Assigned readings
1. Ethics and Excellence, by Robert Solomon. Chapter 2, Macho Myths and Metaphors
2. Garth Morgan. Images of Organizations, pages 3 to 5.
Answer the two questions below:
Question 1: Robert Solomon describes 4 verbal metaphors that have the potential to frame our
way of thinking about organizations and our place in them. He makes it clear in the article they
can encourage destructive behavior and create self-fulfilling negative prophecies that people live
in to. The 4 metaphors Solomon discusses in your assigned reading are:
1. “It’s A Jungle Out There”
2. “The Brutal Battle of Business”
3. “The Great Machine of Capitalism”
4. “The Game of Business”
• In your paper briefly summarize what he says about each metaphor and why it is damaging to
individuals and business.
• Let’s assume you agree with what he says about these metaphors being false and destructive.
In your paper create a counter metaphor for each of his 4 that would be a healthier metaphor to
live into for individuals and organizations. Why did you choose this metaphor?
Question 2: 2. Garth Morgan says in his article that visual and verbal metaphors have the ability
to produce a “one-sided insight”, “they always create distortions” and “metaphor can becomes a
way of not seeing”. Okay…well if he’s correct and they always create distortions let’s create a
good distortion that makes us feel better about ourselves, purpose and the organizations we
work in. For your paper copy a visual image onto your paper (drawing, photograph, painting, etc.,something visual and it can be yours or something you copied from somewhere else) and
describe how this metaphor can be reaffirming and/or a healthy one for individuals and
organizations to believe and live into.
