Abstract

Today, organizations and their employees operate in times of increased complexity, ambiguity, and constant change. Traditional methods for enabling change and transformation are no longer sufficient to generate alignment and shared understanding to create adaptive ways of working. Organizations must identify new tools when engaged in change and transformation. Poetry, a time-honored practice, is an unconventional choice for organizational interventions. Still, it may be a solution for organizations seeking to unstick, reframe, and pivot quickly toward a new and shared reality. This study evaluated the practice and dimensions of poetry interventions used by change practitioners when enabling change and transformation in organizations.

The literature review explored the history of poetry to demonstrate its enduring value across time, cultures, and languages. It explored the practical components of poetry, the power of storytelling, and its ability to move and evoke an emotional effect in humans. Also, it examined the modern-day change in the corporate world and the role of sensemaking amid change. Finally, it explored the intersection of poetry and the modern corporate world.

This study used a qualitative method design and gathered data across nine interviews with change practitioners. This method explored an intervention’s characteristics, conditions, and results. Engagements with interview participants covered ten core questions. Key themes are organized around intellectual, pleasure, emotional, and awe-inspiring aspects that can be attributed to the aesthetic experience (Csikszentmihalyi & Robinson, 1990). There is a cognitive experience for those who engage with poetry that can be attributed to poetry’s construct and the human system. Poetry can be a pleasing exercise for its audiences leading to active listening, engagement, and diverse thinking. An emotional response can be a natural reaction to poetry, and this study’s interviewees recounted an emotional experience for their intervention participants and themselves. Finally, the sense of awe. The aesthetic experience is described as transcendental and applies to a poetic experience, according to this study’s research. A summary of the study is offered, including recommendations, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future studies.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Poetry; Poetics; Organizational change

Date of Award

2023

School Affiliation

Graziadio Business School

Department/Program

Business

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Masters

Faculty Advisor

Kent Rhodes

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