Theory from fiction: a narrative process perspective on the pedagogical use of feature film

Analyzing film narrative to reveal embedded theory, this article suggestsa novel approach to the use of feature movies in management education. Two films are analyzed from this perspective. Contact presents a narrative of organization politics, arguing that integrity can damage an individual’s career. Elizabeth offers a leadership narrative, arguing that ruthlessness is necessary to maintain a power base. This perspective is valuable for exploring the untidy, complex, and often controversial dynamics of organizational processes, demonstrating how outcomes are shaped, not by the interaction of independent and dependent variables, but by sequences of events in particular contexts