Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics Theses
Document Type
Thesis or dissertation
Date of this Version
8-23-2021
Abstract
This capstone details my experience in the Organizational Dynamics (OD) program over a 2-year period, documenting the potential of embracing a growth mindset. Leading up to my time in the program, I felt aimless in my professional life, trying to “climb the ladder” but facing seemingly insurmountable, limiting beliefs about myself and the world around me. I lacked self-confidence and vision, but more paralyzing than that, I was stuck within a fixed mindset. My experience is one of transformation, where equal emphasis was placed on learning and unlearning. Learning was focused on theory, evidence-based practices, and the sharing of ideas. Unlearning was focused on reflection and the breakdown of formerly accepted norms and unquestioned beliefs. The focal point in my own story has been the shift from a fixed to a growth mindset; that is, the belief that one has the capacity to evolve, improve, grow. This is an account of what can happen when replacing the pursuit of status and achievement with the pursuit of personal growth. My experience shows the potential for growth that comes from embracing uncertainty, ambiguity, and vulnerability. Although the courses in the OD program do encourage growth, the goal of this capstone is not to assert the necessity of enrolling in a master’s program. The goal is to demonstrate the value and power any individual can access to overcome life’s obstacles by embracing a growth mindset.
Keywords
Personal growth, growth, growth mindset, learning, unlearning
Date Posted: 24 January 2022
Comments
Submitted to the Program of Organizational Dynamics, College of Liberal and Professional Studies In the School of Arts and Sciences In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania
Advisor: Erek Ostrowski, PhD