From bodies as ‘meat’ to bodies as ‘flesh’

The expression of performance management as ‘sacrificial acts’ within professional rugby

Bibliographic Data

ID12721071
AuthorsWill McConn-Palfreyman (0000-0003-3212-5118, Liverpool John Moores University, corresponding author), Peter McInnes (0000-0001-9069-0647, University of Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK), Anita Mangan (0000-0002-3366-7536, University of Bristol)
Year2019
Volume25
Issue4
Pages253-271
Publication date2019-05-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture and Organization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1475-9551 • E-ISSN: 1477-2760
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14759551.2019.1610760
OpenAlexW2942554731
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited92

In this article, we argue that to extend the research on performance management we need to examine further how organisational members interweave the technology of such management into their work. Using Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy, we question the notion that technology acts on bodies in a linear manner as ‘meat’ to be manipulated. His reversible ontology suggests that these materials can be woven into the flesh of organising in a multitude of ways. Specifically, we refer to professional rugby, and the manner in which its players utilise the technology of performance management, to forge a localised expression of sacrifice. We suggest that this expression provides a means for players to define and evaluate themselves against ‘good rugby’. As forms of evaluation may vary in organisations, we recommend that researchers do not solely associate performance management with metrics but also look to other, more localised, expressions to inform their work

Aesthetics · Engineering ethics · Epistemology · Expression (computer science · Flesh · Multitude · Ontology · Political science · Public relations · Sacrifice · Sociology · Work (physics · Computer Science · Engineering · Philosophy · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sport Psychology and Performance · Sports, Gender, and Society