From bodies as ‘meat’ to bodies as ‘flesh’: the expression of performance management as ‘sacrificial acts’ within professional rugby

ABSTRACT

In this article, we argue that to extend the research on performance management we need to examine further how organisational members interweave the technology of such management into their work. Using Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy, we question the notion that technology acts on bodies in a linear manner as ‘meat’ to be manipulated. His reversible ontology suggests that these materials can be woven into the flesh of organising in a multitude of ways. Specifically, we refer to professional rugby, and the manner in which its players utilise the technology of performance management, to forge a localised expression of sacrifice. We suggest that this expression provides a means for players to define and evaluate themselves against ‘good rugby’. As forms of evaluation may vary in organisations, we recommend that researchers do not solely associate performance management with metrics but also look to other, more localised, expressions to inform their work.

KEYWORDS:

• Phenomenology
• Merleau-Ponty
• embodiment
• performance management
• corporeal
• rugby

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Peter McInnes http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9069-0647

Notes

1 All names are pseudonyms.

2 For an explanation of rugby terms and positions, the World Rugby website offers a comprehensive beginners guide. See: http://passport.worldrugby.org/index.php?page=beginners&p=1 (last accessed 30 January 2019).

3 Please note the ‘I’ in the field notes refers to Will’s (first author) experiences within the ethnography.

4 Within the team the ‘leadership group’ consisted of at least six experienced players who represented the wider playing cohort across a season. These leaders were selected by the players themselves before the season commenced.

5 The ‘tackle’ is defined as follows: ‘A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to ground, i.e. has one or both knees on the ground, is sitting on the ground or is on top of another player who is on the ground.’ See: http://passport.worldrugby.org/index.php?page=beginners&p=7 (last accessed 30 January 2019).

6 Again, an explanation of rugby field positions can be found here: http://passport.worldrugby.org/index.php?page=beginners&p=10 (last accessed 30 January 2019).