The Missing Link: A Transformational View of Metaphors in Organizational Science
梳理隐喻在常识与科学话语中的不同知识功能，提出开发隐喻以深化组织科学知识的方法论，并论证隐喻语言与字面语言并非对立。
This article outlines the different knowledge functions of metaphors in lay and scientific discourses and proposes a methodology for the development of metaphors to yield deeper organizational scientific knowledge. It argues that the traditional dichotomy between metaphorical and literal languages has led either to an overemphasis or a depreciation of the role of metaphors in organizational science. This dichotomy is unnecessary and unproductive because metaphorical language and literal language are different but not incompatible. Drawing on Beer's suggestions about scientific modeling, this article advances a transformational view of metaphors, which attempts to outline a methodology for the development of metaphorical insights to yield literal identities.