Reflexive model of research-based theatre – processing innovation at the crossroads of theatre, reflection and practice-based innovation activities

Abstract

Contemporary organisations have to embrace the notion of doing ‘more with less’. This
\nchallenges knowledge production within companies and public organisations, forcing them
\nto reorganise their structures and rethink what knowledge production actually means in the
\ncontext of innovation and how knowledge is actually produced among various professional
\ngroups within the organisation in their everyday actions. Innovations are vital for
\norganisational survival, and ‘ordinary’ employees and customers are central but too-often
\nignored producers of knowledge for contemporary organisations. Broader levels of
\nparticipation and reflexive practices are needed.
\nThis dissertation discusses the missing links between innovation research conducted in the
\ncontext of industrial management, arts, and culture; applied drama and theatre practices
\n(specifically post-Boalian approaches); and learning – especially organising reflection – in
\norganisational settings.
\nThis dissertation (1) explores and extends the role of research-based theatre to organising
\nreflection and reflexive practices in the context of practice-based innovation, (2) develops a
\nreflexive model of RBT for investigating and developing practice-based organisational
\nprocess innovations in order to contribute to the development of a tool for innovation
\nmanagement and analysis, and (3) operationalises this model within private- and publicsector
\norganisations.
\nThe proposed novel reflexive model of research-based theatre for investigating and
\ndeveloping practice-based organisational process innovations extends existing methods and
\noffers a different way of organising reflection and reflexive practices in the context of
\ngeneral innovation management. The model was developed through five participatory
\naction research processes conducted in four different organisations.
\nThe results provide learning steps – a reflection path – for understanding complex
\norganisational life, people, and relations amid renewal and change actions. The proposed
\nmodel provides a new approach to organising and cultivating reflexivity in practice-based
\ninnovation activities via research-based theatre. The results can be utilised as a guideline
\nwhen processing practice-based innovation within private or public organisations. The
\nmodel helps innovation managers to construct, together with their employees, temporary communities where they can learn together through reflecting on their own and each
\nothers’ experiences and to break down assumptions related to their own perspectives.
\nThe results include recommendations for practical development steps applicable in various
\norganisations with regard to (i) application of research-based theatre and (ii) related general
\ninnovation management. The dissertation thus contributes to the development of novel
\nlearning approaches in knowledge production.
\nKeywords: practice-based innovation, research-based theatre, learning, reflection, mode 2b
\nknowledge production