Adaptive Macro Sensemaking

Because sensemaking is largely a theory of local practice, recent reviews (Maitlis & Christianson, 2014; Sandberg & Tsoukas, 2014) have called for empirical work on collective macro sensemaking where multiple actors are distributed across time and space, and need to develop shared meaning. Additionally, scholars have argued that we don’t know enough about adaptive sensemaking where actors doubt the sense already made (Strike & Rerup, 2015). In this symposium, we include four empirical papers that explore how two forms of adaptive sensemaking – pro-active and reactive – unfold at the macro level of analysis. Prior to the presentations, Sally Maitlis – a central contributor to the literature on organizational sensemaking – will build a case for why more work on macro adaptive sensemaking is needed. Following the presentations, Marlys Christianson – another well-known contributor to the literature on organizational sensemaking – will serve as a discussant to reflect on how the four studies add to the emerging field of adaptive macro sensemaking. Before ending the session with an interactive group discussion with the audience, Walter Powell – a well-known sociologist – will outline future research directions for the study of adaptive macro sensemaking. Keywords: Macro sensemaking, adaptive sensemaking, temporality, empirical research, qualitative inquiry Time After Time: A Case Study of Collective Sensemaking in Financial Scandal Presenter: Callen Anthony; Boston College Disaster Sensemaking as a Hall of Mirrors Presenter: Claus Rerup; Western U. Presenter: Joseph Porac; New York U. Presenter: Mark J Zbaracki; Western U. Collective Sensemaking: The Cultural Construction of an Innovation Presenter: Lee Watkiss; Boston College Animals Are not Ours to Eat: Sensebreaking and Sensegiving During Social Change Presenter: Yanfei Hu; Ivey Business School, Western U.