A1 Journal article (refereed)
The moral work of becoming a professional : The interactional practices of storytelling in professional peer mentoring groups (2022)

Nissi, R., & Pässilä, A. (2022). The moral work of becoming a professional : The interactional practices of storytelling in professional peer mentoring groups. Narrative Inquiry, 32(1), 148-172. https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.20056.nis

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Nissi, Riikka; Pässilä, Anne

Journal or series: Narrative Inquiry

ISSN: 1387-6740

eISSN: 1569-9935

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 08/06/2021

Volume: 32

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 148-172

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.20056.nis

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84147

Abstract

In contemporary working life, art-based initiatives are increasingly used in organizational training and development. For artists, this has created new employment opportunities as creative entrepreneurs who provide specialist services for workplaces. In this article, we study the dynamics of such encounters through the narrated accounts of training professionals. Our data come from a professional mentoring program where the working pairs of artists and consultants shared stories about their customer projects. By using conversation analysis as a method, we analyze the way stories are interactionally accomplished in peer group sessions of the program. In particular, we analyze how participants produce different versions of the narrated events, and by so doing, negotiate the questions of blame and accountability with regard to professional action. In conclusion, we discuss stories and storytelling as organizational practice through which the moral order and legitimacy of the program is sustained and the boundaries of the profession constructed.

Keywords: professional development; mentoring; peer groups; arts-based methods; artists; consultants; social interaction; narrativity; morals; reflection (cognitive processes)

Free keywords: artist-developer; morality; situated storytelling; peer group interaction; professional boundary-work; reflection

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2