Task 6c) Award Title

I have chosen BA (Hons) Professional Practice (Performing Arts Management) as the award title for my degree. I solely wanted to choose a title that would encompass my knowledge and expertise as well as being beneficial to my future career.
The topic for my inquiry is management of a dance company and the factors that are involved. I will go about this by focusing on the putting on of a new production within my theatre and observing and interviewing experts whom I know to have vast experience in management. As a professional dancer I have a broad understanding of working within a dance company and have been exposed to some aspects of management although I currently lack extensive experience in it. However through my inquiry I plan to increase my intelligence and grasp of the depths of the subject and therefore I feel it is important to include in my award title.
I wanted a simple title in order for me to demonstrate my expertise meanwhile being wary of not restricting my future career possibilities. Having already received a Level 6 National Diploma in Professional Dance prior to this course and currently working as a professional ballet artist I feel my wide scope knowledge and expertise in the subject of dance are already clearly evident and therefore not necessary for my title. My main reason for joining this course was to help aid my future career options by increasing new skills and learning on the necessary topics and subsequently I feel this award title proves this.

Task 6b) Critical Reflections on Inquiry tools

So although I only trialled a couple of the methods for my research I decided to blog about my thoughts on all four tools and how they may help me during my inquiry:

Interview
This was a tool I did trail and found it to be useful. I firstly drafted a consent form giving an insight to what my inquiry was about and asking for the professional's consent to participate. I then thought up the questions necessary to gain helpful and insightful answers from and I was select in who I sent it to. My main focus for the pilot was professional dancers as I wanted to gain a view on management from their perspective.
The interview tool was perfect for me to receive qualitative data back and gave my participant a chance to answer with an explanation instead of one worded answers like the survey. It is definitely something I look to use in my inquiry and I intend to use early on in my process. I feel the response I gained give me good basis to research deeper for example I asked:
"What sorts of problems do you feel are your management’s responsibility to deal with?:

To keep the company running smoothly, build those contacts for possible sponsorships etc." 

From here I would look further into how managers go about running their company smoothly and building contacts for sponsorship. I would also use interviews in my inquiry to learn how these were done by interviewing managers and experienced professionals within the field.

Survey
This was another tool I tried out and this time I was not so select with whom I sent it to. I created it on the website surveymonkey.com which was quick and easy to use and posted the link to my SIG. The results were all anonymous (automatically) and I received a lot more quantitative data than qualitative as this was how I structured the survey. With it being anonymous however it means although I could still quote, I won't know who or where the quote came from.
This tool was useful in gathering a wide range of data and generalisations although I imagine my inquiry to be more of a quantitative nature so I might find the interviews more useful. If I do use this tool it will also be at the beginning of my process as I find it a good measuring tool to see where things are currently at and where to develop further. For example on of my questions was "What attracts you to a specific company/production for employment?” The responses were different to what I had originally guessed (‘Inspirational Performances’: 25%) with the 75% answering ‘Staff you would like to work with’. This makes me want to look further into how managers attract employees to their company and in doing this which methods work best.

Focus Group
Although I didn't literally trial a focus group I have been engaging within my SIG and found this to be very useful in gaining and giving ideas to others with similar interests/situations. A focus group is something I may decide to do during my inquiry as I could get thoughts and responses from other colleagues within my workplace however I feel the negative side is the time consumption of a focus group. With very busy schedules a focus group may be difficult to get together so would involve serious forward planning.

Pilot Observation
This is another tool I didn't manage to try out as again, it's quite time consuming however I feel this will be a valuable method of research in my inquiry and will most likely factor it into my plan. It gives the opportunity for me to view how things are being done currently and learn more via observing. I will use the 'covert' method as a dancer because I can easily observe during rehearsals and this is less likely to distort results or behavior. However all those involved will be aware of my inquiry.’ This tool brings up a lot of ethical considerations in privacy but again, all will sign a consent form. I feel documenting this one could be slightly harder and may turn to video to do this.

Task 6a) Survey: Management Effects on Dancers/Employees

Hi everyone,
Was hoping you could help me too in completing my quick survey on management effects on dancers/employees. Its mainly aimed at dancers/performers. Would be great if you could give me feedback via here too on changes I should make & other things I could include. Promise it won't take you long :)
Thanks x...........
Management Effects on Dancers/Employees Survey

Tasks 5c&d) Thoughts on Ethics in Professional Inquiry

Reading through this reader gave me a lot of food for thought on ethics and was is considered 'good' & 'bad' within different societies, cultures and work places. It also made me very aware of what is/isn't ethically sound within my own inquiry. Talking to Melanie Canon via our SIG group made me think a lot about the ethics behind the participants of my inquiry and the anonymity of personal data. As her inquiry is based more on children/students this may be more of an issue as children (or parents of) are less likely to give consent in publicising personal info then adults within a professional environment. All those involved in my own inquiry will receive an explanation of exactly what I am inquiring about and a consent form to sign if they are happy to participate. There names and personal data will stay anonymous unless they specifically give permission for me to publicise.

The idea of covert 'v' overt will come into my inquiry as I plan to use observation methods in my research. I am more likely to use the 'covert' method as a dancer because I can easily observe during rehearsals and this is less likely to distort results or behaviour. However all those involved will be aware of my inquiry.

I have decided to mainly focus on the aspects of management neccessary to creating and sustaining an effective working environment. This will likely bring up both personal ethics when discussing with individuals, professional ethics when looking at specific rules and regulations in place and organisational ethics as the dance world as a whole has a certain way of doing things. It is likely to have impact on both those involved and those looking to be along with other dancers, therefore all the results and data will be fair and truthful.

Task 5b) Codes of Practice that Steer The Ethical Framework

Having had a vague but undetailed idea on the regulations and ethical practice within my professional practice I was able to have a look at the official sources to help me further. Understandably these documents are confidential so I cannot publish them however here I have made a brainstorm showing my initial thoughts and those furthered after looking at these documents:

Safe working conditions: Without this me and my colleagues couldn't carry out our work. In my practice this ranges from safe studio space to the correct footwear being given to us. We are lucky as the theatre provides us with all of the above as I know of some companies who don't provide footwear for their dancers.
Management link: It would management's responsibility to provide the above. For example, when putting on a show, making certain the stage floor and set are safe for the employees. Also making sure the budget allows for correct footwear for all employees.

Dancer's well-being: Another close link to safety and also an area I might like to explore in my inquiry. As a code of practice the theatre provides the necessary care needed to look after their employees. We have an onsite physio who is great when we are injured along with a gym, sauna and available massages to keep our bodies in good condition and as pain free as possible. We are extremely lucky to have all of these things and as an employee it's great to have such measures taken for our well-being as this can be a rare occurrence elsewhere.
Management link: Again it would be a manager's responsibility to provide this. Also being aware of the importance of it and constantly looking to improve.

Promotion: Also a possible exploring are for my inquiry and a very important aspect of running a company/putting on a production. Any form of promotion the company publishes is copyrighted and can only be used with permission. Likewise us as employees are a form of promotion for our company so going back to manners and respect along with good communication skills, not only to each other but to the public, is vital. Also for example, if we are to take part in performances other than our theatre's permission must be granted.
Management link: For management of a company often a good collaboration with a promotions team is likely to be necessary to promote the correct image of company/production- having the same vision and image to promote and sell to the outside as well as possible.

Task 4c) & 5a) Development of Inquiry ideas within the workplace and & ethical considerations

So after having an in depth conversation with Paula about the possibilities behind both of my subject lines of inquiry I am currently more swayed to that of management as it ecompasses a lot of areas I am interested in and my current employment allows me substantial access to these areas. We currently have plans for 2 new productions underway and therefore as part of task 4c I am in the process of asking my director and others if it is possible for me to be involved in witnessing the collaboration and factors that bring the productions together. What's great about my theatre is we have several separate departments: Ballet company, Drama, Orchestra, Opera, Costume, Stage crew, Promotions team etc. that all become involved when we put on new shows. This gives me a broad basis to explore.

A big part of my inquiry topic is going to involve work research/insider research and as explained in Reader 4, will involve a lot of ethical consideration. Primarily I want to understand how management works on a professional level to gain more knowledge and insight through looking at my own company's methods. I am not looking to fault specific happenings. Part of inquiry is to ask about change for further development with a topic so understandably there will be elements of questioning however being an employee means first and foremost I am under policy and will need to find out exactly what can or cannot be publicised.

Before finding out the exact policies I am already aware of some of the rules regarding the protection of information in the company. Any specific happenings can not be published without permission, for example names of participants will be kept anonymous, data will be fully protected and all knowledge & intellectual efforts of others will be clearly referenced. In regards to other work ethics such as the respect and reliability between co-workers it is always important to have both. I am primarily at my work as a dancer and as part of my job description there must always be respect towards others, reliability and confidence in knowing I can carry out my work to the fullest standard. Communication and manners come under this section and both will be vital when it comes to me exploring more into management with those I will be working with.

A couple of thoughts on Reader 4

So reader 4 is a lot of information to take in and to 'gather my thoughts' on highlighted sections that I have noted in both my journal and now my blog.

Since my inquiry is primarily looking into the management side of professional dance companies and productions I found the theory of single and double loop learning interesting. Enquiring about a problem based subject to develop workplace will effectively lead to changes and I think this will be a big part of managerial processes in making improvements. Doing this through asking questions and providing new possibilities of change is likely to bring positivity to a company.

The 'espoused theory' and the idea that words we convey about our actions aren't always the same as our 'theory-in-use' (our actual actions) is another idea that I feel will be important in my inquiry. In a workplace employees don't just want to hear of progressional changes but they actually want them. The idea of delivering and not just saying is an important one.

KNOWLEDGE seems to be a key word in this reader and the concepts of each type are both what I come across in practice and what I look to learn about and improve in my inquiry:

Disciplinary knowledge:

• Boundaries of knowledge such as 'subjects' ie) 'dance' 'media' 'science' 
• Often used in university study/school/college and are specific to the course of study. 
• In my case training at school the subject and sectional discipline was dance. Rarely did we step out of this 'section'

Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary knowledge:

• More than one discipline used- wider scope of knowledge over boundaries.
• Uses ranges of theoretical perspectives and practical methodologies to solve problems
• Seen and used most often in the workplace
• For my inquiry into managerial processes behind dance professionals it involves interdisciplinary knowledge ie) the subject of dance along with education to teach and managerial skills to run a company or direct a performance.

My work as a professional is slightly more transdisciplinary. The main discipline being dance although I use other disciplines of knowledge such as acting skills (to play a character), physical knowledge (to keep myself in shape) and logical knowledge (spacing and rehearsing). Most of these I know from being taught although some like physical knowledge, I have looked into myself. For both my inquiry and possibly the future I will need to learn more managerial skills myself and hopefully through this course I can do so.