacy and nature of their operations; therefore, they must integrate a watch for narrative change in their strategic reflections. Originality/value - This paper establishes the relevance of the notion of societal narrative to understand organizational change.}},
  author       = {{Corvellec, Hervé and Hultman, Johan}},
  issn         = {{0953-4814}},
  keywords     = {{Society; Narratives; Sweden; Waste management; Social change; Sustainability; Organizational change; Organizational processes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{297--314}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Journal of Organizational Change Management}},
  title        = {{From ‘Less Landfilling’ to ‘Wasting Less’: Societal narratives, socio-materiality, and organizations}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09534811211213964}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/09534811211213964}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}