Learning the Plot

Abstract

This article argues that major organizational change precipitates social drama: a period of emotional and interpretative conflict. Stakeholders resolve it by sharing stories about unfolding events and more implicitly by identifying the plot. The plot is the dramatic logic of the drama, a template for future action. The plot gives actors a sense of how things will turn out in the end. Plots are rooted in feelings. Four plots and four storylines are identified as key processes through which actors frame organizational change. Plots and storylines enable and constrain the expression of emotion and help constitute action. When actors combine progressive or regressive plots and storylines, emotional momentum may develop. Emotional momentum underpins stakeholders' experiences of being on a positive or negative emotional roll. Actions taken during such rolls may have self-fulfilling characteristics. The influence of plots on senior managers' goals and stakeholders' learning, power and self-expression is explored in the article.