Probing language in Tanzania within western oriented business organisations. Analysis of senior managers' workplace discourses in different social groups

Abstract

This study from Tanzania contributes to the understanding of the management discourses circulating amongst senior managers in Western owned companies in Tanzania. It identifies two dominant discourses, a Western derived Contractual discourse and the local derived Kinship discourse. The division of their use is not by ethnic origin of senior managers but are drawn on in various ways by all managers. This research focuses on senior experienced managers from three different nationalities who were asked to tell stories from their experiences in management life. Their stories contain their perceptions of various populations and show their evaluations of those populations. Analysis shows how people draw on discourses circulating within their societies, reveals these actual underlying discourses, and explores the languages used in communication. Two sets of communication languages emerged from this analysis, the Western contractual and the local kinship discourse. Western contractual thinking rests upon efficiency and profit-making. This stands in contrast to the kinship thinking which is rooted in communal and humanistic values. These contrasting discourses contribute to misunderstanding, but there is common ground between them. If this commensurable dimension is internalised, a local Tanzanian management discourse may appear that would represent a new management discourse. An organisational framework that may support this discourse’s emergency and circulation is suggested.