Member - Dr. David Barry

Visiting Professor of Creative Organization Studies at Learning Lab Denmark and Copenhagen Business School

I am primarily interested in aesthetically-oriented, artful, and symbolic approaches to management and organization. I am especially interested in how such processes can be applied to innovation, change, and work development.

My work has both a methodological orientation (for example, how can the various analytic approaches in narrative theory be translated to organizational studies) and an applied one (e.g. how might narrative theory challenge and inform strategic management). While well skilled in quantitative, positivist research methods, most of my work over the last decade has been qualitative in nature.

Publications & Papers:

(co-edited with Hans Hansen) "Handbook of New and Emerging Approaches to Management and Organization". Forthcoming, 2006 (Sage). This book will complement the existing Handbook of Organization Studies, focusing on important up-and-coming work in management and organization studies. We are working with many of the world's most prominent scholars, as well as several well-known 'pracademics' like Peter Senge, Margaret Wheatley, and Charles Handy. Sage plans to to bring out new volumes every three or four years.

. (co-edited with Kent Hansen and Martin Ferro-Thomsen). "Organizational Art". Forthcoming, 2005 (Learning Lab Denmark ). This book is being collectively produced by 20 of the world's leading organization artists-professional artists who use organizations as their subject matter. The book is intended to advance theory and practice within the field and is aimed at the business community, the arts community, and at academics working in the arts & business field.

book chapters

. (with N. Monin ). "Toggling with Taylor : Reading foundational theory differently." (2000). In Combes, C., Grant, D., Keenoy, T., and Oswick,C. (Eds.). Organisational discourse: Word-views, work-views and world-views , pp. 185-198. London : KMPC.

. (with M. A. Hazen). "Do You Take Your Body to Work?" (1996). In D. Boje, T. Joseph, and B. Gephart (eds). Postmodern Management , London : Sage.

. "Managing the Bossless Team" (1993). In D. Bohl (ed.) Self-Managed Teams: Creating the High-Performance Workplace , NY: American Management Association Periodicals (pp. 53-70).

papers

. (with Brigid Carroll & Hans Hansen) "To Text or context?  Endotextual, exotextual, and multi-textual approaches to narrative and discursive organizational studies". Forthcoming, 2005, Organization Studies. This paper develops a new approach to reading and working with organizational texts.

. (with Ralph Bathurst and Lloyd Williams). "Cadences at Waco : A critique of "Timing and Music". 2003. Academy of Management Review, 28(3). This is a critical response paper which helps extend the newly emerging field of musical organization theory.

. (with David Brock). "What if planning was really strategic?: Exploring the strategy planning relationship in multinationals' 2003. International Business Review , 12(5). This paper lays out a new framework for strategic planning that links planning processes to the actual strategy being pursued. IBR is blind reviewed and has a 15% acceptance rate.

. (with Nanette Monin and John Monin). "Toggling with Taylor : A different approach to reading a management text." 2003. Journal of Management Studies , 40(2): 377-401. Extends the scriptive reading approach first developed in the book chapter above. JMS is a top tier, blind-reviewed journal with an acceptance rate of about 5%.

. (with Todd Bridgman). "Regulation is Evil: An application of narrative policy analysis to regulatory debate in New Zealand ." 2002. Policy Sciences, (35: 141-161) . Multi-level narrative analysis was used to explain the stalling of regulatory reform in this qualitative study of New Zealand 's telecommunications sector. Policy Sciences is regarded as a top tier international journal in the field of Policy Studies. Acceptance rate: 5%.

. (with David Brock & David Thomas) "Your forward is our reverse, your right, our wrong: Rethinking multinational planning processes in light of national culture" International Business Review (2000, V9/6). This study develops a theory of subsidiary-based planning based on survey and qualitative data from Australian and New Zealand subsidiaries of multinational companies.

. (with David Thomas & Elizabeth Ravlin) "Creating effective multicultural teams" University of Auckland Business Review (1999, V2(1): 10-24). This is an international study of team culture and its relationship to team performance. A combination of survey and open ended interviewing was used.

. (with Michael Elmes) "Deliverance, denial, and the death zone: A study of narcissism and regression in the May 1996 Everest climbing disaster". Journal of Applied Behavioral Science (1999, V35, #2: 163-187). A culmination of two years of research, this study uses a mix of social constructionist theory as developed by Pierre Bourdieu and narcissism theory as developed by Heinz Kohut, to explain the Everest climbing disaster of 1996. The study has been reported in numerous newspapers (e.g., the London Observer, NY Times, Canadian Globe), on the BBC, and is being incorporated into a British film documentary.

. (with Michael Elmes) "Truth's consequences." Academy of Management Review (1997, V22, #4: 842-844). An invited rejoinder to a commentary on the "Strategy Retold" article described below. This work examines the consequences of personalizing management research.

. (with Michael Elmes) "On paradigms and narratives." Academy of Management Review (1997, V22, #4: 847-849). Another invited rejoinder; here I discuss the difference between logico-scientific and narrative approaches to organizational studies.

. "Telling changes: From narrative family therapy to organizational change and development." Journal of Organizational Change Management (1997, V10, # 1: 32 -48). Paper examines how recent work in narrative therapy might be applied to organizational change.

. (with Stephen Carroll and Catherine Cramton). " Navigating the garbage can: How agendas help managers cope with job realities ." Academy of Management Executive (1997, V11, # 2: 26 -42). Paper recounts the development of a grounded theory of agendas and the organization of managerial work. Theory was developed over a two year period using an inductive, fieldwork-based approach.

. (with Michael Elmes) "Strategy retold: A narrative approach to strategic discourse." Academy of Management Review (1997, V22, #2: 429-452). Paper discusses how literary theory might be applied to the strategic management endeavour.

. "Artful Inquiry: A Symbolic Constructionist Framework for Social Science Research."(.pdf) Qualitative Inquiry (1996, V2,#4: 411-438). Paper details symbolic constructivism, a methodology I've developed that combines elements of symbolist theory, art therapy, and social constructionism. This work situates symbolic constructivism within both modernist and postmodernist thinking.

. (with Ron Cook). "Shaping the external environment: A study of small business influence public policy." Business & Society (1995, V12, #4). Paper summarizes a three year field study of public policy influence strategies by smaller firms. A social constructivist framework is used to account for these strategies.

. "Making the Invisible Visible: Using Analogically-based Methods to Surface Unconscious Processes in Organizations." Organizational Development Journal (1994, V12, 4, pp. 37-48). This is a more in-depth treatment of analogically mediated processes, but is similar to the paper published in the Academy of Management Proceedings below.

. (with Ron Cook). "Whether or not to be involved in public policy strategy: Decision processes among small to medium sized firms." Journal of Small Business Management (Spring, 1992) . This is a qualitative study of how small business owners come to be involved in affecting public policy. It sets forth a model that owners can use to determine whether or not involvement in a particular issue is warranted.

. "Managing the Bossless Team: Lessons in Distributed Leadership." Organizational Dynamics (1991, V21, # 1: 31 -47). Paper describes an expanded model of leadership which subsumes both individual leadership theory and group leadership theory.

. (with Fran Zollers). "6B: An empirical study of the Consumer Product Safety Act, Section 6B and its effect on information disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act." Administrative Law Review (September, 1991, V43, #3: 455-472). Considers the effects of a non-disclosure regulation on product in­formation release. While not a pri­mary part of my research stream, this study reflects an effort to develop research skills through exposure to other fields and methods.

. (with Edwin Locke and Ken Smith) "Goal setting, planning and organizational performance: An experimental simulation." Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes (1990, V46: 118-134) . This paper summarizes the devel­opment and testing (via lab experiments) of strategic goal theory.

. "TWINCORP: Extensions of the classroom-as-organization model." Organizational Behaviour Teaching Review (now Journal of Management Education, 1989, V14, #1: 1-15) . This paper, published as the lead article, describes the development and implementation of a unique experiential pedagogy for teaching behaviourally oriented management courses. OBTR is the official journal for the Organizational Behaviour Teaching Society.

. "Efficacious planning patterns among high technology firms." (1987). Doctoral dissertation in which planning patterns of Washington based electronics firms were studied. The intent was to document effective and ineffective strategic planning patterns. Particular attention was given to the goal setting facet of strategic planning.

presented papers

. (with Steve Taylor and Mary Jo Hatch) "Not for philosophy does this rose give a damn: Problematics in organizational aesthetics." Academy of Management Meetings, 7-10 August, 2004. New Orleans , Louisiana .

. (with Mary Jo Hatch and David Boje) "The Aesthetics of Organization Theorizing". Academy of Management Meetings, 1-5 August, 2003. Seattle , Washington . Paper outlines how our construction of organization theory might follow more aesthetcally-informed approaches.

. (with Claus Rerup) "Calder and the Network: Imaginal Considerations in Social Network Theorizing.". Academy of Management Meetings, 9-14 August, 2002. Denver , Colorado . Voted "Best Paper" in the Organization & Management Theory Division.

. (with Brigid Carroll & Hans Hansen) "To text or context: Endotextual and Exotextual Approaches to Organizational Narrative Research". Academy of Management Meetings, 9-14 August, 2002. Denver , Colorado . Voted "Best Paper" in the Research Methods Division and Finalist for the Carolyn Dexter Award for Best International Paper.

. "Our Art, Our Work: Applications of arts-based methods to organizational research." All Academy session. Academy of Management Meetings, 9-14 August, 2002. Denver , Colorado .

. (with Elaine Palmer) "Serious questions about serious play: Problems and prospects in the study of mediated innovation." Australia New Zealand Academy of Management Meetings, 5-9 December, 2001. Auckland . A review of what we know, and what we need to know about the relationship of mediates (models, prototypes, simulations, etc.) to innovation.

. (with May Ireland ) "Disillusionment at Work". Academy of Management Meetings, 3-8 August, 2001. Washington , D.C.

. (with Nick Nissley) "States of the art: Applications of arts-based methods to organizational studies." All Academy session. Academy of Management Meetings, 3-8 August, 2001. Washington , D.C.

. (with Michael Elmes) "Is there more to the story: Narrative travel in organizational studies." Academy of Management Meetings, 3-8 August, 2001. Washington , D.C.

. (with Brad Jackson) "The dramatistic genre in organizational research: Contributions, assessment, and prospects." Australian and New Zealand Communication Association (ANZCA) Annual Conference, July 2, 2001 , Perth .

. (with Nanette Monin). "The rhetoric and realities of Mary Parker Follet". European Group of Organizational Studies (EGOS), 3-5 July, 2001. Lyon , France .

. (with David Brock & David Thomas) "Your forward is our reverse: Cultural considerations in strategic planning". Academy of International Business, 2000, Phoenix , Arizona .

. (with Nanette Monin) "Toggling" with Taylor : Recondite meaning and reader 'buy-in'. International Conference on Organizational Discourse, 24-26 July, 2000, King's University, London ). Paper deconstructs the original text of Frederick Taylor along, examining its Christian roots.

. (with Denise Conroy) "Personal Constructs of Organizational Change: Voices of the NZ Polytechnic Sector." New Zealand OD Network Annual Meeting (20-21 June, 1999, Rotorua , New Zealand ). Paper uses a combination of ethnographic and personal construct psychology methods to describe and analyse change and contestation in the NZ Polytechnic sector.

. " Reading for a change: Using expressive stylistics in organizational change processes." International Conference on Language in Organizational Change and Transformation: What Makes a Difference? (14-18 May,1999, Columbus , Ohio ). This invited paper develops change-based reading strategies that might be applied to organizational intervention.

. "Drawing out the group: The use of drawing in exploring group process." Academy of Management Meetings (1998, San Diego ). The paper recounts a number of my discoveries about using drawings with work groups.

. (with Michael Elmes) "Narcissism in the death zone: Everest, disaster, and self-centred organization." Academy of Management Meetings (1998, San Diego ). This paper continues some long standing research that Michael and I have been doing on organizational disaster.

. (with Mary Ann Hazen) "The safe emergency in organizational development." Academy of Management Meetings (1997, Boston ). This paper is a modified version of the work above.

. (with Nanette Monin) "Magic in the virtual organization of the future: A metaphoric analysis." (December, 1996). Proceedings of the Australian New Zealand Academy of Management , Wollongong , Australia . Using rhetorical theory, this paper considers how virtual organizations use magic-based thinking in order to function.

. (with Michael Elmes) "Strategy-as-story: Towards a narrative approach to strategic discourse. (August, 1996), Academy of Management Meetings ( Cincinnati ) . This is a revised version of the paper described above.

. "Linking narrative therapy to organizational change and development" (July, 1996), Narratives and Metaphors Across the Disciplines: An International Conference ( Auckland ). Presented a recent experiment in applying narrative family therapy techniques to an organizational change effort.

. "Symboconstructive Inquiry in Organizational Settings," in the July, 1995 SCOS Proceedings (Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism). Outlines the symbolist theory which underpins my symbolic constructivist method.

. (with Michael Elmes) "Reconstructing the Strategic Self: From Making Plans to Telling Tales," in the July, 1995 SCOS Proceedings (Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism). Discusses a reconstructionist approach to strategic management based on narrative theory.

. "Making the Invisible Visible: Using Analogically-based Methods to Surface the Organizational Unconscious." (August, 1994), Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings . This paper summarizes a process I've developed that uses art-therapeutic methods to create new forms of understanding in work environments.

. (with David Brock) "Planning Contingencies: Reframing the Strategy-Planning Relationship," in the December, 1994 Proceedings of the Australian New Zealand Academy of Management , Wellington , New Zealand . Paper melds several mainstream approaches to strategy, using a contingency framework.

. "Shadows in the House of Work: Using Symboconstructive Techniques in the Management Classroom," in the December, 1994 Proceedings of the International Organization Behaviour Teaching Conference , Dunedin , New Zealand . Utilized a particular form of symboconstruction to elicit unconscious discomforts at work.

. "Making the Invisible Visible", presented in the OD division of the 1994 Academy of Management in Dallas (see above listing under Papers Published).

. (with Ron Cook). "Shaping the secondary environment: A study of small business influence attempts in the political sector". Paper presented at the Academy of Management National Meeting , Atlanta , GA , August, 1993. Paper summarizes a three year field study of public policy influence strategies by the smaller firm. A model is developed for when and how to create political influence attempts.

. "Exploring Boundaries using the Classroom-As-Organization Pedagogy". Presented at the Organizational Behaviour Teaching Conference, 1992, Richmond , VA. Presentation stressed the developmental aspects of organizational boundary setting.

. (with Stephen Carroll). "Managerial agendas." Presented at the Academy of Management National Meeting, Washington D.C. , August, 1989. Description of grounded theory of agenda work.

. (with Phillip Fanara). "The effect of regulation on utility pricing." Presentation given at the Atlantic Economic Meetings, Washington , D.C. , September, 1985. Presentation summarized research that looked at the impact of federal regulation on utility prices.

other presentations and forums

. Organized the Organizational Art Summit (November, 2004), which gathered 20 of the world's leading artists who work with organizations to work for four days on developing a book on the area (see 'Books' section).

. Organized the Fringe Café at the 2003 (Seattle) and 2004 ( New Orleans ) Academy of Management Meetings. These were pathbreaking All-Academy events which introduced a three day conversation-based (vs. presentational) forum which promoted a number of critical discussions. Contributers included Jim March, Karl Weick, Chris Argyris, Joanne Martin, Peter Senge, Mary Jo Hatch. Co-organizers included Michael Dawids, Hans Hansen, Steve Taylor, and Gail Whiteman.

. "On narrative leadership". 2002. Presented at the Learning Lab Denmark Agora, Copenhagen .