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Abstract Digital innovation is the future of work. The ongoing and interlinked transformation of digital technologies, work, communication, and organizing raises important theoretical questions. Integrating recombination-based innovation theory and institutional theory of communication, this article contributes a novel framework that specifies the theoretical linkages between macro-level institutions and digital innovation: Social actors negotiate tensions arising from multiple institutional logics through (a) attention allocation; (b) sensemaking; and (c) external, boundary-spanning networking. The framework can advance the study of communication by (a) reconciling conflicting and inconclusive empirical findings; (b) targeting research efforts; and (c) responding to critiques of communication scholarship as failing to address social contexts. By focusing on digital innovation and the interplay between societal structures and communicative action in shaping it, this article advances scholarly discussions on the future of work, conceptualizing digital innovation as an institutional as well as communicative accomplishment.
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Hostile knowledge performances
Struggles over meaning are inherent to knowledge performances – the communicative accomplishment of knowledge. This study analyzes an interdisciplinary team’s communication as they designed a novel information technology. It focuses on hostile knowledge performances, which are comprised of behaviors that steer group knowing by dominating communication. That communication included flooding the interactive space with monologues and interminable emails; correcting and directing, including telling people what to think; and stifling others by interrupting, patronizing, and stonewalling. This study contributes to communication theory and practice by building an account of hostile knowledge performances defined by communication that reflects domination in the communicative accomplishment of knowledge. This research makes clear the difficulties collaborators face responding to hostility and reveals more and less adaptive responses.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1750731
- PAR ID:
- 10495849
- Publisher / Repository:
- National Communication Association
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Communication Monographs
- ISSN:
- 0363-7751
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 25
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Knowledge performances discursive closure performance theory expertise hostility
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2024.2314045
