Themed article: Sexed up intelligence or irresponsible reporting? The interplay of virtual communication and emotion in dispute sensemaking

Abstract

In the context of an exploratory case study of an interorganizational dispute between the BBC and the UK Government, this article develops a conceptual framework through which the interplay of emotion, sensemaking and virtuality in disputes can be better understood. One contribution of the article is reconsideration of the general relationship between emotion and sensemaking. It is suggested that emotions as temporary social roles complement sensemaking itself, enabling plausible accounts to be constructed when there would otherwise be no socially acceptable bridge between beliefs and behaviour. A second contribution is appreciation of the difficulties for virtual communication arising from the capabilities for review and replication of messages which it affords, so that discourse is explicit, irrevocable and potentially public. When, particularly across the lines of a dispute, communications are contentious this can lead to sensemaking through behavioural commitment and the evocation of justifying beliefs; or it can lead to emotional dynamics justifying communication as passion or obviating the need to attend to other's responses. The ar ticle reflects on implications for the development, escalation and resolution of disputes.

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