Dialogic OD is rooted in Social Constructionist thinking
Broadly assumes that:
Meaning and understanding are central to human activity
Ways of meaning making are embedded in social-cultural processes and are specific to particular times and places
People define themselves—assumes people are self-defining and socially constructed participants in their shared lives
Contd…
(Lock and Strong 2010)
Key thinkers that influence social constructionism
Contd…
Relevant to Dialogic OD specifically:
Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann (The Social Construction of Reality 1966)
Ken and Mary Gergen
John Shotter
Organisational Discourse—a related construct by Grant and Marshak
‘a set of interrelated texts that, along with the related practices of text production, dissemination, and consumption, brings an object or idea into being’ (2011:208)
contd…
Keys Concepts in Organizational Discourse
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Conversational Consulting (a related form of Dialogic OD)
Or
Defining Conversation
An experience between two or more people who, through the expression of thoughts and feelings, creation of new ideas, perspectives and understandings.
Contd…
Affirmation of your self-value and the value of others.
An awareness of new perspectives and ideas.
Knowing that, as a result of conversation, something is different.
The development of shared meanings and understandings.
A sense of equality between people.
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Contd…
The experience of conversation may include:
Contd…
Wheatley (2009) offers a somewhat simpler definition of conversation:
“….. where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard and we each listen well.”(2009:3)
Turning to one another: Simple conversations to restore hope to the future.
Key Premises of Dialogic OD Mind-set (1)
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Applications of Social Constructionism in Dialogic OD
35+ other techniques and methods
The main focus of Dialogic OD ‘involves changing narratives that underpin social reality’ (Bushe 2013:11)
References
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Readings (Full details in Course Handbook)
Thank You
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Discovery Interview (Activity)
Working in pairs, tell the story of a specific experience of when you felt you led or contributed to a change process that worked well.
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