Making sense of organizational actions in response to tragedy: Virtue frames, organizational identification, and organizational attachment
Rhee, S., Dutton, J.E., & Bagozzi, R. (2006). Making sense of organizational actions in response to tragedy: Virtue frames, organizational identification and organizational attachment. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 3, 34-59.
Abstract:
This paper analyzes members’ sensemaking of organizational actions using virtue frames and its effects on members’ relationship with the organization in the context of the events of September 11th . We explore the use of three virtue frames to make sense of a university’s response to the events of 9-11-01. We examine the effects of interpreted virtuousness of actions on members’ identification with and attachment to the organization through members’ emotions, their self-construals and overall images of the organization. Our study sheds light on how sensemaking about the virtuousness of organizational actions influences members’ cognitive and emotional connection to the organization.