Sensemaking and management : a theoretical discussion with research implications

Sammanfattning: The general interest of this research is problems concerned with new information and technology, and their development and use in the management context. One important aspect of this problem has been argued to be how people come to make sense of new information and technology. The literature have claimed that sensemaking can be understood as a process of activities taking place either in mind, in language, and in interaction. Only the fact that we think, talk and write, and interact is not sufficient answers to what sensemaking is. The main argument in this study is that the notion of sensemaking is unclear and needs to be further investigated, both theoretical and empirical. The motivation for this is its importance for appropriate, competent and efficient management in small organizations. The study: (1) describe, discuss and classify sensemaking based upon the literature; (2) develops a theoretical model of sensemaking; (3) develops a research plan for further investigation of the theoretical model; (4) evaluates the research plan and the theoretical model with support of two pilot cases; (5) discuss management implications from a sensemaking perspective.