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Exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving : a study of the Sustainable Development Goals in corporate South Africa
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2019
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| _version_ | 1867613775587180544 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Samson, Sonya |
| author2 | Schulschenk, Jess |
| author_browse | Samson, Sonya Schulschenk, Jess |
| author_facet | Schulschenk, Jess Samson, Sonya |
| author_sort | Samson, Sonya |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2019. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/105785 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:30.564Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publishDateRange | 2019 |
| publishDateSort | 2019 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/105785 Exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving : a study of the Sustainable Development Goals in corporate South Africa Samson, Sonya Schulschenk, Jess Feront, Cecile Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Organizational behavior -- Research -- South Africa Social responsibility of business -- South Africa Sustainable Development Goals Sensemaking -- Graphic methods Sensegiving Visual communication UCTD Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2019. ENGLISH SUMMARY : The expectation of business as a key stakeholder in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is made explicit in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that represents a significant global commitment to the sustainability agenda. However, challenges related to business awareness, engagement, and implementation of strategy in relation to the SDGs are impeding change efforts. Concurrently, while the utility of visuals is broadly acknowledged in the organisational and sensemaking/sensegiving literature, their role in processes of sensemaking and sensegiving is underexplored in comparison to written and verbal communication. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential role of visuals in the processes of sensemaking and sensegiving through a study of the engagement with and understanding of the SDGs by sustainability practitioners in companies. Business engagement with the SDGs provides a rich context for this study, while the exploration of visuals connects the SDG iconography and everyday ubiquity of visual communication to the organisational and sensemaking/sensegiving literature. I employ a grounded theory methodology and draw on a mixed-methods approach to analyse surveys, semi-structured interviews, and documentary data from companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in South Africa. Considering the current engagement of companies in South Africa with the SDGs, I find that although there is a high level of awareness, many companies are yet to translate awareness into actionable strategy. In addition, while the SDGs may catalyse and frame business activities in support of the sustainability agenda, there are operational and interpretive challenges related to engaging with the SDGs. Exploring how companies use visuals when engaging with and communicating on the SDGs, I find that although most companies use some form of visuals, particularly infographics, the use of moving images and three-dimensional media remains limited. Reviewing how visuals may meaningfully contribute towards sensemaking and sensegiving, I identify and elaborate on 12 activities that are supported by visuals and that form part of the four key sensemaking/sensegiving processes of scanning, interpreting, explaining, and influencing. My research findings contribute to an improved, and much needed, understanding of the role of visuals in the organisational and sensemaking/sensegiving literature, and also provide practical insights for practitioners on the use of visuals in engaging with and communicating on the SDGs. As business grapples with reimagining its contribution to the sustainability agenda, I argue for a renewed - and reimagined - focus on the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die verwagting gestel aan besighede as ’n sleutelbelanghebbende by die bereiking van die Volhoubare Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte word duidelik gemaak in die Verenigde Nasies se 2030 Agenda vir Volhoubare Ontwikkeling, wat ’n beduidende wêreldwye verbintenis tot die volhoubaarheidsagenda uitmaak. Die uitdagings wat sakebewustheid en -betrokkenheid betref, en die implementering van strategie in verband met hierdie Doelwitte, belemmer egter die pogings tot verandering. Ofskoon die gebruikswaarde van visuele kommunikasie algemeen in die organisatoriese en sinmakings-/singewingsliteratuur erken word, is die rol daarvan in die sinmakings- en singewingsproses nie so duidelik as dié van skriftelike en verbale kommunikasie nie. Hierdie studie is gevolglik gemik daarop om die potensiële rol van visuele kommunikasie in die proses van sinmaking en singewing te ondersoek aan die hand van ’n studie oor volhoubaarheidspraktisyns in maatskappye se betrokkenheid by en hulle begrip van hierdie Doelwitte. Sakebetrokkenheid by die Doelwitte bied ’n ryk konteks vir hierdie studie, terwyl daar deur die verkenning van visuele kommunikasie by die Doelwitikonografie en daaglikse alomteenwoordigheid van visuele kommunikasie in die organisatoriese en sinmakings-/singewingsliteratuur aangesluit word. Ek gebruik ’n gegronde teoriemetodologie en volg ’n gemengdemetode-benadering om opnames, semigestruktureerde onderhoude en dokumentêre data van maatskappye genoteer op die Johannesburgse Sekuriteitebeurs in Suid-Afrika te ontleed. Gegewe die huidige betrokkenheid van maatskappye in Suid-Afrika by hierdie Doelwitte, bevind ek dat, alhoewel daar ’n hoë vlak van bewustheid is, heelwat maatskappye nog nie hierdie bewustheid in afdwingbare strategieë omgeskakel het nie. Terwyl hierdie Doelwitte as katalisator en raamwerk vir sake-aktiwiteite ter ondersteuning van die volhoubaarheidsagenda dien, is daar ook operasionele en interpretatiewe uitdagings wat betref betrokkenheid by die doelwitte. Om te ontdek hoe maatskappye visuele kommunikasie gebruik wanneer hulle by die doelwitte betrokke raak en daaroor kommunikeer, bevind ek dat ofskoon die meeste maatskappye ’n vorm van visuele kommunikasie gebruik, veral infografika, die gebruik van bewegende beelde en driedimensionele media beperk bly. In ’n oorsig van hoe visuele kommunikasie betekenisvol tot sinmaking en singewing kan bydra, identifiseer en verduidelik ek 12 aktiwiteite wat deur visuele kommunikasie ondersteun word en deel uitmaak van die vier sleutelsinmakings-/singewingprosesse van skandering, interpretasie, verduideliking, en beïnvloeding. My navorsingsbevindings dra by tot ’n verbeterde en noodsaaklike begrip van die rol van visuele kommunikasie in die organisatoriese en sinmakings-/singewingsliteratuur, en bied praktiese insigte vir praktisyns oor die gebruik van visuele kommunikasie vir betrokkenheid by en kommunikasie oor hierdie doelwitte. Siende dat besighede dit moeilik vind om hul bydrae tot die volhoubaarheidsagenda te herbedink, redeneer ek vir ’n hernieude – en herbedinkte – fokus op die rol van visuele kommunikasie in sinmaking en singewing. Masters 2019-02-15T06:29:43Z 2019-04-17T08:12:44Z 2019-02-15T06:29:43Z 2019-04-17T08:12:44Z 2019-04 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/105785 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xv, 180 pages ; illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Organizational behavior -- Research -- South Africa Social responsibility of business -- South Africa Sustainable Development Goals Sensemaking -- Graphic methods Sensegiving Visual communication UCTD Samson, Sonya Exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving : a study of the Sustainable Development Goals in corporate South Africa |
| title | Exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving : a study of the Sustainable Development Goals in corporate South Africa |
| title_full | Exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving : a study of the Sustainable Development Goals in corporate South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving : a study of the Sustainable Development Goals in corporate South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving : a study of the Sustainable Development Goals in corporate South Africa |
| title_short | Exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving : a study of the Sustainable Development Goals in corporate South Africa |
| title_sort | exploring the role of visuals in sensemaking and sensegiving a study of the sustainable development goals in corporate south africa |
| topic | Organizational behavior -- Research -- South Africa Social responsibility of business -- South Africa Sustainable Development Goals Sensemaking -- Graphic methods Sensegiving Visual communication UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/105785 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samsonsonya exploringtheroleofvisualsinsensemakingandsensegivingastudyofthesustainabledevelopmentgoalsincorporatesouthafrica |