Exploring middle managers sensemaking processes during the adoption and practice of sustainability strategies in organisations
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Date
29/06/2016Author
Aryee, Benonia
Metadata
Abstract
The thesis explores middle managers sensemaking processes of a University’s social responsibility
and sustainability (SRS) strategy during a period of change. Overall the thesis establishes links
between middle managers simultaneous sensemaking processes, dynamics of loosely coupled
organizational contexts and organizational responses to unexpected outcomes as they impact
strategy creation processes in organisations. Three main issues evolve.
Firstly, middle managers in loosely coupled organisations consist of two different sets
(administrators and academics). Based on their nature of work in particular, administrators and
academics select different sets of dominant and subtle sensemaking frames to make sense of
organizational strategies. Generally, while administrators select sensemaking frames which
emanate from existing strategic processes, academics select autonomous cues which exist outside
strategic processes. Administrators and academics sensemaking processes are therefore not a
single level or consecutive processes as typically researched, but rather occur as simultaneous
sensemaking processes. Six dominant simultaneous sensemaking frames are identified and
described.
Secondly, the thesis examines less explored aspects of debates on loosely coupled systems. It
investigates specific patterns of coupledness in middle managers strategic work and relationships.
It identified and described patterns of administrative work which are tightly coupled and patterns
in academic work which are loosely coupled.
Thirdly, distinct links are identified between middle managers simultaneous sensemaking
processes and unexpected strategy outcomes. This further led to exploring how organizations
respond to unexpected sustainability initiatives, especially in light of integrating them into already
existing strategy outcomes. Three integration strategies are identified and described.