Varjosta valokeilaan : kriittisiä diskurssianalyyseja huonosta johtamisesta

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to qualitatively describe and explain bad leader- ship and the role of the bad leader within. The dissertation consists of five orig- inal articles and the introductory section. The study is based on the foundation formed by research on bad leadership and research on discourse analysis. The focus is on the role of language in the construction, reconstruction and mainte- nance of meanings. The first of the articles contains the description of the discursive approach applied in the studies. This approach is implemented in the four remaining arti- cles, with analyzed samples of 430 media texts, a published research report (95 p.) and over 3 hours of transcribed seminar proceedings (45 p.). Each of the four remaining articles approaches the phenomenon of bad leadership from a differ- ent angle and forms an independent study. The results of the study contain the following conclusions: first, the bad leader as a phenomenon is recognized but not truly acknowledged. The discur- sive choices made by the participants of the leadership discourses construct and maintain the representations of “the good leader” and “leader as a victim of context”, both of which are used to silence the bad leader discourse. The discur- sive choices reflect the underlying values, prioritizing business over people and private sector over public sector values. Secondly, the leader is, through discur- sive methods and use of discursive power, separated from the phenomenon of bad leadership, instead of being a crucial subject in it. Thirdly, the phenomena of otherness, silence and silencing act as methods of legitimation of bad leader- ship and also support the institutionalization of the Good Leader. Finally, the media has a central role as an active participant in production, dissemination and management of leadership discourses.