Using Discourse to Restore Organisational Legitimacy: ‘CEO-speak’ After an Incident in a German Nuclear Power Plant

摘要: We analyse managerial discourse in corporate communication (‘CEO-speak’) during a 6-month period following legitimacy-threatening event the form of an incident German nuclear power plant. As discourses express specific stances expressed by group people who share particular beliefs and values, they constitute important means restoring organisational legitimacy when social rules norms have been violated. Using analytical framework based on as process reciprocal sense-making consisting three levels analysis which capture relationship between text context, we investigate used CEOs their initial subsequent accounts incident. find that aim to negotiate resolution account audiences’ incongruent interpretations adopting ad hoc normative attitude stakeholders. This manifests itself strategic use stakeholder engagement signalling change, yet maintaining status quo. It suggests strategically manufacture consent regarding continued operation plant affected Our findings contribute critical literature regards narrative reporting consolidating private interests corporations, rather than increasing transparency accountability.