Comparative Analysis of Employee Sensemaking across business units in a large organization: Implications for Organisational Sensegiving

Soomar, Zaheera

Comparative Analysis of Employee Sensemaking across business units in a large organization: Implications for Organisational Sensegiving

dc.contributor.advisor	Dewald, Jim
dc.contributor.author	Soomar, Zaheera
dc.contributor.committeemember	Hinings, Bob
dc.contributor.committeemember	Turner, Nick
dc.date	2024-06
dc.date.accessioned	2024-04-12T17:16:42Z
dc.date.available	2024-04-12T17:16:42Z
dc.date.issued	2024-04-09
dc.description.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.
dc.identifier.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.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/118394
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Haskayne School of Business
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	sensemaking
dc.subject	sensegiving
dc.subject	sensemaker
dc.subject	remote work
dc.subject	virtual work
dc.subject	organizational change
dc.subject	sensegiver
dc.subject.classification	Sociology--Organizational
dc.subject.classification	Business Administration--Management
dc.title	Comparative Analysis of Employee Sensemaking across business units in a large organization: Implications for Organisational Sensegiving
dc.type	doctoral thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Haskayne School of Business: Management
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.