Time for innovation: Concurrent and conflicting metaphors of time in a knowledge MNC

Abstract

The paper studies two temporal metaphors, modern and poetic, encountered in a knowledge-based organization where they co-exist and conflict. It argues that the two metaphors are wedded to different discourses, i.e. to the macro-business and the micro-scientific discourse, respectively; hence, knowledge activities such as thinking and writing are increasingly rendered incomprehensible in commercialized research environments, and pushed at the margin of knowledge-work, since they prove difficult to measure and control. Practically, this implies a re-articulation of what innovation is and how to organize knowledge work. The paper explores the shortcomings linear metaphors of time bear when used to support radical innovation, and concludes by discussing the potentials of spiral time to structure work in knowledge organizations.