The Feminine in Management ConsultingPower, Emotion and Values in Consulting InteractionsPub Palgrave Macmillian November 2008The author uncovers a ‘feminine’ discourse of consulting in small scale consulting work in the public and not-for-profit sectors that challenges stereotypical images of the slick showman aiming to maximize his fees. Power, emotion and values dominate the interactions in this book and connect to the webs of relationships of those involved, their multiple identities and how they see the commercial process. Critical Discourse Analysis illustrates these key themes and informs a ‘feminine’ discourse of consulting, which offers practitioners and researchers steps towards a ‘critical consulting’ practice.
"A rare combination of originality, history, criticality and practical relevance. Sheila Marsh places consulting in a historical context which goes back way beyond its modern form. Calling our attention to the gendered nature of consulting for the first time, she also explores contemporary alternative consulting discourse and practice. This book is truly innovative in the field of consultancy, but will also attract the interest of social scientists and students of organisations." Prof Andrew Sturdy, Warwick Business School, UKAnother great review here!Buy the book Contents:
PART I: CONSULTING: EXPLORING THE TERRAIN
Consultants, Confidantes and Consorts: A Genealogy of Consulting and Advice-giving to
Organizational Leaders
Images of Consulting: What Currently shapes How We See Consulting and How it Works?
Consulting as a Discursive Practice
PART II: DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF CONSULTING INTERACTIONS
Researching Consulting Interactions: From Process Ontology to Critical Discourse Analysis
Women Consultants in Action: Critical Discourse Analysis of ‘Live’ Consulting Interaction
Women’s Stories about Consulting: Critical Discourse Analysis of Reflective Material
PART III: MAKING SENSE
What is Going on in Consulting Interactions?: Exploring Meta-themes of Power, Emotion and
Values
Femininities and Consulting: (Re-)animating a ‘Feminine’ Discourse of Consulting
Towards a ‘Critical Consulting’ Practice: The Contribution of a ‘Feminine’ Discourse of
Consulting
Notes
References
Index