The social forming of professionals’ adaptive performance: a sensemaking perspective

Adaptive performance of professionals describes task achievement under conditions of novelty or uncertainty. Research shows that this type of performance can be trained, and that social interaction often plays an important role in it. This study sought to clarify that role, by posing the research question of how social interaction shapes professionals’ sensemaking in adaptive performance. Our conceptual model integrates two concepts from organisational studies, sensedemanding and sensebreaking, with the Data/Frame Model of Sensemaking from cognitive psychology. To test this model empirically, we carried out an explorative, qualitative study. Data collection took place by means of interviews and field observation at an intensive care unit of a Dutch hospital. The analysis revealed that sensedemanding and sensebreaking facilitate sensemaking of professionals by, enabling ‘switches’ between sensemaking cycles crucial for adaptive performance. Based on our findings, we propose that the integration of sensedemanding and sensebreaking in the D/F Model of Sensemaking contributes to our understanding of socio-cognitive mechanisms shaping (the development of) professionals’ adaptive performance.