Stefanie Reissner

Since the early 2000s, storytelling as a means of managerial communication has been increasingly advocated, with a focus on the management practices of leadership, change and organizational culture. Most research on storytelling in management practice derives from practitioner experience, but little is known about the specific dynamics behind storytelling as a tool for managerial communication. This book derives from one of the first research studies into storytelling in management practice, which sought to evaluate the assumed, but not necessarily proven, effectiveness of storytelling as a management tool. Building on existing theories of narrative and storytelling in organizations, the book explores how managers use storytelling in their daily practice, revealing that it can be employed both, purposively - like a tool, and perceptively - spontaneously and intuitively. The book explains that storytelling has different functions in management practice at different levels of the organization, such as:Creating direction for the organizationTranslating strategic messages into operational ones and supporting the professional development of staffShaping the organization’s social fabric through the sharing of personal storiesAided by a wealth of interviews and case studies, Storytelling in Management Practice reveals an analysis of the dynamic relationship between story, storyteller, audience and organizational context. As such, it will be useful for students and researchers working across a variety of sub-disciplines, including: leadership, organizational behaviour and business communication.

Since the early 2000s, storytelling as a means of managerial communication has been increasingly advocated, with a focus on the management practices of leadership, change and organizational culture. Most research on storytelling in management practice derives from practitioner experience, but little is known about the specific dynamics behind storytelling as a tool for managerial communication. This book derives from one of the first research studies into storytelling in management practice, which sought to evaluate the assumed, but not necessarily proven, effectiveness of storytelling as a management tool. Building on existing theories of narrative and storytelling in organizations, the book explores how managers use storytelling in their daily practice, revealing that it can be employed both, purposively - like a tool, and perceptively - spontaneously and intuitively. The book explains that storytelling has different functions in management practice at different levels of the organization, such as:Creating direction for the organizationTranslating strategic messages into operational ones and supporting the professional development of staffShaping the organization’s social fabric through the sharing of personal storiesAided by a wealth of interviews and case studies, Storytelling in Management Practice reveals an analysis of the dynamic relationship between story, storyteller, audience and organizational context. As such, it will be useful for students and researchers working across a variety of sub-disciplines, including: leadership, organizational behaviour and business communication.

Split into the core areas of managing yourself and others, transferable management skills and postgraduate study skills, this is an ideal textbook for CIPD advanced level students and those on non-CIPD business masters degrees. Covering the theory and practice of the key topics needed for successful professional development and practice, Developing Skills for Business Leadership includes content on interpersonal and communication skills, managing information and projects in both academic and professional contexts, change management, decision making, managing financial resources and data analysis. This new edition has been fully updated throughout and now includes new material on on building and managing virtual teams, remote and hybrid working arrangements, resolving conflict, organizational learning and development as well as working across diverse cultures and how to foster inclusion. This book provides everything that students will need to manage teams in the workplace, make sound and justifiable business decisions and effectively lead, engage and influence others. Chapters are supported by 'development zones', examples, case studies and 'pause for thought' boxes to consolidate learning and help students with no prior business experience put the skills into context and see how they apply in the workplace. Online resources include a student guide, PowerPoint slides, lecturer manual, and downloadable templates.

Split into the core areas of managing yourself and others, transferable management skills and postgraduate study skills, this is an ideal textbook for CIPD advanced level students and those on non-CIPD business masters degrees. Covering the theory and practice of the key topics needed for successful professional development and practice, Developing Skills for Business Leadership includes content on interpersonal and communication skills, managing information and projects in both academic and professional contexts, change management, decision making, managing financial resources and data analysis. This new edition has been fully updated throughout and now includes new material on on building and managing virtual teams, remote and hybrid working arrangements, resolving conflict, organizational learning and development as well as working across diverse cultures and how to foster inclusion. This book provides everything that students will need to manage teams in the workplace, make sound and justifiable business decisions and effectively lead, engage and influence others. Chapters are supported by 'development zones', examples, case studies and 'pause for thought' boxes to consolidate learning and help students with no prior business experience put the skills into context and see how they apply in the workplace. Online resources include a student guide, PowerPoint slides, lecturer manual, and downloadable templates.

Written for the CIPD module, Developing Skills for Business Leadership, this text is also ideal for postgraduate business students taking a module in professional development, career development or management skills.

Narratives of Organisational Change and Learning explores how organisations learn from profound change and create new futures through the narrative process of sense-making. Stefanie Reissner investigates change and learning through the comparative and contextual analysis of organisational stories. This timely and important book focuses on:how organisational actors make sense of, and learn from, profound change as exemplified by three manufacturing firms from Britain, South Africa and Russiathe interaction between organisational change and wider social, economic and political changes in the organisations' environments; their impact on the organisational actors' identity is also examinedthe complex responses to organisational change epitomised by patterns of stories prevalent in each of the three organisations, as well as important insights into often unacknowledged narrative processes of learning which result from profound change. This comprehensive, in-depth account will be warmly welcomed by academics and postgraduates, particularly MBA and doctoral students interested in organisational change, learning, and qualitative research, and will also appeal to management educators and management consultants.