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The psychosocial interior of a professional service firm: Coping strategies, phantasy, and enduring organizational functionality

Jacobs, Barry Alan
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1056638247

Abstract Details

1992, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Organizational Behavior.
This inquiry explores the role of individual unconscious coping strategies and phantasy, manifested as personality and defense mechanisms, in the management of organizational culture. It was found that individual methodologies are useful for the discovery of collective reality, and that individual psychological processes have functional outcomes in organizational culture. It was conceptualized that coping strategies could be found that limit the ability of organizational members to understand the organizational culture at conscious and rational levels. Intensity of imagination was found to significantly influence one's perception of the importance that a particular ideology plays in an organization's culture. Those persons who believed that the organization was relatively high in power-orientation were more likely to favorably distort their self-presentation on a personality test. A broad range of personality factors were found to significantly influence the firm members' preference for structure in the firm's culture. It was also conceptualized that cultural norms would be discovered that provide operating space and impose limitations on discussion in order to support individual coping strategies. It was discovered that the firm provided sufficient operating space for certain widespread individual coping strategies that might be neurotic, and that limitations were imposed on the discussion of these coping strategies. Additionally it was conceptualized that unconscious and confused perceptions of authority would be uncovered that distort interpersonal relations and are sustained by coping strategies embedded in the culture. It was ascertained that the founding partner of the firm provided important cues and boundaries for the structure of the organization's culture, and that a distorted view of this leader is maintained through denial of aggression. It was also conceptualized that distorted object relations would be inhibiting of group development. Adequate data about group development were not derived as an outcome of this study. Finally it was conceptualized that if organizational neurosis is identified it would manifest itself as excessive attribution of power or the converse. Organizational neurosis was not identified at the firm. Although clinically descriptive in approach, triangulation research techniques within a case study were also employed. Coping strategies and personality style for members of this firm were obtained by using Cattell's 16PF (n = 51) and the Thematic Apperception Test (n = 38). Characteristics of the organizational culture were obtained using Harrison's Organizational Ideology Questionnaire (n = 51) and a structured open-ended interview protocol (n = 38). The firm's culture was found to support personal issues in coping with aggression and autonomy, in important facets of organizing and resistance to change.
Suresh Srivastva (Advisor)
206 p.
psychosocial interior; professional service firm; Coping strategies; phantasy; organizational functionality

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jacobs, B. A. (1992). The psychosocial interior of a professional service firm: Coping strategies, phantasy, and enduring organizational functionality [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1056638247

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jacobs, Barry. The psychosocial interior of a professional service firm: Coping strategies, phantasy, and enduring organizational functionality. 1992. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1056638247.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jacobs, Barry. "The psychosocial interior of a professional service firm: Coping strategies, phantasy, and enduring organizational functionality." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 1992. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1056638247

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1056638247
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© 1992, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.