Improvisational theatre as team development intervention for climate for work group innovation

Date
2010-03
Authors
Kirsten, Burgert
Du Preez, Ronel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJournals
Abstract
Orientation: Changes in business environments have resulted in a need for the development of innovative teams. Improvisational theatre as a technique could contribute to the understanding of how individuals can work together and be innovative. Research purpose and motivation: This study evaluates the influence of a team development intervention utilising improvisational theatre exercises on innovative work group climate. Research design, approach and method: A quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was employed with an experimental group and a control group from a healthcare managerial division. Main findings: Repeated-measures ANOVA results indicated that for innovative work group climate as a whole, as well as for three of its factors, namely participative safety, vision, and task orientation, the experimental group’s scores improved significantly (p < 0.05). Support for innovation did not show significant differences. Practical/Managerial implications: This research has shown that improvisational theatre is a team development tool that can be used to assist work teams in creating a climate for innovation. Contribution/value-add: This study extends the body of knowledge in the field of team building and highlights the contribution that improvisational theatre can make toward the development of work teams
Description
Original publication is available at http://www.sajip.co.za
CITATION: Kirsten, B. & Du Preez, R. 2010. Improvisational theatre as team development intervention for climate for work group innovation. SA Journal for Industrial Psychology, 36(1):1-9. doi: 10.4102/sajip.v36i1.862
Keywords
Employees -- Training of, Improvisational theatre, Teams in the workplace, Creative ability, Improvisation (Acting)
Citation
Kirsten, B. & du Preez, R. 2010. Improvisational theatre as team development intervention for climate for work group innovation. SA Journal for Industrial Psychology, 36(1):1-9. doi: 10.4102/sajip.v36i1.862