Title: Thematic analysis of management discourse: a study based on representation of power ideologies in an academic text

Authors: Naveed Yazdani; Amnah Moghees; Aleena Shuja

Addresses: Dr. Hasan Murad School of Management, University of Management and Technology, Pakistan ' Department of Linguistics and Communications, Institute of Liberal Arts, University of Management and Technology, Pakistan ' Department of Management, Dr. Hasan Murad School of Management, University of Management and Technology, Pakistan

Abstract: This study investigates power ideologies and discursive nature of promoting dominance reflected in textual discourse of management education. Since this critical discourse analysis examines the relationship between language, ideology, and power (Van Dijk, 2008, 2001), this macro level analysis brings forth the narrative expedited by analysing 14th and 15th editions of Management book authored by Robbins and Coulter (2018, 2020), taught to business and management students world-wide. To analyse textual data, Clarke and Braun's (2013) thematic analysis based on Saldaña's (2021) codification process was used. Resultantly, four broader themes: social order within organisation; power and domination; legitimisation; and integration were materialised and interpreted by stating textual examples from the data to deliberate the power ideologies. The findings highlight inequalities, power imbalance, suppression, and one-sided view of social and organisational reality. This study provides insights on understanding intricacies related to closely knitted social structures and hidden power depicted in any discourse.

Keywords: management education; critical discourse analysis; CDA; power ideologies; thematic analysis; dominance; organisational hierarchy.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2025.149837

Middle East Journal of Management, 2025 Vol.12 No.6, pp.698 - 724

Received: 01 Jul 2024
Accepted: 25 Sep 2024
Published online: 14 Nov 2025 *

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