Realist evaluation of an art-based intervention to enhance creative learning in an organizational setting

Organizations face ‘wicked problems’ that cannot be solved easily. Be it the problem of understaffing in healthcare organizations or the desire to promote learning for a sustainable society. Because of their complex and interconnected nature, these intricate questions cannot be resolved by a rational problem analysis and linear approach. Rather, these questions require a form of creative learning in which the given variables are questioned, and in which new solutions are developed that radically break with the existing way of working. Mechanisms that characterize creative learning comprise combination and reframing. The present study focuses on the way art and art-based learning can contribute positively to the process of creative learning. Its aim is to explore the way art can add value to the process of innovation in organizations.

This is done by evaluating an art-based learning intervention that took place in a healthcare organization. In total, 8 participants took part in the workshop. Individual interviews, observations, and poster presentations are used as primary source of data gathering in this realistic evaluation. Results show that when people are open and curious, the interventions can contribute to positive emotions, defamiliarization, identification and reflection. The cognitive flexibility that can emerge thus, seems to be relevant for creative learning.

Paper presented at the EAPRIL conference November 26-28, 2024 in Hasselt – Belgium.