Research and Books

For that dissertation project, Alise conducted qualitative research with 25 male and female Information Technology managers between the ages of 22-65 (average age 43) across the nation to learn how they experience their work and its relationship to their personal identities. Using a hermeneutical, phenomenological, interpretative description method, five “modes of engagement” emerged to describe the relationship participants experience between their work and personal identities.  Since graduation in 2005, she has shared these results in various workshops and presentations, and participants readily understand and relate to one of these five “Modes of Engagement” for themselves.

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After several years of people asking, “These are interesting results, what’s next, and how do I apply this stuff at work?” Alise finally decided in March of 2012 to embark on a much bigger research design to further validate and develop what was discovered in the dissertation research.  She interviewed 115 men and women between the ages of 18 and 80, this time across 20 different industries that mostly fell into what Richard Florida terms “the creative class” — professionals, creative people, and service professionals. With this augmented data pool across diverse industries, this second research project yielded 15 “Modes of Engagement” (an expansion from the 5 previously found in the smaller data set and this time included the nuance of meaning type). Understanding the Mode of Engagement one is experiencing, in relation to the spectrum of possibility against the other 14 modes, gives individuals powerful access to self-awareness and insight of the kind and level of meaning they experience in work to begin taking steps to change that self-work relationship toward an alternative, preferred mode. Perhaps they are seeking more fulfillment or less demanding work that consumes their lives; or maybe, it’s time to begin discovering how to “Live My Purpose,” one of the 15 modes.