Peering into Transparency: Ideals, Proxies and Organizational Practices

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The current emphasis on organizational and institutional transparency – driven by NGOs, inquisitive media, critical investors and other engaged stakeholders – signifies a growing demand for insight, clarity, participation and democracy. Holding the promise of improved access to valid and trustworthy knowledge about contemporary organizations, the transparency discourse has significant democratic potential. Yet, its most common operationalization – as information availability – reinstalls a “purified” notion of communication devoid of mystery, inaccuracy and misrepresentation. In this paper, we apply transparency to itself by unpacking its implicit model of communication and critiquing its ignorance towards the representative nature of current transparency practices. The critique unfolds the ambiguous nature of the transparency pursuit and demonstrates how its desire for insight, clarity, participation and democracy are counteracted by new types of opacity.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication date2013
    Number of pages37
    Publication statusPublished - 2013
    EventThe 63rd Annual International Communication Association Conference. ICA 2013 - Hilton London Metropole Hotel, London, United Kingdom
    Duration: 17 Jun 201321 Jun 2013
    Conference number: 63
    http://www.icahdq.org/conf/2013/program.asp

    Conference

    ConferenceThe 63rd Annual International Communication Association Conference. ICA 2013
    Number63
    LocationHilton London Metropole Hotel
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityLondon
    Period17/06/201321/06/2013
    Internet address

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