The game of exemplarity: subjectivity, work and the impossible politics of purity

René Ten Bos and Carl Rhodes

Scandinavian Journal of Management, 2003, vol. 19, issue 4, 403-423

Abstract: This paper develops and problematises the notion of the 'exemplary worker'--an idealised worker who is automated, compliant and mechanical. We suggest that the identity of such a worker emerges historically in a range of organisational, social and cultural discourses and provides a norm against which real workers are to be judged. Most recently, this includes the discourse of organisational culture; where worker commitment and managerial control are directed at people's values and beliefs. Our discussion starts with a review of Herman Melville's short story Bartleby the Scrivener and uses this story to begin to tease out the logic of exemplarity and non-exemplarity. From there we examine other models for exemplary workers and then relate these insights to more contemporary discussions of knowledge work, empowerment, organisational culture and self-direction. We argue that despite these changes, there is much continuity in terms of worker exemplarity.

Keywords: Exemplary; workers; Organisational; culture; Subjectivity; Trespassing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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