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Armitage, Duncan (2025) Representations of leadership in medically themed fiction: a Follettian approach. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

My research is processual and focuses on the representation of leadership in works of fiction that have medical themes. I apply the theoretical work and speeches of Mary Parker Follett (1868 - 1933) captured within her three published books (The Speaker of the House of Representatives, The New State, Creative Experience) and her numerous business presentations. I develop a Follettian framework to analyse three works of fiction - The Citadel by A.J. Cronin, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey and Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams. For each work of fiction, I combine my close reading of the text alongside particular presentations that Follett delivered to groups of psychiatrists, industrial nurses and teachers. As part of my approach, I examine contextual factors and use Follett’s concept of interweaving to discuss the interrelationships that exist between authors’ biographical details, aspects of leadership history, moments in medical history and my own experiences in leadership assessment, leadership development, professional acting and as a reader of fiction. I conclude my findings by highlighting how a Follettian approach reveals highly nuanced representations of leadership that are dynamic and relational. Particular emphasis is placed on Follett’s concept of invisible leadership and the breadth of its application in analysing and discussing the interplay between fiction and leadership. Three areas of impact from this research are explored. First, I demonstrate the benefits of using a Follettian framework when conducting interdisciplinary research. Second, I identify gaps in scholarly efforts regarding Mary Parker Follett, in particularly her leadership role in the 19th century regarding job and role analysis and her impact on leadership development amongst professional workers. Third, I reveal the personal, developmental benefits when engaging in auto-ethnographic analyses.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Harvey, Kevin Kelemen, Mihaela Baker, Charley
Keywords:	Leadership, medical fiction, Follett, Mary Parker Follett, The Citadel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Suddenly Last Summer, leadership representations
Subjects:	P Language and literature > PN Literature (General) > PN 80 Criticism
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Arts > School of English
Item ID:	81702
Depositing User:	Armitage, Duncan
Date Deposited:	09 Dec 2025 04:40
Last Modified:	09 Dec 2025 04:40
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/81702

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