Action Research

Action research helps clients take action which is informed by research and, thoughtfulness. Action research provides a context for action informed by understanding the dynamics of interdependencies, which are revealed through the change process.

Our action research methodologies span:

• organisational consultancy
• applied research and evaluation
• professional development

Tried and tested

Action research has been an important part of our methodologies since our early days. A number of our earliest projects were developed by building on an association between key staff members and Kurt Lewin in the 1940s.

A commitment on all sides

Action research involves commitment to action and learning by all parties; the outputs are designed to establish evidence to support system learning and change. Embedded in our organisational consultancy and professional development offers, it helps clients identify and interrogate evidence, and to make changes. Making change, in turn, offers you the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of the dynamics of interdependencies taking place within the organisation.

Scientific and personal

An important element of this work is our staff’s ability to hold in tension scientific research methods alongside experiential, personal ways of researching. Our researchers typically leave themselves open to what is to be found, bracketing their expectations and assumptions during the data-generation process and revisiting them in the sense-making process.

Action Research was developed from open systems theory and understanding of the links between the parts and the whole. This includes the links between the individual, group and organisation as well as to the wider social, technical and inter-organisational environment.