Title: Testing a narrative methodology to explore the emergence of self-selected leaders in an online environment

Authors: Annick Janson, Lester Levy, Robert McQueen

Addresses: Excelerator: New Zealand Leadership Institute, The University of Auckland Business School, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. ' Excelerator: New Zealand Leadership Institute, The University of Auckland Business School, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. ' Management Systems, Waikato Management School, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract: A narrative psychotherapeutic methodology was extended to study emerging self-selected leaders in an online environment. The methodology developed included an interviewing protocol, a data analysis methodology and a change method. It assessed |dominant stories|, |unique outcomes| (contradicting the former) and alternative stories. Emerging leaders reported altruistic and personal motives for building their leadership online. Online leaders recognised changes in their communication patterns (unique outcomes), |re-authored| parts of their dominant stories and produced an |archetypal| success story inspiring others to engage in change processes. An interdisciplinary quest motivated this study with implications both as a research approach and a change catalyst.

Keywords: qualitative research; narrative methodology; virtual leadership; emerging leaders; online leaders; change catalysts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLC.2006.009686

International Journal of Learning and Change, 2006 Vol.1 No.2, pp.162 - 179

Published online: 04 May 2006 *

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