search query: @indexterm CONSULTANTS / total: 285
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Author: | Pellegrin-Boucher, E. |
Title: | Symbolic functions of consultants |
Journal: | Journal of General Management
2006 : VOL. 32:2, p. 1-16 |
Index terms: | consultants |
Freeterms: | symbolic |
Language: | eng |
Abstract: | Two opposed concepts underlie most management consulting research. The first concept developed in the late 1960s argued the consulting process involves an expert who transfers knowledge to the staff of organisations. The second one developed in the 1980s highlights the negative impact of consulting. Consultants are considered as perilous symbol manipulators who use rhetorical symbols to persuade organisations to use their services. The paper attempts to demonstrate that the symbolic function of consultants can be beneficial and enforce organisational change. A theoretical framework is used to demonstrate that consultants' symbolic value is essential for consultants to fulfil their symbolic functions. These functions include legitimation, signalling and sensemaking. |
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