In a world where change and organizational transformation are ever-shifting landscapes, 'Sense-making' and participative narrative inquiry emerge as fit-for-purpose methods to guide leaders at every level through the fog. This session delves into the art of detecting weak signals and understanding the dynamics and patterns of organizations through the lived experiences shared by individuals. Sense-making is a participatory form of ethnography. Individuals share personal experiences or observations and enrich these narratives by answering targeted questions, adding depth and layers of meaning. This method uniquely marries hard data with soft, qualitative insights. It inherently reduces bias, as participants, rather than external analysts, interpret and code their own stories. This approach not only lends authenticity to the data but also ensures that real-life stories, supported by data, are at the forefront of driving culture change and measuring progress. The power of these narratives, especially when they reveal consistent patterns supported by quantitative evidence, is undeniable. They offer a detailed, multifaceted view, aiding leaders in spotting trends and behaviors within their organizations. By analyzing a broad collection of such narratives, organizations can detect subtle changes and inform targeted actions, making sense-making an invaluable tool for understanding complex systems and guiding interventions. In this workshop, we'll learn how to apply sense-making and narrative inquiry methods to identify patterns and measure change. Additionally, we'll share how participants can leverage this same approach within their organizations as part of a retrospective or as a way to measure progress for a transformation.
Analyze and interpret patterns and trends in a collection of narratives, assessing their explanatory power in revealing an organization's underlying dynamics and behaviors.
Explain how the sense-making approach is used to assess and measure change.
Apply a sense-making and narrative inquiry method for a retrospective or as a way to measure progress for a transformation.