Title: Organisational learning and leadership: on metaphor, meaning making, liminality and intercultural communication

Authors: Jean A. Patterson

Addresses: Department of Educational Leadership, Wichita State University, Box 142, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS, 67260-0142, USA

Abstract: This article discusses sensemaking as a broad framework for understanding organisational learning and its implications for leadership in a global context. Organisational metaphors, the concept of liminality and understanding organisations as interpretation systems are presented as possibilities for enhancing intercultural communication within organisations. The article concludes by identifying challenges and how to overcome them, and raises questions for future dialogue and action.

Keywords: organisational learning; dialogue; globalisation; intercultural communication; leadership; liminality; metaphor; organisational theory; sensemaking; learning organisations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLC.2009.026220

International Journal of Learning and Change, 2009 Vol.3 No.4, pp.382 - 393

Published online: 29 May 2009 *

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