Metaphor in Organizational Discourse

In today's world, organizations face the necessity of understanding complex, dynamic, and often contradictory realities. One of the most powerful tools for structuring this understanding is the metaphor. Far beyond being a simple rhetorical embellishment, the metaphor is now recognized as a fundamental mechanism of thought, cognition, and social interaction. In organizational discourse, it plays a key role in shaping how we perceive company structure, leadership style, team dynamics, and even strategic goals. The subject of this study is an overview of key approaches and findings from Russian and international researchers in the field of metaphor use in the organizational context. Research conducted by both domestic and foreign scholars convincingly demonstrates that metaphor is an integral and powerful element of organizational discourse. Based on the theory of conceptual metaphor, the characteristics of organizational metaphor were identified, its role in developing effective communication strategies, and improving organizational management effectiveness in the era of social transformations. The necessity to conduct research on the influence of metaphorical thinking on the formation of corporate values can fundamentally change our understanding of the role of metaphors in organizational discourse. The novelty of the study lies in the description of the property of metaphor not only to reflect organizational reality but also to actively construct it, shaping identities and mobilizing collective actions. For researchers and practitioners, understanding this mechanism is not just an academic interest but also a prerequisite for effective and responsible management in today's complex world. Research findings convincingly demonstrate that metaphor is an integral and powerful element of organizational discourse. It is evident that the prospects in this area look extremely promising, as in an era of uncertainty and transformations, metaphor becomes the bridge connecting old meanings with new realities. Further development in this field appears to be focused on bridging academic research with real management practice, developing applied methodologies, and expanding empirical foundations through interdisciplinary projects

Metaphor · Organization development · Organizational culture · Organizational learning · Organizational studies · Rhetorical question · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Management and Organizational Studies · Organizational Leadership and Management Strategies

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  Joep Cornelissen, Joep P Cornelissen•Academy of Management Review•2005

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