Organizational Legends

Research on anthropological myths, sagas, and organizational stories is theoretically integrated with cognitive research on scripts. This integrative theoretical model is then used to define the characteristics of narratives most relevant to organizational contexts. These narratives, labeled organizational legends, serve three functions. Legends generate commitment to the organizations policies and philosophy of management, help participants remember and make sense out of organizationally- relevant information, and they serve as a control mechanism for the organization as a whole. Supporting evidence is drawn from field observations and laboratory experiments.