The thesis examines an underexplored
area in sensemaking theory. The theme for
the thesis is to examine the relation between sensemaking and the reproduction of
organised action. Existing sensemaking theory focusses on how shared organising
processes support the reproduction of organised action (Smircich & Morgan, 1986;
Smircich & Stubbart, 1985; Weick, 2004; Maitlis, 2005; Donnellon et al, 1986).
This thesis' contribution is to examine sensemaking processes which do not spring
from shared articulation within the formal organisation and these processes'
relation to the reproduction of organised action.
In the thesis the phenomenon is illustrated with a case consisting of a younger
voluntary organisation (called the Network Group) whose purpose is to provide
tuition for children with another ethnic background than Danish. The organisation
survives and meets its purpose. This, however, takes place largely without the
voluntary tutors talking with each other to make sense of their shared action. This
falls outside the expectations produced in the greater part of existing sensemaking
theory.
Apart from the relevancy for organisation theory, the interest in the
phenomenon organised
action with limited shared sensemaking and limited
shared articulation – comes from a hypothesis that actors in latemodernity
will be
less inclined to invest in shared sensemaking because they zap between
organisational contexts (Bauman 2000, Beck 1986, Beck & BeckGernsheim
2002
and Bellah et al 1985). This is a phenomenon which has drawn particular attention
within the Danish voluntary sector in the last 10 years (Isen1, 1999; Goul Andersen
et al, 2000; Hermansen & Stavnsager, 2000; Stavnsager & Jantzen, 2000;
Christensen & Isen, 2001; Børch & Israelsen, 2001; Wollebæk & Selle, 2002;
Nielsen et al 2004; Murphy 2004). Similar concerns in the U. S. are most notably
expressed by Putnam (1990) in the book “Bowling Alone”. In Denmark the
phenomenon is linked to perceived difficulties with filling positions at boards of
voluntary organisations with younger volunteers
