Impact of Organisational change

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Thank You for Your Interest!