The ‘Discourse of Direction’: Communicating Strategy Through Storytelling

For over 30 years, researchers have examined how storytelling is used within organizations to communicate history, change, and more, including explaining why things are the way they are (Barry & Elmes, 1997; Boje, 1991; Boje & Baskin, 2011; Garud, Schildt, & Lant, 2014). As Dennehy (1999) noted, these stories “can be about customer service, culture, teamwork, or decision making, to name a few” (p. 41).

This project focuses on how leaders can utilize storytelling to communicate corporate strategy, improve comprehension of said strategy, and influence employees to feel personally invested in achieving strategic goals. Artifacts will include a management training presentation on how to use storytelling to communicate strategy.