ABSTRACT
An organisation is defined as a set of relationships that works for a common goal. People in an organisation are linked to each other. It is the linkages and the interpersonal relations that give an identity to an organisation. These linkages and interpersonal relations are formed through conversations and dialogue. So, it can be said that an organisation is a product of human interaction and social construction. This contention has shattered the previously held convention that organisations are ‘pre-programmed’ or ‘stimulus bound’ in a direct way. The causal linkages between variables such as organisational size and level of centralisation, or between technology, environment and organisational structure have come to an end. Now, the emphasis is laid on context-specific ‘interpretive schemes’ and interactions held by the members of a given organisation. Hence, for a better understanding of an organisation and its components it is essential to take into account the symbolic realm —language, conversations and stories of the organisational members. The symbolic realm can best be examined through narratives. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to understand narratives, organisational narratives and present a new research strategy to study organisational narratives, that is, appreciative narrative inquiry.
