Nonviolent Communication: a Communication Tool to support the Adaptive Capacity of Organisations?
2017 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 20 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Adaptive capacity is essential for organisations to be able to adapt to the sustainability challenge, and change its course. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is an interpersonal communication tool that enables a user to move from a language of judgements to a language of needs by using 4 steps: observation, feelings, needs, and request. As communication is essential to the adaptive capacity of a social system, this thesis explores the question: How does Nonviolent Communication support the adaptive capacity of organisations? Through a mixed methods approach (semi-structured interviews and surveys with NVC trainers, organisational representatives and employees), the effects of NVC on communication in 3 sample organisations in the Netherlands (a school, NGO and research institute), is explored. Quantitative survey results show that NVC has a positive to very positive effect on common organisational communication dynamics. Qualitative data supports this finding and shows that NVC brings positive effects of increased understanding, listening, and progress in work related issues through an increased awareness of one’s own and other’s needs and feelings. When linking these results to adaptive capacity of organisations, it is concluded that NVC directly supports the adaptive capacity elements of trust, diversity and learning, and indirectly supports common meaning and self-organisation.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2017. , p. 76
Keywords [en]
Adaptive Capacity, Communication, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Organisation, Resilience, Social Sustainability
National Category
Environmental Sciences Communication Studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:bth-14864OAI: oai:DiVA.org:bth-14864DiVA, id: diva2:1119184
Subject / course
SL2514 Master's Thesis (60 credits) in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
Educational program
SLASL (Master programme in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
Supervisors
Examiners
2017-07-032017-07-032017-08-03Bibliographically approved