Organizational Small Storymaking: An Applied Narratological Framework Engendering Change via Discursive Openings

We examine how an applied narratological frame meaningfully transforms researcherengagement with organizational change efforts. Recognizing the value of counternarrative approaches embracing a concern for discursive closures that maintain dominant power relations, we place narrative theory in conversation with practice to offer a participatory and discourse-based small storymaking framework forengendering organizational change. Specifically, we offer an applied narratologicalframework that positions change as the complex dynamics between enabling andrestraining forces in organizational small storymaking practices. This is done bycombining insights from storytelling organizational theory and small story analysis with approaches to organizational change among organizational discourse andcommunication scholars embracing the discursive/communicative constitution oforganizationality. This framework inspires narrative scholars to move beyond traditional researcher positions and actively participate in the practices of co-creatingorganizational small stories. Our main aim is to generate narrative openings necessaryto inspire innovative and egalitarian organizational change through ongoing narrativework.