Neat in theory, entangled in praxis: A practice perspective on the social notion of collective reflection in organisations. Issue 3 (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gutzan, Simone; Tuckermann, Harald
• Is Part Of: Management learning. Volume 50:Issue 3(2019:Jul.)
• Page Start: 319
• Page End: 336
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Collective reflection -- collective reflection in organising -- practice-based studies; Industrial management -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Executives -- Training of -- Periodicals; Organizational learning -- Periodicals; Knowledge management -- Periodicals; 302.35
• DOI: 10.1177/1350507619825750
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-7307

Abstract

Although scholars have begun theorising the social notion of collective reflection in organisations, empirical studies illustrating these often neat theoretical conceptualisations are still rare. Based on a longitudinal case study (the introduction of lean production at an emergency care unit), we address this need by applying a practice approach. Collective reflection in the present empirical case is manifold: it is characterised by several activities, each serving a specific purpose and enacted according to different temporal rhythms. Our inductive theorising broadens the theoretical conceptualisation of collective reflection in organisations. We propose value creation as a 'point of reference', in order to account for what exactly actors step back from when collectively reflecting. We found that collectively reflecting in organising means creating multiple local co-presences. We suggest that the current conceptualisation of collective reflection as a discursive practice itself calls for empirical substantiation.