ORGANIZATIONAL ELITES AND THE DISCOURSE OF FLEXIBILITY: WILL BE THE CONSULTANTS IN THE FUTURE MANAGERS?

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Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate how the discourse of flexibility could be used instrumentally by organizational elites in their disputes for power within the firms and how this phenomenon can affect some aspects of organizational behavior. The careers of business consultants who worked in a consulting firm operating in Brazil have been searched. Resumes of 239 individuals were analysed and the empirical evidence found allowed to advance in the understanding of the issue under study. The data obtained were analysed from the perspective of institutional logic and power structures established by organizational elites. The results showed that the passage by a renowned consulting firm represents a very effective shortcut to executive positions in organizations of various sectors of activity, especially when associated with a MBA for some prominent international business school, highlighting the use and alignment of the discourse of the interests of the elites to legitimize their organizational claims to rise to positions of power in organizations without having to go through the time-consuming path required for the assimilation of specific knowledge of each type of activity or business.

Keywords: Elites, Consulting, Managers, Economic Sociology

Date received: 14 November 2016

Date accepted: 23 January 2017

How to cite this paper: De Angelo Sanchez, J. P., & Donadone, J. S. (2017). Organizational elites and the discourse of flexibility: Will be the consultants in the future managers? Corporate Ownership & Control, 14(3), 34-44. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv14i3art4