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Organization: From Substance to Image?

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Image und PR

Abstract

This paper discusses the increased theoretical and practical interest in the ideational dimensions of organizations, with particular emphasis on corporate images. The role of these internally in organizations, and not only for the regulation of external relations, in large parts of the modern economy is emphasized. The preconditions for the appearance of images as objects of systematic control and instrumental action in organizations are investigated. A broad trend in modern corporate life is portrayed and conceptualized as a development from a strong focusing on “Substantive” issues to an increased emphasis on dealing with images as a critical aspect of organizational functioning and management. This means, among other things, that pseudo-events, pseudo-actions and pseudo-structures, i.e. phenomena which has the purpose of producing effects on people’s impressions and definition of reality, are important features of modern management and organization.

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Authors

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Wolfgang Armbrecht Horst Avenarius Ulf Zabel

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© 1993 Westdeutscher Verlag GmbH, Opladen

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Alvesson, M. (1993). Organization: From Substance to Image?. In: Armbrecht, W., Avenarius, H., Zabel, U. (eds) Image und PR. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-85729-3_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-85729-3_8

  • Publisher Name: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-531-12466-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-322-85729-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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