BeWeDō® : co-creating possibilities with movement : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Massey Business School, Department of Management, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2015
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Massey University
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Abstract
One of the main challenges in contemporary creative practice is shifting
beyond collaborative thinking to more relational ways of engaging
co-operatively with each other. The interdisciplinary research focused
on investigating how can the movement practices of the Japanese
martial art of Aikido facilitate leadership development for co-creation.
This research synthesised diverse literatures focussed on aikidoka,
leadership development, and creative modes of practice as processes
in action and in relation to collective creativity and the context of
co-creation within the experience economy.
The Aikido principle of aiki was used as a theoretical framework
where experiential knowing – anchored in relational processes –
focused on engaging my body and its experiences as a site of learning
and a participatory way of knowing. This design-led ethnography
combined autoethnography and visual ethnography through two Phases
of fieldwork. The findings from Phase One highlighted four concepts
zanshin, hipparu, extension, and common center, which were blended
into the BeWeDō® conceptual framework. The BeWeDō® framework
was investigated experientially in a series of workshops as part of
Phase Two. The workshops involved me being immersed in a relational
leadership process which encouraged participants to be in the moment
and generate co-creative movement. Six key themes emerged: Aikido is
not BeWeDō®; BeWeDō® is more than collaboration; Aiki involves
“the two of us”; an aiki approach invites co-operation; BeWeDō®
positions the body to lead co-creative movement; and BeWeDō® moves
the conversation to a different place.
This research is the first to investigate how Aikido movement practices
can facilitate leadership development for co-creation. Beyond the
influential act of an individual or individuals, the BeWeDō® framework
is a relational leadership approach founded on the idea that individuals
are constituted by social processes: a new way of co-creating possibilities
to facilitate leadership development specifically for co-creation. BeWeDō®
is a unique co-creation experience innovation. Furthermore, BeWeDō®
extends beyond notions of embodied leadership and embraces the role
of emplacement for transforming co-creative possibilities.
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Keywords
Leadership, Creative ability in business, Creative thinking, Teams in the workplace, Aikido, Psychological aspects