Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Opening spaces for conversational practice: a conduit for effective engagement strategies and productive working arrangements.

Francis, Helen; Ramdhony, Allan; Reddington, Martin; Staines, Harry

Authors

Helen Francis

Allan Ramdhony

Martin Reddington

Harry Staines



Abstract

This study develops the concept of dialogic conversational practice (dialogic CP) as a conduit for effective engagement strategies and productive working arrangements. We begin with a critique of High-Involvement-High-Performance HR systems against the backdrop of the current economic crisis to underline its deep-seated instrumental orientation and adverse effects on employee engagement. We then outline the key dimensions of dialogic CP, and propose a conceptual framework grounded in the line manager–employee relationship, which we argue can moderate the adverse effects of the current economic crisis and frame a move towards more effective engagement strategies. Our research approach combines critical discourse analysis and critical realism to frame a thematic analysis of survey data gathered from two UK public sector organisations. Our core finding suggests that both organisations would fall short of the democratic values and principles underlying our framework but that, despite the
negative impact of the current economic crisis on the employment relationship, do offer a glimpse of some of the key characteristics of dialogic CP and display a readiness for a more robust application of the concept to their respective contexts. We conclude by underlining the significance and limitations of our study and its implications for further research.

Citation

Francis, H., Ramdhony, A., Reddington, M., & Staines, H. (2013). Opening spaces for conversational practice: a conduit for effective engagement strategies and productive working arrangements. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 24, 2713-2740. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.781530

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2013
Deposit Date Nov 25, 2013
Print ISSN 0958-5192
Electronic ISSN 1466-4399
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 24
Pages 2713-2740
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.781530
Keywords Dialogic conversational practice; conversational practice;
critical discourse analysis; dialogue; employee engagement; HRM; line manager;
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/6501
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.781530



You might also like



Downloadable Citations