Abstract

The purpose of conducting this research was to compare the effectiveness of drum circles and appreciative inquiry as team-building interventions. The researcher conducted two team-building inventions in the same organization--one intervention used a drum circle design; the other used an appreciative inquiry design. Both interventions measured the following aspects of team effectiveness: collaboration, trust, authenticity, communication, creativity, commitment, interrelatedness, and recognition. Data was collected from the two teams through pre-, immediate post-, and four-week post-workshop surveys. There were no significant differences in immediate post-workshop perceptions of their teams. The two teams did not differ significantly in their four-week post-workshop perceptions of their teams, contrasted with earlier findings from pre-workshop independent samples findings. Four main conclusions were drawn. First, based on the survey results, it appears that drum circles and appreciative inquiry are equally useful team-building interventions. Second, it can be suggested that appreciative inquiry has an effective use for team building in the areas of communication, trust, teamwork, and strategy. Third, it can be suggested that drum circles have an effective use for team building in the areas of teamwork, communication, and trust. Fourth, both drum circles and appreciative inquiry can be suggested as team-building interventions in the areas of teamwork, communication, and trust.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Dissertations (MA) -- Organization Development; Teams in the workplace -- Psychological aspects; Teams in the workplace -- Training of; Organizational effectiveness

Date of Award

2014

School Affiliation

Graziadio Business School

Department/Program

Business

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Masters

Faculty Advisor

Egan, Terri;

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