Distinguished US scholars join the Organisation Studies Group for seminar
On 24th June 2013, the Organisation Studies Group hosted a seminar with two distinguished organisational discourse scholars from the USA - Professors Linda Putnam and Gail Fairhurst.
Linda Putnam, Professor of Communications at the University of California, Santa Barbara, outlined discursive approaches to studying organisational tensions in terms of contradictions, dialectics and paradoxes. The presentation offered an overview of the diverse range of theoretical perspectives underpinning this approach and methodological considerations.
The second presentation by Gail Fairhurst, Professor of Communications at the University of Cincinnati, illustrated the discursive approach to researching organisational tensions. Professor Fairhurst reported on a study of creative professionals in a multi-national firm experiencing rapid change. Based on this study, she described creativity (or the lack thereof) as a fluid, on-going and situated accomplishment, yet inextricably linked to knotted tensions and contradictions.
Dr Svenja Tams, who had organised the seminar, observed: “The talks by Linda and Gail brought alive the fact that people in organisations construct contradictions in both enabling and constraining ways. This is of great interest to the organisational research we do here in Bath. For example, as our speakers illustrated, it can help us understand the dynamics that underpin responsible and creative, as well as irresponsible and uncreative actions in organisations.”
Read the biographies and full details of the presentations 
The seminar was attended by over 30 participants, many from the University of Bath’s academic partners in the South-West.
Notes to Editors
The Organisation Studies Group of the School of Management currently has 17 faculty members, teaching and researching on diverse organisational issues, such as: Careers, Change, Emotions, Globalization, HRM, Identity, Knowledge Management Leadership, Learning, Organizational Commitment, Power, Professional Services and Teams.
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General Notes For Editors:
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