Are Systems-Centered Boards More Collaborative, Productive, and Creative? A Partial Replication and a Pilot Exploration of How

Abstract: Trying to replicate past work by O’Neill et al., we compared the verbal process, collaboration, productivity, and creativity of a governing board using Systems-Centered Therapy (SCT) methods to those of a board using Robert’s Rules of Order. Then, we explored whether SCT communication norms may account for the SCT board’s favorable outcomes. Overall, the Systems-Centered board talked in ways more likely to exchange information and generate positive group climate, was equally productive, and was more collaborative and creative. Exploratory analysis of verbalizations and sequential verbal exchanges gave further correlational support for SCT hypotheses. However, possible confounds of gender composition and group size may limit the results’ validity.