Rumbling on performativity_Frits Simon
Rumbling on performativity_Frits Simon
Rumbling on performativity_Frits Simon
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they still may be dealing with the same sort of unpredictable processes of which<br />
tensi<strong>on</strong>s and c<strong>on</strong>flicts will be part. How and what kind of patterns will be formed is<br />
unknown; the results of human interacti<strong>on</strong> are approached as temporarily and unpredictable.<br />
Given this statement I hope that the performance agreements will trigger<br />
some tensi<strong>on</strong>s to motivate people to cooperate in a productive way.<br />
5.5 A complexity perspective: the corporate jester in an as<br />
foolish experienced world<br />
Looking back to my efforts in respect with the performance agreements I found<br />
myself in a situati<strong>on</strong> where prescribed standardizati<strong>on</strong> of Higher Educati<strong>on</strong> and my<br />
preference for self-organizati<strong>on</strong> jarred. Given my n<strong>on</strong>-threatening positi<strong>on</strong> regarding<br />
status and positi<strong>on</strong>s of the others involved, I was alternately the moderator, mediator,<br />
negotiator, arbitrator and appraiser (Csermely, 2009). Given the way I became involved,<br />
for some time I was situated as an outsider, I assume expected to be realistic<br />
and to communicate patiently with quite some people. Because I know most of the<br />
people involved but have no str<strong>on</strong>g c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s with them I could act as the link who<br />
bridges some of the c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong>s, uncertainty and differences in opini<strong>on</strong>. In producing<br />
and revising texts, in talking with different people with different opini<strong>on</strong>s, by<br />
staying out of discussi<strong>on</strong>s and by rounding up the differences at the end. Is being<br />
weakly c<strong>on</strong>nected, bridging, revising and rounding up to qualify as the work of a<br />
present day corporate jester?<br />
A blend of roles<br />
Modern corporati<strong>on</strong>s can be compared with courts. They are like giant hairballs in<br />
which intangible routines and procedures sustain c<strong>on</strong>formity and strategic behaviour<br />
(Mackenzie, 1998). Apparently in these hairballs c<strong>on</strong>temporary jesters are needed. In<br />
general jesters are characterized as outsiders, realists, open and communicative (Firth<br />
and Leigh, 1998). In c<strong>on</strong>temporary times I would say that <strong>on</strong>e of the jester’s main<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s is to c<strong>on</strong>nect and to bridge the differences (Csermely, 2009; Firth and<br />
Leigh, 1998).<br />
I my acting a blending of a traditi<strong>on</strong>al and a present-day role of a jester can be distinguished.<br />
In starting my involvement with proclaiming the vanity of all planning efforts<br />
I take the role to limit the overestimating of some<strong>on</strong>e’s powers (Kets de Vries, 1993) or<br />
to say what other people <strong>on</strong>ly can think by mocking authority a bit (Otto, 2001). In<br />
working towards a final draft I c<strong>on</strong>nected people and found ways to overcome difficulties.<br />
I would say not as some sort of a change agent, but as some<strong>on</strong>e who rather<br />
flexibly keeps distance to remain able to c<strong>on</strong>nect. In my acting is little regard <strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>tent, but quite some respect for local and tacit knowledge.<br />
Although <strong>on</strong> the payroll of the organizati<strong>on</strong>, a jester is the outsider, some<strong>on</strong>e who is<br />
c<strong>on</strong>nected to the organizati<strong>on</strong>, but through his positi<strong>on</strong> is somehow disentangled<br />
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