Manager as an artist: creative endeavour in crossing the borders of art and organizational discourse
Abstract
The key to the considerations contained in this work is the authors’ metaphor of the organization: “organization as an artwork”, which – based on the achievements of aesthetics – allows us to look at the manager as a creator (true “artist”), and on organization’s stakeholders as recipients of this artwork. This new approach places management on a skeleton of Maria Gołaszewska’s concept of “aesthetic situation”. Thanks to this approach, the elements of aesthetic theories appearing in the management literature take the right context, and solutions borrowed from the theory of aesthetics bring a new quality to the theory of creativity in management. The inspiration to take up the topic was one of the authors own experience in both art and management. The research methodology is based on a qualitative review of the literature. The methodological approach is based on interdisciplinary and multi-paradigm approach taking into account the publications from areas of management and organization, as well as art and psychology. After applying the theory of aesthetics to the management process, it can be said that artistry should be considered as a kind of higher level of management; highest degree in gradation: administrator, manager, management artist.
Article in English.
Vadybininkas kaip menininkas: kūrybinės pastangos įveikti ribą tarp meno ir organizacinio diskurso
Santrauka
Pagrindinis dėmesys šiame straipsnyje skiriamas autorių pateikiamai organizacijos metaforai „organizacija kaip meno kūrinys“, kuri, grindžiama estetikos pasiekimais, suteikia galimybę į vadybininką pažvelgti kaip į kūrėją (tikrą „menininką“), o į organizacijos suinteresuotuosius subjektus – kaip į tai, kam skirtas šis meno kūrinys. Šis naujas požiūris suteikia vadybai Marios Gołaszewskos „estetinės situacijos“ koncepcijos pagrindą. Remiantis šiuo požiūriu, estetikos teorijų elementai vadybai skirtai literatūrai suteikia tinkamą kontekstą, o sprendimai, pasiskolinti iš estetikos teorijos, į kūrybiškumo teoriją vadyboje įneša naują kokybę. Straipsnyje gvildenti šią temą paskatino vieno iš autorių tiek meninė, tiek vadybinė patirtis. Tyrimo metodologija grindžiama kokybine literatūros apžvalga. Metodologinio požiūrio pagrindą sudaro tarpdalykinis ir daugiaparadigmis požiūris, remiantis vadybos ir organizacijos, taip pat meno ir psichologijos sričių publikacijomis. Estetikos teoriją pritaikius vadybos procesui, gali būti teigiama, kad meniškumas turėtų būti traktuojamas kaip aukštesnio lygio vadybos tipas, aukščiausia pakopa administratoriaus, vadybininko, vadybos menininko gradacijoje.
Reikšminiai žodžiai: estetinis diskursas, menininkas, meno kūrinys, kūrybiška asmenybė, kūrybiškumas, kūrėjas, vadybininkas.
Keyword : aesthetic discourse, artist, artistic work, creative personality, creativity, creator, manager
How to Cite
Szostak, M., & Sułkowski, Łukasz. (2020). Manager as an artist: creative endeavour in crossing the borders of art and organizational discourse. Creativity Studies, 13(2), 351-368. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2020.11373
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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Nikoloski, K. (2015). Leadership and management: practice of the art of influence. Annals of the “Constantin Brâncuşi” University of Târgu Jiu (Series: Economy), 1(2), 31–39.
Pelzer, P. (2006). Art for management’s sake? A doubt. Culture and Organization, 12(1), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759550500490592
Postuła, A., & Majczyk, J. (2018). Managers and leaders in need of entrepreneurial competences. Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, 6(1), 91–103. https://doi.org/10.15678/EBER.2018.060105
Purg, D., & Walravens, A. (2015). Arts and leadership: vision and practice at the IEDC-Bled school of management. Journal of Leadership Studies, 9(1), 42–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/jls.21355
Reckhenrich, J., Kupp, M., & Anderson, J. (2009). Understanding creativity: the manager as artist. Business Strategy Review, 20(2), 68–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8616.2009.00602.x
Sztabiński, G. (2002). Artysta: definiowanie, redefiniowanie, oddefiniowanie. Forum. https://www.asp.wroc.pl/dyskurs/Dyskurs2/GrzegorzSztabinski.pdf
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Sułkowski, Ł. (2012). Meta-paradigmatic cognitive perspective in management studies. Argumenta Oeconomica, 29(2), 33–52.
Sułkowski, Ł. (2011). Metafory, archetypy i paradoksy organizacji. Organizacja i kierowanie, 2(145), 55–69.
Sutherland, I. (2013). Arts-based methods in leadership development: affording aesthetic workspaces, reflexivity and memories with momentum. Management Learning, 44(1), 25–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507612465063
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Taylor, S. S., & Ladkin, D. (2009). Understanding arts-based methods in managerial development. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 8(1), 55–69. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2009.37012179
Ungureanu, A., & Vasile, A. (2016). Romanian business women: managers or leaders? Empirical study. SEA: Practical Application of Science, 4(2), 327–333.
Warrick, D. D. (2019). Leadership illusions: important implications for leaders and training and coaching leaders. Organization Development Review, 51(2), 6–14.
Watkins, C., & King, I. W. (2002). Organisational performance: a view from the arts. Tamara: Journal of Critical Postmodern Organization Science, 2(1), 31–46.
Watson, T. J. (2001). In search of management: culture, chaos and control in managerial work. Thompson Learning.
Weingardt, R. G. (2000). Leaving a legacy. Journal of Management in Engineering, 16(2), 42–47. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0742-597X(2000)16:2(42)
Woodward, J. B., & Funk, C. (2010). Developing the artist-leader. Leadership, 6(3), 295–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/1742715010368768
Adler, N. J. (2006). The arts and leadership: now that we can do anything, what will we do? Academy of Management Learning and Education Journal, 5(4), 486–499. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2006.23473209
Adler, N. J., & Ippolito, L. M. (2016). Musical leadership and societal transformation: inspiration and courage in action. LEARNing Landscapes, 9(2), 43–67. https://doi.org/10.36510/learnland.v9i2.763
Alvesson, M., & Blom, M. (2015). Less followership, less leadership? An inquiry into the basic but seemingly forgotten downsides of leadership. Management, 18(3), 266–282. https://doi.org/10.3917/mana.183.0266
April, K., Beall, C., & Peters, K. (2015). Understanding leadership through the arts. Effective Executive, 18(4), 18–39.
Atkinson, D. M. (2007). Thinking the art of management: stepping into “Heidegger’s Shoes”. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230589988_10
Basadur, M. (1995). The power of innovation: how to make innovation a way of life and put creative solutions to work. Series: A Pearson Education Print on Demand Edition. Pitman Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-6301(96)81515-9
Beirne, M., & Knight, S. (2007). From community theatre to critical management studies: a dramatic contribution to reflective learning? Management Learning, 38(5), 591–611. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507607083209
Biehl-Missal, B. (2011). Wirtschaftsästhetik. Wie Unternehmen die Kunst als Inspiration und Werkzeug nutzen. Gabler Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8349-6737-4
Blanchard, K., Zigarmi, P., & Zigarmi, D. (1999). Leadership and the one minute manager: increasing effectiveness through situational leadership. William Morrow & Company.
Cambridge Dictionary. (2020a). Artist. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/artist
Cambridge Dictionary. (2020b). Creativity. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/creativity
Cambridge Dictionary. (2020c). Work of art. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/work-of-art
Ceylan, C., Dul, J., & Aytac, S. (2008). Can the office environment stimulate a manager’s creativity? Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing and Service Industries, 18(6), 589–602. https://doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20128
Chiapello, E. (2004). Evolution and co-optation: the “artist critique” of management and capitalism. Third Text, 18(6), 585–594. https://doi.org/10.1080/0952882042000284998
Dahlberg, S. T. (2007, 13 June). Creative engagement. Proceedings of the Conference “Supporting Creative Acts beyond Dissemination”: Creativity and Cognition. Conference “Supporting Creative Acts beyond Dissemination”: Creativity and Cognition. Washington, D.C., United States. https://www.academia.edu/16296267/Creative_Engagement
Dégot, V. (2007). Portrait of the manager as an artist. Aesthesis: International Journal of Art and Aesthetics in Management and Organizational Life, 1(2), 6–42.
Drucker, P. F. (2006). The effective executive: the definitive guide to getting the right things done. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gardner, H., & Laskin, E. (1995). Leading minds: an anatomy of leadership. Basic Books.
Geier, J. G. (1967). A trait approach to the study of leadership in small groups. Journal of Communication, 17(4), 316–323. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1967.tb01189.x
Gołaszewska, M. (1984). Zarys estetyki. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Guranda, M., & Nagy, D. (2011, 26–28 May). Educational management – art or science? Proceedings of International Conference of Scientific Paper Afases 2011. International Conference of Scientific Paper (pp. 427–433). Brașov, Romania.
Hracs, B. J. (2015). Cultural intermediaries in the digital age: the case of independent musicians and managers in Toronto. Regional Studies, 49(3), 461–475. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2012.750425
Ingarden, R. (1970). Studia z estetyki. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Ingram, W. (1965). Management – art or science? Industrial Management, August, 2–4.
Jankurová, A. Ljudvigová, I., & Gubová, K. (2017), Research of the Nature of Leadership Activities, Economics and Sociology, 10(1), 135-151. https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-789X.2017/10-1/10
Jo Hatch, M., Kostera, M., & Koźmiński, A. K. (2005). The three faces of leadership: manager, artist, priest. Blackwell Publishing.
Kerle, R. (2010, 11 October). Creativity in organizations: how can creativity become a prime contributor to the strategic objective of the organization? The Creative Leadership Forum. Sydney, Australia. http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/110188/9145448/1288172953307/Creativity+in+Organisations+Version+One.pdf?token=CCB0CIXNUv2sedSlCXJI7nS5160%3D
MacGregor Burns, J. (2003). Transforming leadership: a new pursuit of happiness. Atlantic Monthly Press.
Mairaj Ahmad, S., & Fotowwat Zadeh, Z. (2016). Gender differences on the variables of emotional intelligence, creative-potential and job satisfaction in managers. Pakistan Journal of Psychology, 47(2), 61–77.
Merriam-Webster. (2020a). Artist. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artist
Merriam-Webster. (2020b). Creativity. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creativity
Merriam-Webster. (2020c). Work of art. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20of%20art
Mintzberg, H. (2004). Managers Not MBAs: a hard look at the soft practice of managing and management development. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
Mosley, A. L. (1998). A behavioral approach to leadership: implications for diversity in today’s organizations. Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, 5(1), 38–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/107179199800500105
Nikoloski, K. (2015). Leadership and management: practice of the art of influence. Annals of the “Constantin Brâncuşi” University of Târgu Jiu (Series: Economy), 1(2), 31–39.
Pelzer, P. (2006). Art for management’s sake? A doubt. Culture and Organization, 12(1), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759550500490592
Postuła, A., & Majczyk, J. (2018). Managers and leaders in need of entrepreneurial competences. Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, 6(1), 91–103. https://doi.org/10.15678/EBER.2018.060105
Purg, D., & Walravens, A. (2015). Arts and leadership: vision and practice at the IEDC-Bled school of management. Journal of Leadership Studies, 9(1), 42–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/jls.21355
Reckhenrich, J., Kupp, M., & Anderson, J. (2009). Understanding creativity: the manager as artist. Business Strategy Review, 20(2), 68–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8616.2009.00602.x
Sztabiński, G. (2002). Artysta: definiowanie, redefiniowanie, oddefiniowanie. Forum. https://www.asp.wroc.pl/dyskurs/Dyskurs2/GrzegorzSztabinski.pdf
Sulkowski, L., & Patora-Wysocka, Z. (2018, July 17–21). HEI quality culture in Poland – multi-paradigm view. In T. Andre (Ed.), Advances in human factors in training, education, and learning sciences: Proceedings of the AHFE 2017 International Conference on Human Factors in Training, Education, and Learning Sciences (pp. 423–434). The Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA. Series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. Vol. 596. Springer International Publishing AG. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60018-5_42
Sułkowski, Ł. (2012). Meta-paradigmatic cognitive perspective in management studies. Argumenta Oeconomica, 29(2), 33–52.
Sułkowski, Ł. (2011). Metafory, archetypy i paradoksy organizacji. Organizacja i kierowanie, 2(145), 55–69.
Sutherland, I. (2013). Arts-based methods in leadership development: affording aesthetic workspaces, reflexivity and memories with momentum. Management Learning, 44(1), 25–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507612465063
Tatarkiewicz, W. (2015). Historia estetyki. T. 1. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Taylor, S. S., & Ladkin, D. (2009). Understanding arts-based methods in managerial development. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 8(1), 55–69. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2009.37012179
Ungureanu, A., & Vasile, A. (2016). Romanian business women: managers or leaders? Empirical study. SEA: Practical Application of Science, 4(2), 327–333.
Warrick, D. D. (2019). Leadership illusions: important implications for leaders and training and coaching leaders. Organization Development Review, 51(2), 6–14.
Watkins, C., & King, I. W. (2002). Organisational performance: a view from the arts. Tamara: Journal of Critical Postmodern Organization Science, 2(1), 31–46.
Watson, T. J. (2001). In search of management: culture, chaos and control in managerial work. Thompson Learning.
Weingardt, R. G. (2000). Leaving a legacy. Journal of Management in Engineering, 16(2), 42–47. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0742-597X(2000)16:2(42)
Woodward, J. B., & Funk, C. (2010). Developing the artist-leader. Leadership, 6(3), 295–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/1742715010368768