Innovation through participa-tion - The role of discourse

Tuomas Kamppila14.12.2012

Innovation through participa-tion - The role of discourse

Tuomas Kamppila14.12.2012

Innovation through participa-tion - The role of discourse

Tuomas Kamppila14.12.2012

Innovation through participa-tion - The role of discourse

Tuomas Kamppila14.12.2012

Innovation? Creativity?

“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.”  -Linus Pauling

“Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shal-low.”-Linus Torvalds

Surely two Linuses can't be wrong.

Participation?

OK, let’s get down to business...

The critical discursive perspective.

Disabling

Enabling

6 discourses on participation

Mystification

Disciplining

Technologization

Self-actualization

Dialogization

Concretization

Mantere, Vaara (2008)

Let’s make sense of it: Identify & discuss discourses.

Has any of this happened in your organization?

Did it enable or disable people to participate? What was the outcome for your organization?

...Be honest

That’s a lot of discourse

Let’s connect with the framework

Disabling

Enabling

6 discourses on participation

Mystification

Disciplining

Technologization

Self-actualization

Dialogization

Concretization

Mantere, Vaara (2008)

Conception: process driven by statements not to be questioned or criticized, access to information is restricted, closed workshops, use of experts

Role of management: preacher, central roleRole of employees: follower, not to question managers

Effect on participation: managers generate, employees implement

Mystification

Conception: command structures, organizational control mechanisms, access to information restricted

Role of management: heroes with responsibility, punishing disobedienceRole of employees: follow the guidelines and the rules

Effect on participation: managers’ central role legitimated, participation when permitted

Disciplining

Conception: follow a specific system with rules, info controlled

Role of management: define the systemsRole of employees: follow the system, expert power

Effect on participation: specific systems legitimated, limiting new perspectives

Technologization

Conception: finding meaning, ideally emancipation, micro-level decisions and workshops

Role of management: all can participateRole of employees: all can participate

Effect on participation: legitimates group and individual efforts and even conflicting ideas

Self-actualization

Conception: constructive dialogue between different groups, concrete negotiations for different stakeholders

Role of management: key decision-makersRole of employees: participation allowed

Effect on participation: legitimates managers’ key role, helps give voice to others

Dialogization

Conception: transparent, concrete rules and practices for everyday decision-making

Role of management: key decision-makers but follow joint rulesRole of employees: participate as specified by the joint rules

Effect on participation: helps demystify decision-making & legitimate participation

Concretization

Avoid ”Tom Sawyer” thinking Decide where to open up – and where not to

open up Be of the community – not above the

community

How to change? Some thoughts

Chris Grams, 2012

One year from nowUntil the end of the year

Today

Take-away: what will you do differently?

Thank you!

Tuomas Kamppila14.12.2012