Abstract:
This paper develops and problematises the notion of the ‘exemplary worker’—an idealised
worker who is automated, compliant and mechanical. We suggest that the identity of such a
worker emerges historically in a range of organisational, social and cultural discourses and
provides a norm against which real workers are to be judged. Most recently, this includes the
discourse of organisational culture; where worker commitment and managerial control are
directed at people’s values and beliefs. Our discussion starts with a review of Herman
Melville’s short story Bartleby the Scrivener and uses this story to begin to tease out the logic
of exemplarity and non-exemplarity. From there we examine other models for exemplary
workers and then relate these insights to more contemporary discussions of knowledge work,
empowerment, organisational culture and self-direction. We argue that despite these changes,
there is much continuity in terms of worker exemplarity.
