Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Infantilized adults or confident consumers? Enterprise discourse in the UK retail banking industry

Nayak, Ajit; Beckett, Antony

Authors

Ajit Nayak

Antony Beckett



Abstract

In this paper we examine the implications of enterprise discourse within the context of a culture of consumption. Drawing on empirical work on the UK retail banking industry we demonstrate how retail banking in the UK is central to constructing 'confident consumers' in a consumerist society and demonstrate how enterprise and consumption have reframed the interaction between banks and the consumer. We identify a rhizomic network that spans across diverse activities and electronic traces, and a variety of data sources and statistical techniques that mediate between the industry players. We argue that there has been a fundamental shift in rationality from 'social obligation' to 'confident consumers' which leads to a tension between confident consumers and infantilized adults. Copyright © 2008 SAGE Publications.

Citation

Nayak, A., & Beckett, A. (2008). Infantilized adults or confident consumers? Enterprise discourse in the UK retail banking industry. Organization, 15(3), 407-425. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508408088537

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date May 1, 2008
Journal Organization
Print ISSN 1350-5084
Electronic ISSN 1461-7323
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 3
Pages 407-425
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508408088537
Keywords consumption, money, social obligation
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1013002
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1350508408088537




Downloadable Citations