THE EMERGENT SYNCHRONICITY PRINCIPLE in APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY: SEEING the CONNECTIONS DISSERTATION to Obtain the Degree of Doctor
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THE EMERGENT SYNCHRONICITY PRINCIPLE IN APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY: SEEING THE CONNECTIONS DISSERTATION to obtain the degree of doctor at the University of Twente, on the authority of the rector magnificus, prof. dr. T. T. M. Palstra, on account of the decision of the graduation committee, to be publicly defended on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 14:45 hrs. by Thomas Edwin Myers born on April 3, 1963 in White Plains, New York, United States of America THE EMERGENT SYNCHRONICITY PRINCIPLE ii This Ph.D. dissertation has been approved by: Prof. dr. C. P. M. Wilderom (Supervisor) Dr. M. Schiller (Co-Supervisor) THE EMERGENT SYNCHRONICITY PRINCIPLE iii Graduation Committee: Chairman and Secretary: Prof. dr. T. A. J. Toonen, University of Twente Supervisors: Prof. dr. C. P. M. Wilderom, University of Twente Dr. M. Schiller, University of Massachusetts Amherst Committee Members: Prof. dr. M. Junger, University of Twente Prof. dr. C. J. M. Millar, University of Twente Prof. dr. J. B. Rijsman, Tilburg University Prof. dr. G. V. C. Trueman, Mount Royal University Prof. dr. R. van Loon, Tilburg University Prof. dr. D. Wulff, University of Calgary THE EMERGENT SYNCHRONICITY PRINCIPLE iv Cover Design: Diana Arsenian, 2018 Copyright © 2018 Thomas E. Myers, Burlington, Vermont, USA. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or by any means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording without otherwise the prior written approval and permission of the author. ISBN: 978-90-365-4558-7 DOI: 10.3990/1.9789036545587 THE EMERGENT SYNCHRONICITY PRINCIPLE v “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” Carl G. Jung Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ xi ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. xii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................. xiv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... xv CHAPTER ONE—INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 16 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 16 Background and Rationale of the Study ................................................................................... 17 Scope of this Study ................................................................................................................... 17 Primary Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 18 Central Thesis ........................................................................................................................... 18 Research Methodology ............................................................................................................. 19 Quantitative Methodology .................................................................................................... 19 Qualitative Methodology ...................................................................................................... 20 Autobiographical Narrative Accounts of Synchronicity ....................................................... 20 Final Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analyses .................................................................... 21 Qualitative Feedback Research for the Synchronicity Principle Viability ............................... 21 Definition of Terms................................................................................................................... 21 Significance of the Study .......................................................................................................... 23 Assumptions and Limitations ................................................................................................... 23 The Scope of the Study ............................................................................................................. 24 Theoretical Foundations............................................................................................................ 24 Organization of this Thesis ....................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER TWO—LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................. 26 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 26 The Foundational Literature Review Process ............................................................................... 27 Questions that Guide the Review .................................................................................................. 29 Review of Literature ................................................................................................................. 30 Synchronicity: A Definition ...................................................................................................... 30 Synchronicity versus Serendipity ......................................................................................... 31 Synchronicity: A Historical Perspective ............................................................................... 32 THE EMERGENT SYNCHRONICITY PRINCIPLE vii Synchronicity: Cultural and Spiritual Influences .................................................................. 34 Synchronicity and the Quantum Theory Connection............................................................ 37 Synchronicity and its Applications ....................................................................................... 39 Complexity Theory ............................................................................................................... 39 Appreciative Inquiry ................................................................................................................. 41 A. The Origins ...................................................................................................................... 41 B. The Practice of AI ............................................................................................................ 43 C. The Five Core Principles .................................................................................................. 43 D. The Five Emergent Principles .......................................................................................... 44 E. AI and the 4-D Cycle ........................................................................................................ 45 F. Criticisms on AI ................................................................................................................ 46 At the Intersection of Synchronicity and Appreciative Inquiry ................................................ 47 Opportunities: Synchronicity and AI Future Research ............................................................. 47 CHAPTER THREE—RESEARCH DESIGN .............................................................................. 49 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 49 Purpose of the Research ............................................................................................................ 49 Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 49 Research Design........................................................................................................................ 50 The Discovery Phase..................................................................................................................... 51 The Dream Phase .......................................................................................................................... 51 The Design Phase .......................................................................................................................... 51 The Delivery/Destiny Phase ......................................................................................................... 51 Ethical Considerations .............................................................................................................. 52 The Pilot Project ....................................................................................................................... 53 The Data Collection Process ..................................................................................................... 53 Personal Interviews ............................................................................................................... 54 Focus-groups ......................................................................................................................... 55 The Quantitative