Abstrats for Quantum Storytelling Conference Held Dec 16 to 18 2011

Quantum Storytelling:
Ontological Inquiry Research Conference 2011
Dec 16-18, 2011 at Lundeen’s Inn of the Arts, Las Cruces, NM

ABSTRACT by Grant Aguirre, David Boje, Melissa Cast, Suzanne Conner, Catherine Helmuth, Rakesh Mittal, Rohny Saylors, Nazanin Tourani, Sebastien Vendette, and Tony Qiang Yan

Under submission to International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior,
Special Issue: Organizational Innovations and Responses for Universal Equilibrium (Special-Theme Editor: Shiv K. Tripathi shivktripathi @hotmail .com).
Abstract (197 words)
This study investigates the relationships between environmental sustainability, open systems, and ontological storytelling. These issues are explored through a case study of sustainability at New Mexico State University. This research provides insight into the development of a new dimension for a university sustainability interface. This interface exists in terms of a dialogic of sustainability, as it relates to the balancing of competing needs, such as efficiency, heart, and brand identity. Another aspect of the interface is intervention, thus bringing new possible dimensions to the university’s goals to top administration regarding environmentalities.
A qualitative and interpretive approach using ontological storytelling inquiry is employed. Data for the study were collected through in-depth interviews with university members from all hierarchical levels. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and provided to the interviewees for their approval prior to inclusion.
The research concludes that sustainability reveals itself temporally in the meaning of authentic care becoming interwoven in organizational system change.

Although the generalizability of a case study is limited, it provides for the development of new questions to be explored by further research into the relationship of systems, sustainability, organizational change, and ontological storytelling.

Abstract for David M. Boje,
Accepted For Journal of Change Management – 2012

Reflections:
What does Quantum Physics of Storytelling Mean for Change Management?

The paradigm shift to quantum physics will mean new approaches to change management and storytelling. Because what we thought we knew about space, time, and matter has changed our storytelling of the history, present, and future will be different. My purpose is to reflect on the way changes in what I call the ‘quantum physics of storytelling’ prompt important changes in the practices of change management. Antenarrative is a genre of storytelling the future that is an ‘intra-weave’ with retrospective narrative of many pasts, and living stories of the more immediate Now-presentness of webs of relationality. One key change to change management is two new theories of antenarrative. Initially antenarrative was defined in 2001 in only two [ontic] ways: the ante (bet) the transformation of the future, and the ante (before) to its fossilization in narrative retrospection coheres. These seem to connect narrative-past to predicted future-end-states. In this reflection, I submit quantum physics, because everything from living beings to living things is entangled at the subatomic particle/wave indeterminacy, this quantum-field-ness necessitates two new [ontological] theories: ante (anteriority) the primordial-future [in-being] ahead of itself beckoning the present, and ante (antecedent) the predicate (or a priori) Being-of-possibilities of authentic care, a calling to Now-ness potentialities.

Key Words: Storytelling, antenarrative, ontological-anteriority, change management, quantum physics

Reframing Efficacy Research and Theory from a Storytelling Perspective:
A Review of the Academy of Management Publications

David M. Boje, Steve Elias, Stephanie Maynard-Patrick
Being readied for review at AMR

Abstract
What would change in efficacy research if insights from storytelling were brought to bear on it? In an attempt to merge two prominent bodies of literature, this essay explores the commonalities between efficacy and storytelling theory. Efficacy theory includes global, domain specific, proxy, collective and self-efficacy beliefs. Reviewing the literature dedicated to efficacy and storytelling theory and research, several propositions are presented. In particular, propositions address the integration of efficacy and storytelling theory in order to elucidate the ways in which the later impacts the sources of (and outcomes associated with) efficacy beliefs. Storytelling theory includes narratives of the past, living stories of present unfolding-relationships, and future sensemaking narratives. Because efficacy involves one’s belief in one’s ability, it is proposed that storytelling by oneself and others makes known how one develops levels of efficacy. Our main contribution addresses how retrospective narrative has been most past-oriented whereas efficacy research has been about predicting future performances and outcomes. We therefore theorize that future-oriented-storytelling can integrate with efficacy outcomes research, while retrospective-narrative is agential to such efficacy sources as mastery and vicarious experience.

Dynamic, Modeling, and Variable-Equation Nonlinearity Approaches in Management and Organization Studies
David M. Boje* Heather Baca-Greif** Melissa Cast*
*New Mexico State University (USA), **Aalborg University (Denmark)

ABSTRACT
This review argues that there are significant barriers to overcome when discussing nonlinearity in terms of dynamic, modeling, and variable-equation approaches in management and organization studies. We compare and contrast the six key assumptions of “general linear reality (GLR)” to studies published in Academy of Management and Organizational Science journals. The pattern we observe is that some of the six assumptions, but not all, are rejected in these studies. The article highlights examples of how GLR assumptions are being addressed in empirical, methodological and practical work, and explores the spiral as a special type of nonlinear approach. Lastly, the article, as its main contribution, proposes an episodic spiral model of viewing the organization.

Abstract David M. Boje, Catherine A. Helmuth, & Rohny G. Saylors
The Heart of Care:
An Exploration of Corporeal and Ontological approaches to Authentic Leadership
Under Review at Leadership Journal

The purpose of this article is to explore possible connections between existent ‘authentic leadership theory and methods with an ontological inquiry approach. We focus on Martin Heidegger’s work, which while frequently quoted in existent leadership work; scholars have yet to unpack in any major way. We use some examples from our work in call center study, and an analysis of sustainability leadership at our own university. We explore how the ontological inquiry is about a Hermeneutic Situation, develop nine moods (states-of-mind) that give clues to the relationship of authentic and inauthentic, and develop an analytic approach that includes datability, disclosing, directionality, desevering, deploying, and dwelling-in-place. It is only ironic that in their English translation they all begin with ‘D.’ A major implication is that there is a connection between corporeal and ontological approaches, between the ‘heart of concernfulness’ and a ‘heart of care’ which makes an ontico-oncological connection.

The subject of leadership has been researched for many decades, transformational and authentic leadership are only two from a long list of leadership theories. The common thread among the two types of leadership is finding “true self”. My proposed dissertation topic will compare and contrast transformational and authentic leadership, and how each are connected to the spirituality of the leader. Heidegger states “If we are to cast light on historicality itself in terms of temporality and primordially in terms of temporality that is authentic…”(Heidegger, p. 428). Spirituality defined by the author is unrelated to religion or religious beliefs. Spirituality is the connection between an individual and their “Higher Power”. An individual “Higher Power” may be called God, Buddhist, the Pope, or any other religious figure. However on the other hand “Higher Power” to others maybe a rock, a necklace or another symbol. In spite of the name, “Higher Power” as defined by the author is that item or thing that an individual reaches out to in order to obtain strength beyond human capacity.
The dissertation methodology will be an ontological study with a three part focus group, with the third session being a group session with the studies. The individuals that will be part of the study will be religious leaders that are also leaders in the business world. The research questions will pose questions to gather information on how each individual see authenticity, leadership, spirituality and how each item are connected and used when making decisions.
Reference
Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time. (Trans. John Macquarrie & Robinson, Edward.) San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1962.

The Feasibility of Virtual Human Resources With Discontent of Virtual Training in Organizations

The use of technology in virtual platforms has become popular in organizations. However, it has not been accepted by employees as the best mode of communication for a variety of reasons. This fact was uncovered by organizational development consultants both in the U.S. and in international countries. The concerns include a preference for face to face interaction and improved intercultural communications in management training. Most recently, the human resource department in an effort to become centralized has been transitioned to a virtual platform and phone communication in a proprietary education organization. Given the discontent of employees with the globalization of their organizations resulting in an increase in the use of technology as a training method, this study will address the feasibility of transitioning back to on location human resource services for management training. The potential for hybrid human resource services in organizations to address the needs for face to face training and intercultural communication concerns that impact organizational performance will be analyzed in this discussion using ontological inquiry methodology.

Debra Pearl Hockenberry Abstract
The Ontological Phenomenon of Time that predicts the propensity of futuring™ within Intrapreneurship

Few look at the ontological phenomenon of innovation and intrapreneurship. By using Boje’s Quantum Ontological Systems Theory, the focus on the necessary components that predict the propensity of futuring™ are identified. This presentation provides a critic of the literature and suggested aspects of viewing time, space and matter that are necessary for a rigorous investigation into creative deviance within enterprise.

Gerri McCulloh Abstract
Documenting risk rhetoric through a posthumanist lens: communicating hazards

This presentation will look at the complementary theories of Karen Barad (2007), Mira J. Hird (2009), and Jane Bennett (2010), to apply posthumanism/vital materialism principles to the mining industry, specifically to mimetic communication as put forward by Beverly Saur (2003). Miners, as Saur’s research shows, engage memory systems that account for complex, diverse, and shifting environmental signals that are ‘read’ at the level of the body’s sensorium. When describing mining accidents, experienced miners often ‘repopulate’ former accidents by ‘re-presenting’ (bringing back into the present) the events through gesture; they bring agents, like mining roofs, load bearing wing-nuts, fractures, etc. into the discussion using ‘presence’ rhetoric (epidiectic), thereby allowing other experienced miners to ‘re-member’ the scenes. These presentational stories show how non-human voices may be understood through a posthumanist/vital materialist lens. Interestingly, these voices, once normalized into text (narratives of training manuals, etc.) are changed and do not convey multiple agents or the same urgency to experienced miners, who are adept at reading mining environments ontologically and epistemologically. Paradoxically, these normalizing narratives become new hazards in the mining industry. Understanding how environments of risk communicate through the ontological experiences of miners may be an important area of research for other industries seeking to minimize worker hazard. Listening to the voices amplified through posthumanism may contribute to encouraging the conveyance of living story that can then support and engage dynamic safety within communities subjected to alive and shifting hazards.

Barad, K. (2007). Meeting the universe halfway: Quantum physics and the entanglement of matter. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Bennett, J. (2010). Vibrant matter: A political ecology of things. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Hird, M. J. (2009). The origins of sociable life: evolution after science studies. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Diane Thomas Abstract
How do the practices of a one-on-one mentoring program for women offenders impact their recidivism rates?

A woman offender released from jail is in the survival phase she may be living on her gate money, eating at a soup kitchen, and sleeping in a shelter or on a friend’s couch; she may be desperately trying to stay sober, and go to an emergency room if she has a health problem. She is likely to be concerned about her children but to be so much in crisis herself that she is unable to do anything on their behalf. We hope that she conforms to any mandates imposed by probation, parole, or the court so that she can stay free (Jacobs,A.,2004). How an ontological coaching component in the reentry programs can reduce recidivism? While evidence of the relationship of reentry programs for inmates have primarily been with male subjects and applied to the findings to women”. “Change is now well under way. “Yet the results of prior studies have not focused on the ineffectiveness because the studies show those female inmates must overcome unique social, emotional, and physical challenges that impede their ability to integrate smoothly back into society following a period of incarceration.” Bloom, Owen & Covington, (2003).
Ontological assumptions concerning the person is the focus of this study. Questions need to asked on a deeper level according to psychologist, the level of being, what is the nature of the person as a person and how can we best describe the human existence? The loss of values include the social problems since the Renaissance (May,1953) the dominant value in the Western society has been competitive prestige measured in terms of work and financial success. Such values are no longer effective in the postmodern world.
The proposed mentoring initiative for women offenders in Missouri will attempt offer
additional insight to improve current prison reentry programs for women. The investigators from Missouri will observe, collect interview data, analyze and make program recommendations.

This presentation summarizes the concepts underlying my dissertation study exploring the nature of supremely adaptive organizations and the role of fractal patterns in organizational resilience. The study uses Ontological Storytelling Inquiry to explore the question “What is the relationship between observable fractal-like patterns and organizational resilience amid turbulence?” Building on five decades of complexity and cybernetic theory, the effort considers new ways of organizing and working, tying quantum physics-inspired ontological shifts with the realities of rapid information sharing and dramatic social transformation that characterize the information age. It explores modes of dynamic organizing and seeks to understand how humans influence outcomes in turbulent socioeconomic environments.