A GROUNDED THEORY OF TOGETHERING: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE PATTERNS OF ENGAGEMENT OF A TOP MANAGEMENT GROUP FROM POLITICAL AND STRATEGIC JOUSTING TO TRUST, OPENNESS AND UNITY. b y MAURICIO PUERTA Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Adviser: Dr. Eric Neilsen Department of Organizational Behavior CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY May, 2008 CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES We hereby approve the thesis/dissertation of _____________________________________________________ candidate for the ______________________degree *. (signed)_______________________________________________ (chair of the committee) ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ (date) _______________________ *We also certify that written approval has been obtained for any proprietary material contained therein. To Isabel, Noa, Mali y Kenu, you are my home, you are my roots. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ....................................................................................................ix Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................xi Abstract ........................................................................................................... xv 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................... 1 Opportunity for the study ............................................................................. 1 Background of the Study ............................................................................... 5 Researcher Assumptions ............................................................................. 13 Study Methodology .................................................................................... 14 The Emergent Theory .................................................................................. 16 Justification for Research ............................................................................ 20 Potential Significance of the Research ........................................................ 22 Outline of the Thesis ................................................................................... 23 Summary .................................................................................................... 26 2. Personal Statement ................................................................................. 27 Discovering my purpose .............................................................................. 27 Organizations as creation of human encounters ......................................... 29 Organizations can kill or give life ................................................................. 30 The transformation of the emotional domain at the core of organizational transformation ....................................................................................................... 32 My Inquiry .................................................................................................. 35 i 3. Story of the Costa Rica JourneY ............................................................... 37 Introduction ................................................................................................ 37 Overview of the Journey ............................................................................. 38 The Context of the Journey ................................................................................................... 38 The Purpose of the Journey ................................................................................................... 44 The Actors .............................................................................................................................. 44 The Owners and Designers ............................................................................................... 44 The participants ................................................................................................................ 45 Preparing the Journey ........................................................................................................... 45 The Design of the Journey ................................................................................................ 46 Organizing Principles ........................................................................................................ 47 Sequence of the Journey .................................................................................................. 48 The Outcome ......................................................................................................................... 49 Account of the Costa Rica Journey .............................................................. 51 A Letter of Invitation ............................................................................................................. 51 First Day ................................................................................................................................. 52 Miami Beach ..................................................................................................................... 52 A welcome from the chairmen ......................................................................................... 54 Sharing Totems ................................................................................................................. 56 ii On the School Buses ......................................................................................................... 59 Fourteen Executive Jets .................................................................................................... 60 In San Jose, Costa Rica ...................................................................................................... 62 Second Day ............................................................................................................................ 65 Breakfast at La Condesa Hotel .......................................................................................... 65 Visit to InBio ...................................................................................................................... 66 The Jeep Ride .................................................................................................................... 69 Camp in Matapalo ............................................................................................................ 71 Third Day ............................................................................................................................... 74 A hike to the beach ........................................................................................................... 74 Cruising south on the Pacific Ocean ................................................................................. 76 At Corcovado National Park .............................................................................................. 82 Corcovado Ranger’s Stations ............................................................................................ 84 Fourth Day ............................................................................................................................. 87 Morning meeting .............................................................................................................. 87 At the Marenco Lodge ...................................................................................................... 90 Conversation with the two Chairmen ............................................................................... 91 The Party ........................................................................................................................... 93 Fifth Day ................................................................................................................................ 94 iii The Last Meeting .............................................................................................................. 94 Return to Miami ................................................................................................................ 95 Epilogue: the journey continued in business groups and operating companies 97 A multilevel and midterm approach ...................................................................................... 99 Using a new language .......................................................................................................... 102 Co-invention and personal Growth ..................................................................................... 105 Reclaiming time and space for the individual...................................................................... 106 4. Methodology ......................................................................................... 108 Introduction .............................................................................................. 108 Gathering Data and Redesigning the Inquiry in the Field ........................... 109 Modifying the Interview Protocol........................................................................................ 110 Adapting the sampling strategy ..........................................................................................