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Action Research and Organizational Change. Supplement to the interview with Dr. Hadley Williams, Managing Director at Human Productivity; conducted by Jesse Jacoby, Managing Principal at Emergent in January 2011
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Action Research and Organizational Change Supplement to the interview with Dr. Hadley Williams, Managing Director at Human Productivity; conducted by Jesse Jacoby, Managing Principal at Emergent in January 2011 The entire interview is posted online at http://blog.emergentconsultants.com/2011/01/11/action-research
What is Action Research? • A research methodology that seeks practical solutions to challenges and problems that organizations face. • Similar to applied research • Research question(s) • Defined subject group • An intervention/ independent variable • Data collection and analysis • Solutions/conclusions drawn • Sometimes used interchangeably with the term Action Learning • Unique difference is the use of participants/subjects as researchers • Often a facilitator guides the group through all phases of a research project
How is Action Research Relevant to Change Management? • Discovery of a phenomena called “change management effect” • Participants in Action Research projects that investigated new processes required by transformational change became “sold” on the new processes without any change management intervention. • Participants became advocates of the new processes with their peers • Action Research is not intended to change people—it is intended to discover new information and knowledge about a subject or problem • The “change management effect” is a nice by-product of the process
Where Can I Find Additional Information About Action Research? • People & Strategy Journal will feature an article on action research in the April, 2011 issue • Minimize Costly Implementation Surprises: Conduct Action Research To Test Organizational Design; Williams, H. & Boetcher, K. in People & Strategy, April, 2011 • http://www.hrps.org/?page=PeopleStrategy • Contact me directly
Select References • Reason, P. & Bradbury, H. (eds). (2008). The sage handbook of action research: Participative inquiry and practice (2nd edition). London: Sage. • Schein, E. H. (1995). Process consultation, action research and clinical inquiry: Are they the same? Journal of Managerial Psychology, 10(6). • Givens, L. (ed) 2008. The sage handbook on research methods. London: Sage. • Marquardt, M. (2004). Optimizing the power of action learning: Solving problems and building leaders in real time. Boston: Davies-Black.