SAGE Readings

Reference Article

Adaptive Work

Journal Articles

Article 1: Nicolaides, A. and McCallum, D. C. (2013). Inquiry in action for leadership in turbulent times: Exploring the connections between transformative learning and adaptive leadership. Journal of Transformative Education 11(4), 246-260.

Questions that apply to this article:

  1. The authors spend time in the introduction of the article describing the context of their study. Why is it important to explore the connections between transformative and adaptive leadership?
  2. Describe the Collaborative Developmental Action Inquiry process.
  3. What were the findings from the practical application discussed in the article of the working scientists in a governmental health care agency?

*a. Answers vary.

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Article 2: Barton, M. A. and Bunderson, J. S. (2014). Assessing member expertise in groups: An expertise dependence perspective. Organizational Psychology Review 4(3), 228-257.

Questions that apply to this article:

  1. What type of challenges would people be able to solve without their leader if they had the right expertise? How does this relate to expectancy theory as described in the article?
  2. The concept of expertise dependence theory in the article would have what effect on the work group solving adaptive challenges?
  3. How does expectancy theory’s effect on adaptive problems relate to the concepts of expectancy theory and motivation in path-goal approach?

*a. Answers vary.

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Article 3: Kreuter, M. W., DeRosa, C., Howze, E. H. and Baldwin, G. T. (2004). Understanding wicked problems: A key to advancing environmental health promotion. Health Education & Behavior 31(4), 441-454.

Questions that apply to this article:

  1. Describe the “wicked problem” in this article in adaptive leadership terms.
  2. If wicked problems are on one end of a continuum and tame problems are on the other end, which of the three types of challenges in the adaptive leadership model is likely in the middle of the continuum? Explain your answer.
  3. The implications for practitioners section describes some skills and indicators of competence in solving wicked problems.  Who is likely to be involved in developing and implementing these solutions and what behaviors might they use?

*a. Answers vary.

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Article 4: Head, B. W. and Alford, J. (2013). Wicked problems: Implications for public policy and management. Administration & Society DOI: 10.1177/0095399713481601

Questions that apply to this article:

  1. What is a “wicked problem”?
  2. How valued a part is wicked problems? How does this relate to values in the adaptive leadership model?
  3. What are the new leadership roles or ways that might be used to solve wicked problems?

*a. Answers vary.