"Effects of Thriving Teams on Change Adaptability, Performance and Team Development"

Abstract

This explanatory mixed methods study demonstrates the effects of collective thriving, measured at the work group level, on change adaptability and team performance. The results of the quantitative study show that collective thriving predicts change adaptability and team performance. Attunement is hypothesized to be a point of leverage to increase the state of collective thriving and as a team development opportunity. Attunement was found to have moderating effects on both relationships between collective thriving and change adaptability and collective thriving and team performance. The quantitative findings are explained with qualitative study, which looks more deeply into the effects of attunement by exploring how teams identify and sustain a state of thriving. The qualitative study also investigates characteristics of high and low thriving teams which furthers the understanding of collective thriving and the relationships between team thriving, change adaptability and team performance. As a result of the qualitative inquiry three propositions are offered to guide future research on the topic of collective thriving. This study contributes to the fields of Organization Development and Management Consulting, advancing the theory and practice of organizational change and group development.