Narrative Approaches in Organizational Studies

Narrative approaches in organisational studies explore how stories shape, reflect and transform organisational life. Rooted in social constructionism and sensemaking theory, this perspective treats narratives as both analytical lenses and practical tools. Researchers investigate how individuals and groups construct identities, legitimise power and navigate change through storytelling. Key strands include narrative identity, which examines how personal and collective self-understandings evolve through story, and organisational storytelling, which considers how leaders deploy narratives to communicate strategy, embed culture and manage crises. By attending to plot, character and metaphor, scholars reveal the tacit assumptions that underpin routines, hierarchies and relationships. This body of work spans qualitative methods such as narrative interviews, discourse analysis and participatory scenario workshops, emphasising interdisciplinary links with literary studies, psychology and the arts. Its global significance lies in offering accessible frameworks for practice: from crafting inclusive change narratives in multinational firms to using dramatic scenarios in leadership development. Narrative approaches thus provide both rigorous scholarship and concrete avenues for enhancing resilience, creativity and ethical reflection in complex organisational settings.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Narrative Approaches in Organizational Studies publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in narrative approaches in organizational studies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Narrative sensemaking: The process by which individuals use stories to interpret and give meaning to organisational events and changes.

Narrative identity: The evolving self-concept constructed through the stories individuals and groups tell about themselves within an organisation.

Extreme fiction: Radically imaginative scenarios that explore unprecedented events to test leadership and decision-making capacities.

Organisational storytelling: The intentional use of narratives to convey values, norms and strategic visions within an organisation.

References

1. Extreme fiction for leadership development. Management Learning (2024).
2. Organization and the arts: Critical conversations on expanding meanings and understandings of who matters. Organization (2023).
3. Constructing bridges between areas of knowledge: from literature to management. Organizações & Sociedade (2010).