Play well with others: improvisational theater and collaboration in the homeland security environment

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Authors
Phelps, Andrew J.
Subjects
homeland security
improvisation
collaboration
collaborative capacity
multi-agency coordination
interorganizational collaboration
teaching collaboration
evaluating collaboration.
Advisors
Kiernan, Kathleen
Date of Issue
2013-09
Date
Sep-13
Publisher
Monterey California. Naval Postgraduate School
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Abstract
Collaboration, though identified as a critical component to the Homeland Security (HLS) enterprise, can be difficult to achieve when working in complex HLS environments or addressing the wicked problems that permeate the enterprise. Federal doctrine and directives tell us collaboration is important, but we are not told how to collaborate. Improvisational theater, on the other hand, is built on collaboration among performers to invent a narrative, performers who have been trained to collaborate. Based on a distillation of improvisational theater into five key principles, a comparative analysis of established collaborative models, and a case study of collaboration in the homeland security environment, I believe that those working within the homeland security enterprise can apply the same principles used by theatrical improvisers. This thesis proposes a new framework for collaboration, the Improvisational Theater Collaboration Model. Utilizing this framework to develop collaboration training or as a tool to assess the efficacy of collaboration in homeland security environments are two suggestions for further study into the Improvisational Theater Collaboration Model.
Type
Thesis
Description
CHDS State/Local
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/10945/37692
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Department
National Security Affairs
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