Comparative Analysis of Employee Sensemaking across business units in a large organization: Implications for Organisational Sensegiving
Date
2024-04-09
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Abstract
The aim of this study is twofold: a) to compare employee sensemaking across corporate and operational business units within a large organization; and b) to examine the sensegiving role of the organization. The research is situated in the context of the transition to remote work prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It seeks to investigate how employees in different business units, specifically corporate and operational, have navigated the shift to remote work amidst the pandemic and the associated nuances and considerations. Previous studies on remote work have predominantly focused on scenarios where only a fraction of the workforce operated remotely or with flexible arrangements, typically on an infrequent or part-time basis. The evolution of research on sensemaking has progressed from a solely retrospective process to one that incorporates prospective elements, as well as recognizing the organization's role as a sensegiver. However, there exists a dearth of literature exploring how the sensemaking process varies across distinct business units within an organization, how organizations effectively manage this variance, and what considerations are imperative as they undertake the role of sensegiver. Given the significance of identity within the sensemaking process (Weick et al., 2005), it is essential to explore the potential disparities in how employees across various functional roles within a business engage in sensemaking, as well as the considerations organizations must bear in mind as they fulfill the role of sensegiver. The context of the pandemic presents an unprecedented opportunity to examine sensemaking due to its magnitude, intricacy, and volatile nature. This research endeavors to contribute to the existing literature on remote work, sensemaking, sensegiving within organizational settings, and managerial practices pertinent to sensegiving in the workplace.
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Keywords
sensemaking, sensegiving, sensemaker, remote work, virtual work, organizational change, sensegiver
Citation
Soomar, Z. (2024). Comparative analysis of employee sensemaking across business units in a large organization: implications for organisational sensegiving (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.