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Symbolic frame educational lens 140725
- 1. The Symbolic Frame Organizational Symbols, Culture & Theater Using An Educational Lens
- 2. Name ONE word that comes to mind when you see each image? A B C E D
- 3. You created meaning from 5 images Meaning is what humans create based on their experiences (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 244). They are engaged in sense-making Humans translate meaning into symbols
- 4. • “Symbols are basic elements of culture that people shape to fit unique circumstances.” • “Symbols and symbolic actions are part of everyday life.” • “Symbols stimulate energy in moments of triumph and offer solace in times of tribulation” (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p.247 ) Symbols: why use them?
- 5. Symbols in action: Palio Horse Race: Siena, Italy
- 6. What are we going to do today? • Explore the various forms symbols take in demonstrating organizational cultures (Ch. 12) • Examine how symbolic elements are used to build team culture (Ch. 13) • Compare the symbolic messages found in theater to secular organizations (Ch. 14) The Symbolic Frame
- 7. • The Symbolic Frame is an alternate lens that people can use to view human behavior. • The Symbolic Frame focuses on how humans make sense and meaning of the world around them. • Meaning, faith and belief are central to this frame. (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p.244) What is the Symbolic Frame?
- 8. This chapter explores different symbolic elements associated with organizations. Organizational culture is defined as well as how its central role shapes performances within the institution. (Bolman & Deal, 2013) Ch.12-Organizational Symbols and Culture
- 9. Symbolic Elements: • Myths & Stories • Vision • Heroes and Heroines • Rituals & Ceremonies (Bolman & Deal, 2013) How do organizations use these elements to create their cultures?
- 10. This chapter shows what leaders and workers do collectively to create “a culture that bonds people in pursuit of a shared mission.” (Bolman & Deal, 2013) Ch. 13-Culture in Action
- 11. Building culture and a strong, cohesive team revolves around the social events and symbols of an organization. “The essence of high performance is spirit. If we were to banish play, ritual, ceremony, and myth from the workplace, we would destroy teamwork, not enhance it.” Culture in Action: Describe an example of this in the field of education? (Bolman & Deal, 2013, pp. 283-284)
- 12. This chapter uses “dramaturgical and institutional theory to reveal how organizational structures, activities, and events” are similar to dramatic performances on a stage. (Bolman & Deal, 2013) Ch. 14-Organization as Theater
- 13. Dramaturgy focuses on internal social interactions by individuals and internal situations • Example: – Relationships between actors & the scenes on stage – When people encounter each other, they will attempt to guide the impression that others see by changing their setting, appearance or mannerisms. At the same time, the opposite person is trying to form an opinion about the individual they encountered. Describe an example of Dramaturgy from your personal experience. (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 288)
- 14. Institutional theory focuses attention on the interface between organizations and their public audience. • Example: – Audience observes the “production” – The organization focuses more on the plan and how it is perceived by outsiders (The show) as opposed to the results. (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 288) What does Institutional theory look like in education?
- 15. Who pioneered these theories? Kenneth Burke He first made the connection between organizations and theaters. He believed that organizations have scripts and the members follow those guidelines to make it function. 1897-1993 (Bolman & Deal, 2013)
- 16. Who pioneered these theories? Erving Goffman He pioneered the use of theaters as metaphors for understanding how organizations worked. Goffman saw a connection between the kinds of acts that people put on in their daily life and theatrical performances. 1922-1982 (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 288)
- 17. What does this statement mean? Cite an example. “If an institution or its environment changes, theatrical refurbishing is needed. Audiences call for revisions in actors, scripts, or settings.” (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 292)
- 18. We can look at organizations as theaters in two ways: • Organizational Structure as Theater • Organizational Process as Theater Let’s take a brief look at each one. Organization as Theater
- 19. The “symbolic view approaches structure as a stage design: an arrangement of space, lighting, props, and costumes that make the drama vivid and credible to its audience.” Handout: • Examine the images in the handout. • Which organizational structure is being represented? How do you know? (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 291) Organizational Structure As Theater
- 20. In the “Process as Theater” view, people engage in work related activities that serve as scripts and stage markings for self-expressive opportunities, improvisation for grievances and amphitheaters for negotiations. • Six areas are highlighted: – Meetings, Planning, Evaluations, – Collective bargaining, Power – Managing expressions Let’s briefly discuss each one Organizational Process as Theater (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 293)
- 21. • “Meetings are magnets attracting individuals looking for something to do, problems seeking answers. And people bring solution in search of problems.” “They serve as expressive occasions to clear the air and promote collective bonding” • Audiences are given the feeling of reassurance Meetings that issues are getting attention (Bolman & Deal, 2013)
- 22. “Planning, then is an essential ceremony that organizations stage periodically to maintain legitimacy.” • For universities, Cohen and March (1974) listed four symbolic roles related to plans: • Plans are symbols • Plans become games • Plans become excuses for interaction • Plans become advertisements (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 294) Planning
- 23. “Evaluation as drama assures spectators that an organization is responsible, serious, and well managed. It shows that an organization take goals seriously and cares about performance and improvement.” Evaluation (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 296)
- 24. “The bargaining drama is designed to convince each side that the outcomes were the result of a heroic battle—often underscored by desperate, all-night, after-the-deadline rituals of combat that produce deal just when hope seems lost. (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 297) Collective Bargaining
- 25. “Power is typically viewed as a commodity that individuals or systems possess—something that can be seized, exercised, contested, or redistributed.” A Baseline for exercising power: “Successful leadership is having followers who believe in the power of the leader. By believing in the leader, “people are encouraged to link positive events with leadership behaviors.” Exercising Power (Bolman & Deal, 2013, pp.298-299)
- 26. Zott and Huy conducted a two-year field study that suggested symbols “may be more powerful than numbers in determining who gets” funding. The type of FUNDRAISER and how well it is executed will determine the success of getting investors to give money to the organization or gain new members. Managing impressions skillfully is a “theatrical performance.” Managing Impressions (Bolman & Deal, 2013, pp. 299-300)
- 27. What have we learned today? • The Symbolic Frame is an alternate lens that people can use to understand human behavior and culture within organizations. (Ch. 12) • Symbolic elements, such as rituals, stories, and vision are used to build team culture (Ch. 13) • Organizational structures, activities, and interactions are like dramatic performances on a stage. (Ch. 14) Summary
Editor's Notes
- Independently write your answer to the question on the slide. Then state the reason for your word selection. A-Jackson; B-Power; C-Cognition; D-Jordan; E-Welcome Ask the group to share out.
- Ch.12-Organizational Symbols and Culture “The symbolic frame highlights the tribal aspect of” organizations or groups. The frame “emphasizes the idea that symbols mediate the meaning of work. Myths, values, and vision bring cohesiveness, clarity, and direction in the presence of confusion and mystery.” (p. 270).
- Some people use their style of dress as a symbol or symbolic gesture. Tattoos, nose rings, spiked hair or other styles People rally around a group or organizational colors, flags or uniforms.
- The Palio Horse race in Siena, Italy is tribal in nature by neighborhood. It has lasted for over 800 years. People recognize their colors, banners, songs and uniforms of their representative. They use this as a rallying call.
- Ch.12-Organizational Symbols and Culture
- Ch.12-Organizational Symbols and Culture
- Ch.12-Organizational Symbols and Culture “The symbolic frame highlights the tribal aspect of” organizations or groups. The frame “emphasizes the idea that symbols mediate the meaning of work. Myths, values, and vision bring cohesiveness, clarity, and direction in the presence of confusion and mystery.” (p. 270).
- Explain how these elements are used as symbols. How the organization began can be used to tell a story Challenges the organization faced and overcame Leader expressing the vision of the organization with short and long term goals Special annual ceremonies, trips and events that people look forward to attending
- This segment will focus the discussion around teams
- Tell STORY of the Eagle Group TECH TEAM at Data General in 1970s and how the Eagle Group succeeded. (p. 272-274) They had a SHARED MISSION. The team members created a bond based on intrinsic motivation and shared beliefs Based on the work of this group, there are several tenets applicable to groups and teams: How someone becomes a group member is important Diversity supports a team’s competitive advantage Leading by example not command holds a team together Stories carry history and values and reinforce group identity Humor and play reduce tension and encourage creativity Ritual and ceremony lift spirits and reinforce values Informal cultural players contribute disproportionately to their formal roles Having soul is the secret of success Discuss how people have End of the Year parties, competition games against each other or students Discuss having staff breakfasts, lunches, and ceremonies of achievement build team Presentations at assemblies or meetings that show positive growth, progress and next steps to reach the vision
- What does Dramaturgical theory look like in real life? When the superintendent is coming to the school, everyone puts their best foot forward to give a positive impression If someone is visiting your home, office or workplace and it is untidy, one begins to clean up Open House events for prospective students and teachers is where teams get together to devise a plan of action to impress the crowd
- What does Institutional theory look like in real life? Reading brochures by colleges Reading about schools on their website or in the catalog Open House events where prospective students or teachers come to hear the pitch by the school. They are taken on tours and do Q & A sessions with the audience
- He was in the field of sociology. He first made this connection back in 1937.
- The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life was the first book to treat face-to-face interaction as a subject of sociological study. Goffman treated it as a kind of report in which he frames out the theatrical performance that applies to face-to-face interactions
- READ the quote and give an example of how this takes place in education. Phase out schools should come to mind or those who become SURR
- Examples of structure as theater: (Get pics of objects that go with a church, school, etc., and ask them what it is associated with them. Maybe put the wrong name under each and allow them to find something wrong with the imagery) Settings and Costumes-Priest, pulpit, blackboard, school desks, medical clinic Which location do you think will appear holier to people? Pic of cathedral and storefront
- Meetings serve as an expressive occasion to clear the air and promote collective bonding. This bonding can be around positive or negative issues. Some people (PLAYERS/ACTORS) get to polish their lines or shine as they speak up on issues. It can be considered as “improvisational garbage cans” because people come to the meeting with various issues and attitudes.
- Planning “Planning, then is an essential ceremony that organizations stage periodically to maintain legitimacy” (p. 294). For universities, Cohen and March (1974) listed four symbolic roles that plans have: Plans are symbols The major plans universities undergo are for accreditation every 10 years. They don’t have concrete plans that evaluate the institution’s performance every year like NYC public schools Plans become games If a department wants increased funding, they may be asked to submit a report justifying the need. The best report may win the funding Plans become excuses for interaction This forces faculty to engage in discussion and maybe some new interests may occur or some may commit to a new priority. Plans become advertisements As seen in brochures or on websites
- How is Evaluation used in education? Quality Reviews and CEP In the NYCDOE the evaluations are posted online so the schools work on their performance each year. This is not done at the university level. I WONDER HOW UNIVERSITIES WOULD CHANGE IF THEY WERE REQUIRED TO POST PROGRESS REPORTS.
- Other examples are the contract talks between DOE and CSA, MTA and their union
- Certain performances are widely believed to portray power. People often attribute power to those who talk a lot, belong to committees, and seem close to the action. There may be little relationship between such actions and their impact. People also attribute power to individuals or groups in an effort to account for observed outcomes. Example-if unemployment or crime rated drop, the political incumbent gets the credit. The same goes for financial companies who gain profits, it is the chief executive that gets the credit.
- How do we manage impressions in education? High school fairs and open houses Promotional videos and website design