Abstract
The paradoxical traits of the jester are highlighted by constructing a typology of the role the jester plays and might play in management learning. The metaphor of the jester, used constructively, offers a unique window on the contradictions of organizational studies and their paradoxical role in relation to corporate practices. Wisely used, the role of jester can serve to counter dogmas, absurdities and rigidities. The element of ambivalence in jesting opens a space for critique without presuming to know what should be done. The wise fool embodies paradox by exposing the contradictions of organizing practices. Some forms of jesting are more generative than others. Liberating laughter is a wise and undervalued way in which management learning can occur.
Keywords: jester, organization studies, paradox, humour, laughter.
Stewart Clegg| D. Phil (D. Phil (Umeå) D.Litt (UTS) Ph.D (Bradford) BSc. Hons (Aston)
Emeritus Professor, UTS Business School – Management Department
Stewart Clegg is Emeritus Professor of Management and Organization Studies at the University of Technology Sydney. A sociologist, he has published widely in the sociology, management and politics literatures, in most of the leading journals. He is a Visiting Professor at University of Stavanger, Norway and at Nova School of Business and Economics in Carcavelos, Portugal. Widely acknowledged as one of the most significant contemporary theorists of power relations he is also one of the most influential contributors to organization studies, recognized as such by a number of awards.
EGOS Honourary Member
EURAM Distinguished Fellow
Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Social Sciences
Fellow of the Academy of Management
Distinguished Fellow ANZAM
Fellow of the British Academy of the Social Sciences
Aston Fellow
Recent books
Maclean, M., Clegg, S. R., Suddaby, R. & Harvey, C. (2021) Historical Organization Studies: Theory and Applications. London: Routledge.
Clegg, S. R., Skyttermoen, T. and Vaagaasar, A. L. (2020) Project Management: A Value Creation Approach. London: Sage.
Clegg, S. R., Schweitzer, J., Pitelis, C., and Whittle, A. (2020) Strategy: Theory & Practice, London: Sage. (Wholly new rewritten edition with new authorial team).
Cunha, M. P. e, Rego, A., Simpson, A and Clegg, S. R., (2020) Positive Organizational Behaviour, London: Routledge.
Giustiniano, L., Clegg, S. R., Cunha, M. P., and Rego, A. (2019) Elgar introduction to Theories of Organizational Resilience, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
Bygdås, A. L., Clegg, S. R and Hagen, A. L. (2019) Media Management and Digital Transformation, London: Routledge.
Clegg, S. R & Pina e Cunha, M. (2019) Management, Organizations and Contemporary Social Theory. London: Routledge.
Clegg, S. R., Kornberger, M., Pitsis, T, and Mount, M. (2019) Managing and Organizations: an introduction to theory and practice, London: Sage, Fifth edition.
Forthcoming books
Pina e Cunha, M., Clegg, S.R., Rego, A. & Berti, M. (2021) Paradoxes of Power and Leadership. London: Routledge.
Berti, M., Simpson, A., Pina e Cunha, M. & Clegg, S.R., (2021) Elgar Introduction to Organizational Paradox Theory. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Clegg, S. R., Ke, Y., Devkar, G, Mangione, G, Shankar, S. (2021) Infrastructure Development: A Critical International Perspective on Value in Public-Private Partnerships. Cheltenham: Elgar.
Recent awards
Edith Penrose Award (INSEAD/EURAM) 2020 for Trail Blazing Research
Best paper award EURAM 2020 for “Research movements and theorizing dynamics in management and organization studies,”
Winner of Association of Project Management Paper of the Year Award 2020: “Branding and governmentality for infrastructure megaprojects: The role of social media.” International Journal of Project Management, 37 (1), 59-72.
Winner of the Paper of the Year Award 2019: “Organizational Creativity as Idea Work: Intertextual Placing and Legitimating Imaginings in Media Development and Oil Exploration” , Human Relations.
Outstanding Paper in the 2019 EmeraldLiterati Awards: “Megaprojects redefined- complexity versus cost- and social imperatives” International Journal of Managing Projects in Business.
Outstanding Paper in the 2019 EmeraldLiterati Awards: “Why doesn’t performance management perform?” International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management.