Exploring Interprofessional Team Learning in Healthcare

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Organization Development & Change (D.O.D.C.)

Department

Organization Development

First Advisor

Deborah O'Neil (Committee Chair)

Second Advisor

Clare Barratt (Other)

Third Advisor

James Stoller (Committee Member)

Fourth Advisor

Margaret Brooks (Committee Member)

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanisms that shape interprofessional team learning in complex healthcare environments. Qualitative analysis revealed five key mechanisms central to the team learning process: communication, interactions, decision-making, leadership, and coaching. These themes build upon foundational constructs from the literature, including systems thinking, growth mindset, situated learning, sensemaking, diversity, and power dynamics. Findings from this research informed the development of the DYNAMIC Teaming model, a cohesive framework for understanding how interprofessional teams learn, adapt, and perform. This model highlights how dialogue and decision-making foster shared understanding, which yields growth and networked knowledge. These networks, grounded in accountability and supported by modeling coaching skillsets, create a foundation for impactful inclusive participation and collaborative interprofessional team learning. By integrating theoretical constructs with grounded insights, this study offers practical implications for advancing interprofessional education and improving team effectiveness in complex healthcare settings (Barr et al., 2008).

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