Possible opening angle

347 Pages·2015·4.58 MB·English

How do leaders, in a multiple leader context, give sense to the
same strategic change?

By Karl St John Anderson B.A. (Hos)
Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland
School of Business
August 2015

Head of School: Professor Peter McNamara
Supervisor of Research: Professor Robert Galavan

i
Abstract
For organisational leaders, managing change is a primary management activity
(By, 2005). Reflecting this significance as a management function, there is now a
substantial body of literature and many dynamic models and ‘recipes’ advising
managers how to deal with change. While models and recipes abound, there is
little research that examines the micro processes at work when leaders engage in
organisational change initiatives. This study directly addressed that gap. Utilising
novel methods, it digs deep into one vital aspect of organisational change; that is
how leaders give sense to strategic change. The study is set in a multi-leader
context where leaders compete to give sense to the same change.
Theoretically, the investigation is grounded in sensegiving (Gioia & Chittipeddi,
1991) which is recognised as an effective lens for the investigation of leadership
behaviour during change. The sensegiving literature is rich in describing what
leaders do when they attempt to give sense, but this still evolving field holds
many gaps in our understanding of how leaders go about giving sense. This study
presents a unique contribution to address the imbalance and offers advancements
in sensegiving theory, method, and practice.
The study adopts a critical realist stance (Bhaskar, 1979) which facilitates the
examination of underlying tendencies of generative mechanisms at play during
leader sensegiving. It uses a case study (Eisenhardt, 1989) approach to conduct
an inductive and retroductive qualitative data analysis (Miles and Huberman,
1994) of naturally occurring data. Moving beyond traditional framing analysis
the study draws on argument theory (Toulmin, 1958) and extends this to
incorporate the structure of Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals. In doing so it allows for
an in-depth micro level analysis that unpacks the sensegiving behaviour of
leaders and exposes the generative mechanisms in a multi-leader context as they
attempt to give sense to the same strategic change.
This is an innovative approach in this field and its novelty has yielded dividends.
The study makes five important contributions. 1. It demonstrates the potential for
advancement of knowledge through the adoption of a critical realist stance to
sensegiving research. 2. It presents a unique research method to unpack multiple
leader sensegiving and moves beyond the repetition associated with framing
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analysis. 3. It identifies how proponents and opponents of the same strategic
change use different argument and rhetorical strategies when attempting to give
sense. 4. It presents an original theoretical model which conceptualises sense, not
as a cognition that is given as the name suggests, but a cognition that emerges
from episodes of meaning giving to environmental cues, sense creation for
common sensegiving targets and articulation. 5. It identifies that these processes
are underpinned by patterns of behaviour which can, because they can be
exercised differently by proponents and opponents, create a myriad of meaning
and sense creation possibilities.
For the academic community these findings contribute to both method and theory.
For leaders of organisational change it provides a useful model to enable them
identify how their sensegiving attempts, and those of their opponents, are
constructed thus enabling the design and implementation of more effective
change strategies.
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Acknowledgements
To Robert for sharing so very generously his deep reservoir of knowledge,
practical know how, encouragement, clarity of thought, patience, belief and sense
of humour.
To my colleagues at the School of Business at Maynooth University who were
always available and willing to share their wisdom, positive help and their books!
To the academics I have met along the way who gave their time and knowledge
liberally. Fleeting conversations over a conference lunch can be a lot more
helpful than they might seem at the time!
To my fellow travellers in what has been dubbed the centre for academic
excellence in the School of Business, commonly known as the PhD room, for the
many belly laughs.
To my very special friends, who have put up with my boring conversations,
shallow excuses and in return provided regular and very powerful words of
encouragement; Maureen, Phil, Brendan, Marion, Jean and particularly Susan.
To my family, but especially my fantastic sons Devin, Daron and Cian for
enabling me in so many different ways to pursue this path - no father could be
more proud of you.

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Abstract…………………………………………………………………………ii
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………..iv
Content………………………………………………………………………….v
Appendices….…………………………………………………………………..ix
List of Tables….………………………………………………………………..x
List of Figures….……………………………………………………………....xi

Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview .......................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Thesis structure ............................................................................................. 1
1.3 The journey to this study .............................................................................. 2
1.3.1 Reforming health and social care in Ireland ......................................... 3
1.4 Organisational change and leader behaviour ................................................ 6
1.4.1 A more granular approach to leadership and change .......................... 13
1.5 Addressing the gaps with sensemaking and sensegiving ........................... 16
1.6 Summary..................................................................................................... 19

Chapter 2: Literature Review I (Search) ...................................................... 21
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 21
2.2 Systematic literature reviews and management research ........................... 21
2.3 Systematic literature search ........................................................................ 26
2.3.1 Confirming the review question .......................................................... 26
2.3.2 Scoping Study ..................................................................................... 27
2.3.2.1 Step 1: Preliminary identification of relevant articles .............. 27
2.3.2.2 Step 2: Identification of the citation history .............................. 29
2.3.2.3 Step 3: Cross checking results ................................................... 30
2.3.3 Search string development .................................................................. 31
2.3.3.1 Identifying additional search terms ........................................... 34
2.3.3.2 Editing output of Reviews 1-3 .................................................... 36
2.3.4 Executing the data base search ............................................................ 37
2.3.4.1 Alternative search strategy ........................................................ 39
2.3.4.2 Simplifying the search string ..................................................... 39
2.3.4.3 Searching two databases ........................................................... 41
2.3.4.4 Exploratory review of literature identified from searches ........ 42
2.3.4.5 Setting inclusion and exclusion criteria .................................... 44
2.3.4.6 1st round of literature filtering .................................................. 45
2.3.4.7 2nd round of literature filtering................................................. 46
2.4 Summary..................................................................................................... 47

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Chapter 3: Literature Review II (Synthesis) ................................................ 49
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 49
3.2 Setting the scene for sensegiving ............................................................... 49
3.2.1 The challenges of leader sensegiving research ................................... 54
3.2.1.1 Sense must be offered before it can be given ............................. 57
3.2.1.2 Meaning giving and sense creation precedes sense offering .... 58
3.2.1.3 Power influences meaning giving and sense creation ............... 61
3.2.1.4 Sensegiving variants are used to enhance plausibility .............. 64
3.3 Defining change.......................................................................................... 67
3.3.1 Different types of organisational change ............................................ 67
3.3.2 Leadership for stability or change ....................................................... 70
3.3.3 Defining a strategic change environment ............................................ 73
3.4 Summary .................................................................................................... 74

Chapter 4: Research Methodology and Research Method ......................... 77
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 77
4.2 Research aim .............................................................................................. 78
4.3 Research Philosophy – Overview ............................................................... 79
4.3.1 The epistemology and ontology spectrum .......................................... 80
4.4 Sensegiving, sensemaking and social constructionism .............................. 83
4.5 Critical realism ........................................................................................... 88
4.6 Which philosophy is more ‘real’? .............................................................. 91
4.7 The case for a critical realist worldview ..................................................... 93
4.8 Research Approach ..................................................................................... 95
4.9 Research Design ......................................................................................... 98
4.10 Time horizon ............................................................................................ 101
4.11 Data collection methods ........................................................................... 101
4.12 Summary................................................................................................... 102

Chapter 5: Development of data analysis method (Part I) ....................... 104
5.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 104
5.2 Case study selection ................................................................................. 105
5.3 Background to the case study selected ..................................................... 109
5.4 Development of the case study’s data analysis method ........................... 111
5.5 Data collection .......................................................................................... 114
5.6 Data reduction .......................................................................................... 116
5.6.1 Exploratory Study 1: Coding using social movement framing ......... 116
5.6.1.1 Review of Exploratory Study 1 ................................................ 126
5.6.2 Exploratory Study 2 (Part 1): Coding frames with claims ................ 127
5.6.2.1 Application of the Toulmin Model ........................................... 131
5.6.2.2 Review of Exploratory Study 2 (Part 1)................................... 137
5.6.3 Exploratory Study 2 (Part 2): Refinement of the coding protocol .... 139
5.6.3.1 Review of Exploratory Study 2 (Part 2)................................... 141
5.7 Summary................................................................................................... 142

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Chapter 6: Development of data analysis method (Part II) ...................... 145
6.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 145
6.2 Exploratory Study 3: Developing the coding protocol ............................. 146
6.2.1 From framing blocks to text segments .............................................. 146
6.2.2 Claim – Grounds, Claim – No Grounds or Statement? ..................... 146
6.2.3 Coding the complete data set ............................................................ 147
6.2.4 Warrants to rhetorical appeals ........................................................... 148
6.2.5 Applying the coding protocol to a sample of the data set ................. 151
6.2.6 Pilot testing the coding protocol for inter-coder reliability ............... 158
6.2.6.1 Pilot Test 1 ............................................................................... 159
6.2.6.2 Pilot Test 2 ............................................................................... 164
6.2.7 Dual coding the complete data set .................................................... 166
6.2.8 Electronically matching the codes to the data set ............................. 167
6.3 Coding statistics........................................................................................ 171
6.4 Summary................................................................................................... 172

Chapter 7: Data displays, and testing and confirmation........................... 174
7.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 174
7.2 Data Display 1 – Strategies underpinning all text segments .................... 175
7.2.1 Data Display 1 - Findings ................................................................. 177
7.3 Data display 2 – Strategies underpinning Sensegiving Targets ............... 181
7.3.1 Data Display 2 - Findings ................................................................. 182
7.4 Summary of findings from Data Displays 1 and 2 ................................... 184
7.5 Data display 3 – Speaker Groups and the Sensegiving Targets ............... 185
7.5.1 Immersion in data set ........................................................................ 186
7.5.1.1 Sensegiving Target 1 – HSE .................................................... 187
7.5.1.2 Sensegiving Target 2 – IPU ..................................................... 189
7.5.1.3 Sensegiving Target 3 – Change ............................................... 191
7.5.1.4 Sensegiving Target 4 – Solution .............................................. 194
7.5.1.5 Sensegiving Target 5 – Impact ................................................ 196
7.6 Drawing conclusions and verification ...................................................... 198
7.6.1 Data Display 4 – HSE Group text segments ..................................... 200
7.6.2 Data Display 5 – IPU Group text segments ...................................... 206
7.6.3 Data Display 6 – Politicians Group text segments ............................ 211
7.6.4 Verifying pattern 5 ............................................................................ 217
7.7 There’s more to sensegiving than giving sense ........................................ 220
7.8 A model of how leaders give sense in a multi-leader context .................. 225
7.9 Summary................................................................................................... 229

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Chapter 8: Discussion and conclusion ........................................................ 231
8.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 231
8.2 Breaking and manipulating sense ............................................................. 233
8.2.1 Breaking sense to give sense ............................................................. 234
8.2.2 Using manipulation to give sense ..................................................... 241
8.2.3 Shortcomings of sensebreaking and sensmanipulation ..................... 243
8.3 Legitimacy ................................................................................................ 245
8.3.1 Identity and legitimacy...................................................................... 251
8.4 Generative mechanism underpinning leader sensegiving ........................ 255
8.5 Contribution .............................................................................................. 257
8.5.1 Contribution to methodology and method ........................................ 258
8.5.2 Contribution to theory ....................................................................... 259
8.5.3 Contribution to practice .................................................................... 260
8.6 Limitations of this study ........................................................................... 261
8.7 Future research ......................................................................................... 262
References ………………………………………………………………….…314

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Appendix 1 – Search results ........................................................................... 264
Appendix 2 – Results of Step 3 of systematic literature search ................... 270
Appendix 3 – Result of search string clustering ........................................... 272
Appendix 4 – Subject areas excluded from searches .................................... 276
Appendix 5 – Inclusion – Exclusion Criteria 2 (IE2) ................................... 279
Appendix 6 – Sensegiving studies ................................................................... 280
Appendix 7 - Background on the role of Government Committees............ 286
Appendix 8 - Frame analysis of selected text in Explanatory Study 1........ 290
Appendix 9 - Revised coding form developed for Exploratory Study 3. .... 303
Appendix 10 – Final coding manual .............................................................. 304

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List of Tables
Table 2-1: Search words used in the scoping study reflected three of the review
question’s four dimensions. .................................................................................. 28
Table 2-2: Additional articles identified. .............................................................. 30
Table 2-3: Results of Review 1. ........................................................................... 35
Table 2-4: Results of Review 2. ........................................................................... 35
Table 2-5: Results of Review 3 ............................................................................ 36
Table 2-6: Results of search of Academic Search Complete (EBSCO) using
search string and various filters. ........................................................................... 38
Table 2-7: Cumulative output of database searches. ............................................ 41
Table 2-8: Cumulative output of scoping study, pilot review of literature and
electronic database searches. ................................................................................ 43
Table 2-9: Output of 1st round of filtering. .......................................................... 45
Table 2-10: Output of 2nd round of filtering. ....................................................... 47
Table 5-1: Result of data collection from all Oireachtas Committee on Health and
Children and Public Accounts Committee meetings. ......................................... 116
Table 5-2: The 17 framing tactics identified by Vogel (2011). .......................... 123
Table 5-3: The coding taxonomy used during Exploratory Study 1. ................. 123
Table 5-4: Sub frames developed during Exploratory Study 1. ......................... 126
Table 5-5: Targets of frames. ............................................................................. 135
Table 5-6: Result of coding of frames and Claims made by Professor Brendan
Drumm (CEO of HSE) during his opening Statement. ...................................... 136
Table 5-7: Result of coding of Frames and Claims made by Mr Michael Guickian
(President of the IPU) during his opening Statement. ........................................ 137
Table 6-1: Agreement among coders as measured by Cohen’s kappa coefficient.
............................................................................................................................ 160
Table 6-2: Comparison of coding of Guest Coder A and Guest coder B. .......... 161
Table 6-3: Coding of Guest Coder B and Researcher. ....................................... 162
Table 6-4: Coding of Guest Coder B and the Researcher excluding No Matches.
............................................................................................................................ 162
Table 6-5: Coding of Guest Coder A and the Researcher. ................................. 163
Table 6-6: Sensegiving Targets. ......................................................................... 169
Table 6-7: Final definitions of codes used. ......................................................... 170
Table 6-8: No of codes applied to complete data set. ......................................... 171
Table 6-9: Total codes applied. .......................................................................... 172
Table 7-1: Summary of the data displays. .......................................................... 175
Table 7-2: % of all text segments which were Claims – Grounds. .................... 178
Table 7-3: Statements and Claims in text segments. .......................................... 183
Table 7-4: Patterns and relationships identified. ................................................ 199
Table 8-1: Sensebreaking motivations and strategies (Lawrence and Maitlis,
2014). .................................................................................................................. 236
Table 8-2: Example of positive and negative identity construction. .................. 253
Table 8-3: Summary contribution ....................................................................... 257
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