ABSTRACT
Labeling, or the linguistic structuring of problems, is a forceful formula for influencing through language. The new President instituted a new life and a new ideology to the company and, while doing it, put the linguistic artifacts to a proficient use. Linguistic artifacts enable leadership to manage meaning by interpreting, coloring, and familiarizing, as opposed to traditional control methods: commanding, fighting, and punishing. An exploration of the Submunicipal Committee reform in Swedish municipalities revealed the use of labels in organizational change processes. As organization researchers became interested in these fields, metaphors moved into the focus of organizational attention. The products are labels and metaphors; the service is to show how to relate them to organizational life. The supply side of linguistic artifacts is dominated by consultants who are the most prolific producers, but also processors of raw materials and half-products which can be found in research results.
