THRIVING IN TRANSITIONS: COGNITIVE, SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL RESOURCES FOR TIMES OF CHANGE

1

Thrive! In Transitions

Transformation Quotient Explored

Victoria Woo, Ph.D.Research Abstract

June 2015

© 2015 Victoria Choi Yue Woo, Ph.D.All Rights Reserved

2

How do you feel about change?


3

…a deficit view of change

Rosabeth Moss-Kanter, scholar and researcher of change said, “…Resistance to change manifests itself ranging from foot dragging to outright rebellions…”

https://hbr.org/2012/09/ten-reasons-people-resist-chang.html


4

…an appreciative view of change…

Changes can be opportunities for:

• Growth and development• Engaging in self-reflection and discovery• Thinking, doing and behaving differently

---towards happiness---


5

Set out to transform the lexicon and expectation of transitions

(as the velocity of change is likely to be greater and greater)

Surviving Transitions

Difficult Disorienting

Resistance to change

THRIVING in Transitions!BeneficialFulfillment

Eudaimonic well-being


6

Types of changes examined

1. Self-initiated 2. Other-initiated

For example:International relocationMarital status changeJob changesCareer changesIndustry changes


7

What we know about thriving• Is a temporary desirable state (Chaplin, 1988)• Involves

– Self-regulation towards a sense of improvement (Porath & Bateman, 2006; Hall & Fukami, 1979)

– Self adaptation (Ashford & Tsui, 1991)• Is goal directing (Kanfer, 1990) • Leads to subjective and eudaimonic well-being (Ryan & Deci, 2008; Spreitzer & Porath,

2013)• Promotes learning (Brown & Dugiuld, 1989; Gheradi et al., 1998; Wenger, 2000)

– Leads to applied knowledge (Elliott & Dweck, 1988) and positive health (Ettner & Grzywacz, 2001)

• Socially embedded at work, social contagion (Miller & Stiver, 1997; Spreitzer et al., 2005 )– A situational mechanism (Hedstorm & Swedberg, 1998) with progressive momentum,

where positive resources are renewable:• Positive knowledge (Feldman, 2004)• Positive meaning (Wrzesniewskii, Dutton, 2001)


8

Research QuestionsQualitative I:• Can engaging in multiple transitions contribute to well-being?

If so, what does thriving in transitional experiences look and feel like?

• What factors enable thriving?Quantitative II:• What cognitive, social and behavioral factors contribute to thriving in

transitions, given the magnitude of change? Quantitative III:• How does the degree of uncertainty in a transition and the individual’s

ontological assumptions about change affect his/her responses to change?Embedded Mixed Methods IV:• How and to what extent do ontological experiences of change and

narrative structure affect thriving transitional experiences?


9

Individual’s Transitional Experience

Thriving in Transition

Stability is the normEpisodic

Change Tempo

Social Cognitive Theory of Human

Agency(Bandura, 1986, 1991,

2001 )

Narrative Identity Theory

(Bauer, McAdams, Pals, 2008; Pals, McAdams,

2004)

Growth, Development, Eudaimonic Well-being

Study II QuantitativeModerated by Magnitude of Change in the Transition

Study I Qualitative

Study III & IV Embedded Mixed Methods Moderated by Magnitude of Change in the Transition +

Individual’s Ontological Organizing Principles(Ford & Ford, 1995)

Change is the normContinuous

Change Tempo

Incremental/ 1st OrderLife Cycle, Evolutionary

Reversible Formative

(Wei

ck, Q

uinn

, 199

9)

Radical/ 2st OrderTeleological, Dialectical

Irreversible Transformative

(Van

de

Ven

& P

oole

, 199

5)

Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Stress

(Lazarus et al., 1986)

Theoretical Framework

Posttraumatic Theories of Growth(Tedeschi, Calhoun 1996,

2014; Joseph, Linley, 2004, 2008)

Response


Copyright © 2015 Victoria Choi Yue Woo Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

10

Study I: Qualitative Methods

Participant Profile

Countries of birth 16

Current residence 5

Male 54%

Female 46%Tertiary Education (Bachelors, 4 year degree) 37%Advanced or Professional Education (MD, Ph.D., MBA, Law, Master’s degree in various disciplines)

63%

Grounded Theory Approach

35 Semi-structured interviews

11

Study I Findings

6 Themes3 Mechanisms

① Sense-making② Dialectical Cycling③ Narrative Identity Sense-

making

Reinvention- Reconstruction-Transformative Experiences

ConnectedSupportiveReciprocal

Relationships

Incremental KnowledgeIncreased Self-Knowledge

& Insights

Receptive to New

Opening selfEmbracing

Uncertainty & Ambiguity

Positive AppraisalsLeading to Confidence

Dialectical Cycling

Agentic Behavior

Self-efficacy, Task focus, goal

oriented

Positive Consequence

to changeResponse


12

An observation – an attitude underlying narratives in Study I

“Don’t ask me why I did it. It just felt right. There were no obvious reasons, and I felt great about it. So, often times when I reach a certain point of achievement, I get bored, and I have to deconstruct what I’ve done and try something completely different because I love the challenge, if that makes any sense.”


13

An attitude I labeled Transformati on Quoti ent™

“I went to Tokyo the same [way], [to] discover a new city, sniffing around and exercise your little Japanese and try to make it a little bit better. …Discover how people live [and] think differently. … I don’t even think I’m ready or not, I just go. I just think later but now, how do we make it better? How do you use your new environment and swim in the new sea or new pond that you have been thrown in? It’s like okay, you know how to swim here. Go ahead.”


14

Transformati on Quoti ent (TQ)™ Defined

The ability and willingness to: • Embrace change as an ongoing and continuous action • Fully engage in the metamorphic power of the

experience of transitions • Be anticipatory; with proactive and reactive readiness

to act


Study II – Quantitative AnalysisResearch Question:• What cognitive, social and behavioral factors contribute to thriving

in transitions, given the magnitude of change?

Structural Equation Modeling

Moderated by Magnitude of Change

Radical (Int’ Relocation) n=186Incremental (within country) n=204

15

Participant Profile n=390


Current residence 31

Male 53%

Female 47%

Primary School 0.5%

Secondary School 5.4%Tertiary Education (Bachelors, 4 year degree) 37.7%Advanced or Professional Education (MD, Ph.D., MBA, Law, Master’s degree in various disciplines)

56.4%


16

From Qualitative to Quantitative

Sense-making



Relationships

Incremental Knowledge

Increased Self-Knowledge &

Insights

Receptive to New

Opening self

Embracing Uncertainty & Ambiguity


Dialectical Cycling

Agentic Behavior

Self-efficacy, Task focus,

goal-oriented


to change


Sense-making Connecte

dSupportiv

eReciproc

al Relations

hips



Insights

Receptive to New

Opening self

Embracing Uncertainty & Ambiguity

Positive Appraisal

sLeading

to Confiden

ce

Dialectical Cycling

Agentic Behavior

Self efficacy, Task focus,

goal oriented

FlourishingResponse

Improvisation

Transformation

Quotient

TQ™Perceived

Social Support Positive

Cognitive

Appraisal


17

ImprovisationBehavior

Local .378***

Local .376***

.135**

Local .311***

Local .166***

Local .375***

Local .173**

Local .332***

***p≤.001; **p≤.01; *p≤.05

Local R2=.437

TQ=Transformation Quotient Receptive to change

Flourishing

Controls:Gender

EduMediated by TQ

Transformation Quotient

17

Study II QUAN Findings

Positive CognitiveAppraisal

PerceivedSocial

Support

Global .427***

Global .466***

Global R2=.506

Global .192***

Global .341***

Global .293***

Global .200***

Global .292***

Local.135**

Local R2=.095

Global R2=.223


Thriving (in) Transiti ons (TT) Defined

• Characterized by a fluid and continual engagement with new stimuli from personal or environmental changes.

• Psychosocial “prosperity”– universal human psychological needs such as competence,

autonomy, relatedness and self-acceptance as well as positive social relationships

• Continual learning and development• Energized at a time of change


18

19

From Quant II to Quant III

Sense-making



Relationships



Insights

Receptive to New




Dialectical Cycling

Agentic Behavior


goal-oriented


to change


Sense- making


Relationships


Increased Self Knowledge &

Insights

Receptive to New




Dialectical Cycling

Agentic Behavior


goal oriented

Flourishing Emotional response

to uncertainty

Improvisation

Transformation

Quotient

TQ (formative)

Self-Knowledge

Emotional Response

to UncertaintyThriving in

Transition

Perceived

Social

SupportPositive

Cognitive

Appraisal


Study III – Quantitative AnalysisResearch Question:• How does the degree of uncertainty in a transition and the individual’s

ontological assumptions about change affect his/her responses to change?

Structural Equation ModelingPartial Least Square Approach

Survivor Incremental n=177Survivor Radical n=54

Thriver Incremental n=98Thriver Radical n=63



Current residence 31

Male 45%

Female 53%

Primary School 0.5%

Secondary School 5.4%Tertiary Education (Bachelors, 4 year degree) 39%Advanced or Professional Education (MD, Ph.D., MBA, Law, Master’s degree in various disciplines)

54%


20

21

Four Quadrants in Study III

• Samples are divided as a function of:– Degree of change, incremental (1st order) or radical (2nd

order)– Ontological organizing principle relating to the

phenomenon of change; stability is the norm or change is the norm

• Theorized change tempo– Episodic changes - Stability is normUnfreeze – Transition – Refreeze (Lewin, 1951)

– Continuous changes - Change is norm Freeze – Rebalance – Unfreeze (Weick & Quinn, 1999)


22

is someone who believes change is an evolving

phenomenon, and the changes he/she faces require questioning of

existing worldviews

is someone who believes change is an evolving

phenomenon, and the changes he/she

encounters fit nicely into existing worldviews

is someone who value stability and the changes

he/she encounters fit nicely into existing

worldviews

is someone who value stability, yet the changes

he/she faces require questioning of existing

worldviews

3

42

1

Tempo of Change

CONTINUOUSFreeze – Rebalance –

Unfreeze

EPISODICUnfreeze – Transition –

Refreeze

Incr

emen

tal

1st O

rder

Radi

cal

2nd O

rder

Degree of Change

HIGH

LOW

Survivor Global

Survivor Local Thriver Local

Thriver Global

© 2

015

Vict

oria

Cho

i Yue

Woo

, Ph.

D.Al

l Rig

hts

Rese

rved

31

42

Incr

emen

tal

1st O

rder

Radi

cal

2nd O

rder

Degree of Change

HIGH

LOW

Survivor Local

Thriver GlobalSurvivor Global

Thriver Local

CONTINUOUSFreeze – Rebalance – Unfreeze

EPISODICUnfreeze – Transition – Refreeze

Tempo of Change

Study III QUAN Findings n=392

© 2

015

Vict

oria

Cho

i Yue

Woo

, Ph.

D.Al

l Rig

hts

Rese

rved

23

Study IV – Embedded Mixed MethodsResearch Question:• How and to what extent do ontological experiences of change and

narrative structure affect thriving in transitional experiences?



Current residence 4

Male 60%

Female 40%

Primary School 0%

Secondary School 0%Tertiary Education (Bachelors, 4 year degree) 20%Advanced or Professional Education (MD, Ph.D., MBA, Law, Master’s degree in various disciplines)

80%

20 Semi-structured InterviewsProbes include:1) What are the major turning

points in your life?2) How do you feel about hearing

your timeline/ life changes in 5 min?

3) How do you feel overall about your life?

© 2015 Victoria Choi Yue Woo, Ph.D.All Rights Reserved 24

25

Study IV Theoretical Framing


26

Further interpretation using narrative analysis

Right and left halves differ by the intervention sequence and potentially how new input is processed on the assimilating –accommodating continuum.


Unfreeze

EPISODICUnfreeze – Transition

– Refreeze

Incr

emen

tal

1st O

rder

Radi

cal

2nd O

rder

Degree of Change

HIGH

LOW

Tem

po o

f C

hang

e

Life Cycle or Evolutionary1st Order –

IncrementalEpisodic

Dialectical or Teleological

2nd Order-RadicalEpisodic

2

1

Survivor Global

Survivor Local

Assimilating


2nd Order-RadicalContinuous


IncrementalContinuous 3

4

Thriver Local

Thriver Global

Accommodating


27

Further interpretation using narrative analysis

Top and bottom halves differ by the radicalness of their change, mobilization of resources coupled with receptivity to change. Mobilizing course of action on the canonical –improvisation continuum.


Unfreeze

EPISODICUnfreeze – Transition

– Refreeze

Incr

emen

tal

1st O

rder

Radi

cal

2nd O

rder

Degree of Change

HIGH

LOW

Tem

po o

f C

hang

e


IncrementalEpisodic

1

Survivor Local

Assimilating


IncrementalContinuous 3

Thriver Local

Accommodating

Cano

nica

lIm

prov

isati

on


2nd Order-RadicalEpisodic

2

Survivor Global


2nd Order-RadicalContinuous

4

Thriver Global

27 © 2015 Victoria Choi Yue Woo, Ph.D.All Rights Reserved

28

Sense-making

Cognitive Appraisal - Primary

- Secondary

Self-Digest - Evaluation

Self-

Know

ledg

e

Mobilization of Resources

Integrated FindingsDialectical Cycling


29

Sense-making

Willingness to embrace

change, readiness for change


- Secondary


Self-

Know

ledg

e


Improvisation--Canonical

Integrated Findings

Agency

Forethought

Intentionality

Self-reactiveness

Self-reflectiveness

Dialectical Cycling


30

Sense-making




- Secondary


Self-

Know

ledg

e


Assimilation--Accommodation


Narrative Identity

Growth,Psychological Well being

Robust Self-Knowledge

Learning Agility

Affective Outcome:

Transcendence

Integrated Findings

Agency

Forethought

Intentionality

Self-reactiveness

Self- reflectiveness

Dialectical Cycling


Sense-making




- Secondary


Self-

Know

ledg

e


Assimilation--Accommodatio

n


Narrative Identity

Growth,Psychological Well being

Robust Self-Knowledge

Learning Agility

Affective Outcome:

Transcendence

Integrated Findings

Agency

Forethought

Intentionality

Self-reactiveness

Self- reflectiveness

31

Thriving Transitional Experiences

Dialectical Cycling


32

In Conclusion, mechanisms at work:1. Sense-making – how we appraise our circumstances can be more effective, given

what we know about ourselves. Self-knowledge that is dynamic plays a role in how we appraise past transitions. Our appraisal of the past (in particular about previous transitions) helps us build Transformation Quotient (the receptivity to change and leverage lessons from change).

2. Dialectical Cycling - tension or dynamism felt at a time of change can fuel mobilization of increase self-knowledge, which can be improved given an individual’s proclivity towards agency (forethought, intentionality, self-reactiveness and self-reflectiveness). Agency promotes decisions and action, as an individual experience the phenomenon of change, that mobilize behavioral strategies roughly divided into improvisational or canonical. Agency also promotes a component of improvisation behavior, implied intuition, which guides action towards a pre-determine outcome yet take into account varieties of paths towards that outcome

3. Narrative Identity - by situating meaning and affect into a coherent and rewarding narrative promotes thriving in transition individuals can assimilate new stimuli into existing paradigms or create new ones (accommodation).


33

Thriving Experiences Explained (at least partially and situated in the context of change)

Happiness is “enacted”: Transformation Quotient™ is an essential competence in today’s world

People who will succeed are able to develop a self-referential system with a significant thread that connects self with the ever-changing environment.

Using the metaphor of a prism, this body of work has the potential to help individuals harness the deep structure within the “self” to motivate choice and action at a time of transition. Depending on the refraction index of the transmission medium, pointing white light through a prism can result in the dispersion of light into a rainbow of colors, or it can also be used as an internal reflection.

Like a prism, a transition can illuminate parts of ourselves that is hidden until which point the appropriate conjecture of perspectives make available parts of ourselves that remain unrevealed.

Self-identity is re-discovered, self-construct is reconstructed and the “self” is renewed through the enactment and sense making upon a specific set of circumstances prompted by the disruption


34

Happiness is “enacted”Challenges (dialectical cycling) inherent in change trigger us to mobilize resources only when we recognize (sense-making) that the new environment beckons us to re-examine our assumptions.

By scripting our story (narrative identity), we can harness the power in our own narrative to strive towards fulfillment; reaching our potential and continue to grow, develop and be happy (happier). Building up our Transformation Quotient™ (TQ™), we are better prepared to thrive in a world of constant flux.

Happiness is at the crossroads of desire and action; mobilization of resources to help bring clarity through understanding our own narrative and our identity (place and role in the world) to co-create a future (individual & collective).


35

Appendix


36

Limitations

• Subjective Well-being– Positive & Negative

Affect– Positive Emotions

• Eudaimonic Well-being– Psychosocial ‘prosperity’– Cognitive Development

• Goals• Social Support

• Gender• Education• Age• Expectations• Orientation• Positive illusions• Activity levels• Life events

Included Excluded


37

ConstructVariable

Type Study References

Flourishing DV II (Reflective) Adapted from Flourishing Scale (Diener et al., 2010)

Positive Cognitive Appraisal

IV II Adapted from Scale of Positive and Negative experiences (Diener et al., 2010)

Perceived Social Support

IV II Adapted from Perceived Social Support Scale (Kessler et al., 1992)

Thriving Transitions (TT)

DV III (Formative) Adapted from combining items from Thriving at Work measure (Porath et al., 2010), and Flourishing scale (Deiner et al., 2010)

Transformation Quotient (TQ)

MedIV

II (Reflective)III (Formative)

Newly developed (Woo, Boland, & Lyytinen, 2013)

Improvisation IV II, III Adapted from scale of improvisation behavior in entrepreneurship (Hmieleski & Corbett, 2008)

Self-knowledge IV III Adapted from Integrative Self-Knowledge Scale (Ghorbani, Watson & Hargis 2008)

Emotional Response to Uncertainty

IV III Adapted from Uncertainty Response Scale (Greco & Roger, 2001)

© 2015 Victoria Choi Yue Woo, Ph.D.All Rights Reserved 37

38

Transformation Quotient™ (TQ)Cronbach’s Alpha: .776

• I expect that there will be more transitions ahead• Being 'on the move' is a normal mode of life for

me• I look for new challenges by changing my

environment• A transition is a platform for me to 'reinvent'

myself


39

Thrive In Transition (TT)Cronbach’s Alpha: .894

1. Overall, I lead a purposeful and meaningful life.2. Overall, I am engaged and interested in my daily activities.3. Overall, I actively contribute to the well-being and happiness

of others.4. Overall, I am a good person and live a good life.5. Overall, I am optimistic about my future.6. I continue to learn more as time goes by.7. I feel alive and vital.8. I am alert.


Leadership & Management

THRIVING IN TRANSITIONS: COGNITIVE, SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL RESOURCES FOR TIMES OF CHANGE