Introduction:Management and language : the manager as a practical author /David J. Holman,Richard Thorpe --Managers as practical authors : everyday conversations for action /John Shotter, Ann L. Cunliffe -- Using narrative and telling stories /David M. Boje --Full of characters : identity and talk in practical authoring /David J. Holman, Jeff Gold,Richard Thorpe -- Visual media and the construction of meaning /Richard Thorpe,Joep Cornelisson --Theleader as a practical narrator : leadership as the art of translating /Francois Cooren,Gail T. Fairhurst --Thelogic of message design in organisational argument / Shirley Willihnganz,Joy L. Hart,Charles A. Willard --Authoring as a collaborative process throught communication /Stanley Deetz -- Conversations and the authoring of change /Jeffrey D. Ford,Laurie W. Ford --All in a knot of one anothers' labours : action learning as joint practical authoring/Mike Pedler --Acritical conversation between author managers and management authors /Dorothy Lander,Craig Prichard.