Sensemaking, meaning-making and practice perspectives in strategic planning for a veteran service nonprofit organization

The purpose of this research is both practical and scholarly. From a practical perspective, this study’s purpose is to explore the successes and challenges of a veteran service nonprofit organization through an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process to inform the organization's future priorities and direction. From a scholarly perspective, this research extends organizational literature in that it brings to light the ways members of an organization negotiate roles and navigate tensions in the construction of strategy and the function of the strategic text in inspiring commitment and motivating change. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, this research builds on the principles and concepts of sensemaking and meaning-making in a community of practice and strategy-as-practice. Data collected from in-depth qualitative fieldwork included interviews, a focus group, an open forum, a facilitated virtual board retreat, observations, correspondence, and archival materials. Data were analyzed using two coding techniques, one for the drafting of the strategic plan and the other an inductive approach to explore the research questions. The preliminary findings reveal three tensions (1) tensions in the transition from top-down to more inclusive strategic planning; (2) tensions between conflict and mutual engagement; and (3) tensions in the relationship between practitioners and strategic objects in creating meaning. Ultimately, this research provides perspectives on the broader implications for engaging leadership communication processes, such as appreciative inquiry, in facilitating organizational change.

Grantor dc:publisher

Kansas State University

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Metzger, Susan Theresa

• Strategic planning
• Appreciative inquiry
• Strategy as practice
• Meaning making
• Sensemaking
• Military veteran nonprofit organizations

Statement dc:rights

• © the author. This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2097/41712

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:krex.k-state.edu:2097/41712