TY - JOUR
T1 - The game of exemplarity
T2 - Subjectivity, work and the impossible politics of purity
AU - Ten Bos, René
AU - Rhodes, Carl
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - This paper develops and problematises the notion of the 'exemplary worker'-an idealised worker who is automated, compliant and mechanical. We suggest that the identity of such a worker emerges historically in a range of organisational, social and cultural discourses and provides a norm against which real workers are to be judged. Most recently, this includes the discourse of organisational culture; where worker commitment and managerial control are directed at people's values and beliefs. Our discussion starts with a review of Herman Melville's short story Bartleby the Scrivener and uses this story to begin to tease out the logic of exemplarity and non-exemplarity. From there we examine other models for exemplary workers and then relate these insights to more contemporary discussions of knowledge work, empowerment, organisational culture and self-direction. We argue that despite these changes, there is much continuity in terms of worker exemplarity.
AB - This paper develops and problematises the notion of the 'exemplary worker'-an idealised worker who is automated, compliant and mechanical. We suggest that the identity of such a worker emerges historically in a range of organisational, social and cultural discourses and provides a norm against which real workers are to be judged. Most recently, this includes the discourse of organisational culture; where worker commitment and managerial control are directed at people's values and beliefs. Our discussion starts with a review of Herman Melville's short story Bartleby the Scrivener and uses this story to begin to tease out the logic of exemplarity and non-exemplarity. From there we examine other models for exemplary workers and then relate these insights to more contemporary discussions of knowledge work, empowerment, organisational culture and self-direction. We argue that despite these changes, there is much continuity in terms of worker exemplarity.
KW - Exemplary workers
KW - Organisational culture
KW - Subjectivity
KW - Trespassing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0242382622&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0956-5221(03)00054-X
DO - 10.1016/S0956-5221(03)00054-X
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:0242382622
SN - 0956-5221
VL - 19
SP - 403
EP - 423
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Management
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Management
IS - 4
ER -