Abstract

“Teamwork” and “collaboration” are popular terms in the current corporate business climate. Individuals who work for organizations that promote and encourage collaboration and teamwork can benefit from a greater understanding of how to work within a collaborative group. I am currently part of one such group within a large, public, for-profit organization. The purpose of my research was to observe, evaluate, and improve my own collaborative skills within my team, within my department, and within the organization as a whole. Through a review of literature on teams, teamwork, collaboration, and communities of practice, I learned that above all other components, trust is necessary for groups, teams, and communities to be successful and productive.

Action research is a research methodology that attempts to pursue action and research the outcomes of the actions at the same time. “The focus is action to improve a situation and the research is the conscious effort, as part of the process, to formulate public knowledge that adds to theories of action that promote or inhibit learning in behavioral systems.” (Allen, 2002) The goal of my Action Research was to better understand the way my own communication style impacts my work within the team and within the greater corporation. The first cycle of my research began in late 2004 with an evaluation of my current practice, specifically my listening skills, my work with one team-member, and the perception of my team-members regarding my contributions, their trust in me, and my trust in them. In early 2005, my research continued with an evaluation of my work within the team as a whole and a conscious modification of my approach to our critique and project review process. After evaluating and adjusting my collaborative practice with one team-member and then within the team as a whole, I began the third cycle of my research by attempting to actively recognize and celebrate successful collaboration within the organization as a whole.

This thesis provides a comprehensive look at the my action research including: an overview of the research context and problem; a review of the literature on successful teams and collaboration; the action and results of three research cycles; and my final reflections on the research and the impact on my professional and personal practice.