Discourses of Value : The role of power and fields

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the effects of power relations in value discourse in the field of business. More specifically, the author seeks to understand how fields influence the meanings of polysemic words, how influence can be exercised, and by whom. Data was collected through interviews during and after an E-learning project in which personnel from two companies participated in 2013-2014. E-learning, while it was the project context, is not relevant to the results of the study because the discourse could occur in any number of environments. Analysis was done using a constructivist approach and discourse theory. The results were viewed through four main subject categories, the concepts of ‘fields and capital’, ‘power’, ‘hegemony and panopticism’, and ‘description and prescription’. Overall, it is clear that the setting in which discourse occurs, the field, influences meaning. Certain concepts or meanings have greater importance and the origin of this status is explored. Transfer of meaning between two fields was also observed. Further re-search topics are discussed in the conclusions, as are some of the ramifications of the out-comes of this study.