Narrative Methods for Organizational & Communication Research

By David M. Boje

Book Overview

An essential guide for academics and researchers needing to look at alternative discourse analysis strategies. As a research tool, narrative methods have become increasingly useful in organization studies, where much research involves the interpretation of "stories" in some form. This methodology can be applied where qualitative story analyses can help to assess interview, newspaper or web document stories for research projects. In this book, Boje sets out eight analysis options that can deal with storytelling, recognizing that stories in organizations can be self-destructing, flowing, networking and not at all static. In so doing, he shows ways in which narrative methods can be supplemented by "anti-narrative" methods, where fragmented and collective storytelling can be interpreted. A valuable resource that will be widely used in organizational or communications research, for graduate level qualitative methods seminars and by researchers wanting to do story analysis.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761965866
• ISBN13: 9780761965862
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

An excellent overview of story analysis

David Boje's overview of how scholars analyze the relationship between story and subsequent narrative captures the attention of anyone enthralled or disturbed by either grand narrative or its critics. He opens the way for understanding diverse methods for understanding antenarrative, i.e. the stories before "the story." While the book contains a handful of unfortunate typographical errors, the clarity of presentation allows the reader to identify these typos readily. This signals for me the readability of this slim volume that takes a complex topic and makes it accessible to novices like me.

Excellent guide on conducting narrative review

Many books explain "what" to do when conducting research but David Boje goes one step further and explains also "how". As a PhD student this book has greatly assisted my research efforts. It provides detailed description of how to apply narrative methods and many helpful comments balancing concerns and some of the dangers to overcome when doing this type of work. Very readable and informative.

A story of narrative research

David Boje outlines an excellent model for research in an organizational studies area that is of increasing interest. His model details how researchers can gain insight into a variety of contexts across a variety of narrative types. Students of organizational studies and experienced researchers alike needing to expand their research horizons would do well to join the conversation that Boje began and continues.

Great book on Narrative

Boje, D. M. (2001). Narrative Methods for Organizational and Communication Research. London: Sage. New Book that contains several analyses on Nike and Athletic Apparel narratives, and the concept of "antenarrative."Comments by Dr Adrian Carr on a new book by Professor David Boje David Boje is a pioneering theorist in organization studies and management, being one of those who introduced these fields to postmodernism and story-telling. He is also a Socratic gadfly in these fields, reminding us of precision and clarity in the terms and concepts we employ. "Narrative and Antenarrative MethodsÉ" is yet another example of BojeÕs pioneering spirit and concern for exactitude. We humans are story-telling creatures, of this there is no doubt. BojeÕs scholarly account of narrative and antenarrative methods is both corrective and exploratory of how stories must be understood in terms of their own internal dynamics, and not viewed as static entities. Apart from correcting misconceptions and sloppy scholarship about narrative, Boje outlines eight antenarrative forms of analysis. By "antenarrative" (not antinarrative), Boje has his sights set on the fragmented and polyphonic character of stories. Narrative analysis has repeatedly failed to capture the ÔlivingÕ stories. Indeed, narrative analysis has almost set itself apart from the story itself, as though it were somehow superior to the story it is supposed to reflect and providing a coherence and gloss that is not in character with the story. How does one acknowledge and reflect the fragmented, polyphonic and collectively produced nature of stories? BojeÕs book is a magnificent start to dealing with such crucial questions. A book that breaks new ground in organizational analysis, this is a must-read for researchers and practitioners in the fields of organization and management studies.Dr Adrian Carr Principal Research Fellow School of Social, Community and Organization Studies University of Western Sydney Australia