Title: Manager's dance: reflecting management interaction through creative movement

Authors: Anneli Hujala; Sanna Laulainen; Kaija Kokkonen

Addresses: Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland ' Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland ' Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland

Abstract: In management and organisation theory and practice, management is conventionally considered to be a rational and cognitive issue ignoring the bodies and emotions of managers. This experimental study aims to find out whether a method based on harnessing the whole corporeal body of a participant may elicit, express and create new and different kinds of knowledge about interaction embedded in management. Four managers and three researchers participated in two creative dance sessions with a dance pedagogue. The sessions were videotaped, and the visual material and reflections of participants were used in the interpretation. The use of creative movement 'revealed' unconscious dimensions of behaviour and the relevance of feelings in management interaction. In addition, the therapeutic outcomes appeared to be an essential part of the study for the participants.

Keywords: management interaction; body; emotion; feelings; creative movement; creative dance; therapeutic outcomes; unconscious behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2014.059431

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2014 Vol.6 No.1, pp.40 - 57

Published online: 24 May 2014 *

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