Making Sense of Work Through Collaborative Storytelling: Building Narratives in Organisational Change

Collective sense making starts with individual stories. Stories influence how we construct our sense of self in relation to others and our social environment, especially within the world of work.

The stories we tell ourselves at work, particularly during times of change, impact our relationships and the collaboration with those who are engaged in the same work activities. Stories that we take for granted as ＂common sense＂ may not resonate with others, leading to conflict and tensions. This book focuses on the development of collaborative practices at work, and in organisations, through Collaborative Storytelling: from sharing stories to exchanging experiences and building a common narrative collectively.

This open access book will be of interest to practitioners and academics working in the fields of adult education, equity and inclusion, human resource management, practice-based studies, organisational studies, qualitative research methods, sensemaking, storytelling, and workplace identity.

Tricia Cleland Silva and Paulo de Tarso Fonseca Silva are a multicultural family who live and work in Helsinki, Finland. Tricia holds a PhD in Management and Organisation from Hanken School of Economics, and Paulo holds a Masters in Adult Education from the Center for Research on Activity, Development and Learning (CRADLE), University of Helsinki.

The authors are Story Mediators who work with their method of Collaborative Story Craft. Their method is used in their practices through their consultancy business Metaphora International, their teaching and research within universities and other communities of practice. The theory of Collaborative Storytelling is a deeper reflection of their work, and it embodies their values and beliefs as a couple, parents, and members of many social worlds.