Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Nothing serious? Candidates’ use of humour in management training

Grugulis, I.

Authors

I. Grugulis



Abstract

This article explores the use made of humour in three different private sector organizations. It draws on observations of managers working towards a management qualification and, from the jokes they exchange, it argues that studying humour may offer insights into sentiments not easily articulated in ‘serious’ conversation. Humour’s ambiguity enables contentious statements to be made without fear of recrimination. Equally, constructing jokes by juxtaposing two different frames of reference provides a glimpse of alternative (and shared) perceptions of ‘reality’. This sensitivity to complexity makes humour a particularly appropriate vehicle for conveying ambitions, subversions, triumphs and failures and this article considers some of the ‘serious’ messages underlying the jokes.

Citation

Grugulis, I. (2002). Nothing serious? Candidates’ use of humour in management training. Human Relations, 55(4), 387-406. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726702055004459

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Apr 1, 2002
Deposit Date Jan 7, 2011
Journal Human Relations
Print ISSN 0018-7267
Electronic ISSN 1741-282X
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 55
Issue 4
Pages 387-406
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726702055004459
Keywords Humour, Methodology, Misbehaviour, NVQs.
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1535549

You might also like



Downloadable Citations