ENACTING THE LINGUISTIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE MODERN MANAGERIAL MIND: POSTMODERNISM AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Developments In Business Simulation & Experiential Exercises, Volume 20,1993 117 ENACTING THE LINGUISTIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE MODERN MANAGERIAL MIND: POSTMODERNISM AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Robert W. Boozer, Stetson University E. Nick Maddox, Stetson University ABSTRACT This workshop presents a word association exercise and discussion, which can be used to explore the existential value system of modernity. The words used in the exercise help “frame’ (1) the values involved in the dialectic between traditional and emerging management thought, as well as (2) the values involved in the dialectic between traditional and experiential teaching methods. Participants first complete the word association exercise and provide interpretations of the results. Discussion then focuses on how the exercise may be applied to current topics such as the management of diversity, emotions at work, and experiential learning. INTRODUCTION Recent writings in management reflect a growing interest in the relevance of postmodern perspectives to the world of work (Smircich, Calas, & Morgan, 1992). Though by nature varied, these postmodern perspectives do at least four things. First, these perspectives focus on the linguistic nature of consciousness and thus management thought is examined as a language game (Knights 1992). Second, these perspectives propose that managerial language games involve a dialectic between binary linguistic oppositions that is enacted in such a way that some values (e. g., worker, and female) are dialectically dominated by other values (e.g. management and male, respectively). Third, these perspectives promote an emancipatory agenda whereby exploration of managerial language games involves liberating the dominated values so as to create more expressive and synthetic organizational praxis (Smircich et al., 1992). Fourth, some of these perspectives recognize the existential nature of the value dialectic (Knights, 1992). The purpose of this paper is to describe a word association exercise for exploring these postmodern views. SEMANTIC MODEL The word association exercise is based on Wilber’s (1986) theoretical model. A summary consists of the following two semantic equations: (1) archetypal masculine=father=up=heaven=light=white=mind=manager=order= conquer=life=good and (2) archetypal feminine=mother=down=helI=dark=black=body=laborer=chaos=su -rrender=death=evil. The equal signs should be seen as epistemic correlations of varying magnitudes and the two equations should be seen as symbolizing the dialectic between value systems that characterize modern consciousness. The application to modern management thought and practice involves examining the tradition of white, managers working up in the organizational hierarchy and using their minds to conquer and control nature so as to create a good “heaven” on earth. Whereas, in contrast, females and other minorities traditionally have worked with their bodies down in the hierarchy where darkness,” and surrender to authority have both literal and metaphorical meaning (e.g., the early industrial workplace). THE EXERCISE The exercise consists of four steps. First, participants are asked to free associate with a set of stimulus words selected from the first semantic equation such as ‘up,’ “good,” and so on. This step usually takes about five minutes. Second, the two equations are recreated by having participants share their responses to the stimulus words. This step also takes about five minutes. Third, participants are asked to interpret, through discussion, what they think the two semantic equations mean. This step may take fifteen minutes or so. Fourth, given selected prompts, participants are asked to discuss the relationship of the two equations to such current topics as the management of diversity, emotions at work, and experiential learning. Depending upon instructor objectives and time limitations, this step may vary from 20 minutes on up. We have devoted fifty-minute class periods to selected topics. APPLICATIONS As shown above, the results of the exercise clearly can be applied to the topic of managing diversity. For example, the existential nature of the glass ceiling can be framed as male managers up in the hierarchy resisting the black and female workers down in the hierarchy. The nature of stereotyping in the maintenance of the glass ceiling takes on a new meaning within this existential framework. Moreover, managing diversity becomes, from a Jungian perspective, a problem in facing the shadow side (down=dark=evil=death), Experientially oriented teachers may also apply the exercise to experiential methodology itself. For example, traditional teaching can be framed as a lecture, which involves a teacher who stands in front of the class and uses his mind to reason with students. In contrast, experiential learning requires teachers to step down, surrender control, and let the students get their bodies into an exercise, which often is experienced, as chaotic and emotional for students. Is this the existential source of learner resistance to experiential methods? Is experiential learning the postmodern methodology? REFERENCES Knights D. (1992). Changing spaces: The disruptive impact of a new epistemological location for the study of management. Academy of Management Review. 17, 514-536 Smircich, L., Calas, M. & Morgan, G. (1992) Afterward/After words: Opening?) spaces. Academy of Management Review. 11.. 607-611. Wilber, K. (1986) Up from eden. Boston: Shambhala. Table of Contents Volume 20, 1993 Dominant Personality Types and Total Enterprise Simulation Performance Shelf Wars: A Grocery Channel Simulation Shared Cultural Perspectives: An Experiential Exercise Utilizing International Students to Globalize the Classroom An Instrument for Investigating the Effectiveness of Teaching Methods in the Business Policy and Strategy Formulation Course Providing Better Trained Graduates for Accounting Employers The Ambition Gradient Approach to Evaluation of Computer Simulation Game Team Performance Alphatec: A Negotiation Exercise with Logrolling and Bridging Potential Using the Ideafisher Idea Generation System as a Decision Support System in Marketing Strategy Courses A Dynamic Market Share Allocation Model For Computerized Business Simulations Multi-Cultural Adaptability Using Experiential Learning in a Graduate Course Development of Experiential Applications in HRM: Practicing What Preach and Preaching for Practice Linking Students and Business Leaders Through Portfolios Debriefing International Experiential Learning Exercises: Road Signs for Effectiveness Sales Manager: A Simulation Modeling Interactive Effects in Mathematical Functions for Business Simulations: A Critique of Goosen's Interpolation Reducing the Complexity of Interactive Variable Modeling in Business Simulations Through Interpolation Antecedent Biases of Experiential Learners: Trainee Occupation and Subgroup Diversity Pax in Terra Sancta: Simulating the Middle East Peace Negotiations A Multiple Regression Case In Experiential Learning Changes in Ethnocentric/Geocentric Orientation by Business Students after Exposure to a One Summer Course in International Marketing's A Systematic Approach to the Development and Evaluation of Experiential Exercises Entrepreneurs Evaluate Experiential Education A Linear Programming Approach to Open System Total Enterprise Simulations Reflecting Leader Behavior from the Looking Glass, Inc. Simulation Linking Cognitive Styles, Teaching Methods, Educational Objectives and Assessment: A Decision Tree Approach Restructuring Management Education in Post-Communist Countries: How Western Experts Can Help Managerial and Cultural Pre-Conditions for Superior Performance in a Global Setting: An Experimental Study with the Aid of Business Games Multiple Industries in Computerized Business Gaming Simulations Content or Process? - Content and Process! Some Observations and Reflections About Management Education in Central Europe Out-of-Class Experiences to Promote Volunteerism Enacting the Linguistic Consciousness of the Modern Managerial Mind: Post-Modernism and Experiential Learning Intergrating Experiential Exercises into the College Curriculum: The Case of Internationalizing the Business Curriculum Simulation Marketing Oversights Incorporating Advertising Creative Strategy into Computer-Based Business Simulations The Dynamics of a Partnership Between Business and Education Collaborative Education Done Globally Experiential Systems Analysis CADPLAN: A Simulation for Comparative Advertising A Doctoral Symposium: Preparing Students for Conference Behavior Comparing the Simulation with the Case Approach: Again! Total Quality Management: A Model for Continuous Quality Improvement The Quality Audit: An Experiential Exercise for Business Students Extending the Reach of Simulations: DECIDE Heads for the Inner City Lessons Learned from a Customized Management Development Simulation The Foreign Exchange Spot Trading Simulation Using Lotus 1-2-3 to complete a Triple Play in a Simulated Competition International Business Education: Is Enough Being Done? Matching of Student-Teacher Cognitive Style as a Factor in Student Success in an Introduction to Information Systems Course Breathing (More) Life into the Case Approach Lord of the Flies: A Live Case Approach to Leadership Cooperative Case Studies: Experiential Tools for Teaching Business Problem Solving Tools Strategy Simulations in Context: An Evaluation of Key Dimensions The Distribution Channel Game Evaluation of a Simulation Game as an Education Tool for Utility Professionals The Relationship Between Total Enterprise Simulation Performance and Learning Total Quality Management does not Happen by Magic, but it can be Taught Using a Pedagogical Methodology that Utilizes Magic Effectively Preparing Students for Careers in a Global Environment by Integrating Total Quality Management Thoughout the Business Curriculum An Empirical Investigation of Cognitive and Performance Consistency in a Marketing Simulation Game Environment Using MARSGAP with LAPTOP: (A Marketing Simulation Game Analysis Program) with LAPTOP: A Marketing Simulation Adapting TQM Implementation to Organizational Level An MBA Business Simulation: Executive Interaction Experiential Exercises and Pedagogy Track Workshop: Experiencing Cultural Diversity in the Classroom (and the Hotel Meeting Room) Closing the Gap between Corporate and National Culture The Dynamic Manufacturing Company The Use of Experiential Techniques in Corporate Training The State of Simulation Gaming in Easter European Countries- Principally Russia An Experiential Exercise in Cross-Cultural Training Valuing Differences: A Conceptual Framework Demonstration of an Experiential Exercise Effectively Using Experiential Learning to Impart TQM Concepts in a High Technology Environment The Older Worker Questionnaire: An Exercise Concerning Older Worker Stereotypes and Behaviors The Crime Fighting Task Force: An Exercise in Organizational Politics Welcome to the Party! An Expression of Vocational Preference Experiential Exercise for Imparting Cross-Cultural Appreciation Six Swift Simulations on Globalization Overview of BASF Delegate Program