Spontaneous Humour as an Indicator of Paradox and Ambiguity in Organizations

Abstract

Assuming that humour is built on a foundation of recognized contradiction, incongruity and incoherence, then it seems plausible that humour points to dis course capable of revealing the nature and substance of paradox and ambiguity- a topic of increasing interest to students of organization. This paper presents the method and results of a case study illustrating the interpretive possibilities of combining humour analysis with the study of paradox and ambiguity as a means to address everyday experience in organizations. Results are interpreted as indicating a paradox of control and the ambiguity of problem and solution thinking.