Alfredo Carmelo K.

Romualdez (MBA, ID 11293680) January 21, 2013

Management Action Research (BUS530M) Dr. Benito L. Teehankee

CLASS PREPARATION ASSIGNMENT FOR Introducing Action Research by Coghlan and Brannick

Key concepts and points In the book doing action research in your own organization the author identifies four characteristics that could serve as the foundations of action research and the first of these is that action research is research in action, rather than research about action, which means that action research being a cyclical process where researchers and other participants not only serve as witnesses to the research but actively participate in the study, during the study. The second is that action research is A collaborative and democratic process where people involved are not only seen as subjects to be studied but also as participants during the life of the study where they are also free to choose what their research study would focus on the how they engage in the proces ses of action and inquiry. The third major characteristic of action research is that the research is concurrent with action which is most evident when the persons involved apply different strategies or actions after every cycle, where the formulation of these strategies have come from knowledge attained during the previous cycle. So it is like action research not only adds knowledge from data gathered during the research process but also actively participates in addressing the sited issues or problems. The last main characteristic of action research is it being a sequence of events and an approach to problem solving, as indicated earlier where participants not only document the strategies being applied but also try out new ones which might solve the problem allowing them to actively contribute to solving the issues raised.

Action research methods also incorporates an idea of having three voices and audiences as compared to the traditional method, which would usually be in the premise of the third person and which is also meant for third persons as audiences. These voices bring in a unique approach to research, for example, we view the first person as ones who are directly involved with the study and having them able to participate actively during the research allows inputs such as their personal views, assumptions and desired outcome with the action research and through this these participants will be able to be more aware on his or her approach towards the issue and fosters an inquiry approach. The next is in the view of the second person, having the second person part of the study as this is able to allow data to be gathered during when the second person makes inquiries towards the work of others and during times of joint action. The last view and audience is the third person, this view is known to be impersonal, but it is most appropriate when information is to be shared to interested groups or communities as these groups or communities may also actively participate in the action research process by joining or creating forums to discuss these issues and come up with new ideas which could be evaluated and adopted during the action research process. It is important that during the action research process all audiences and persons are involved in the making, where their inputs become part of the study and that the study is made in such a way that is would be of value to all these three types of audiences.

Mentioned earlier, action research is a cyclical process which actually involves two cycles occurring during the same period. The first cycle is called the core action cycle which involves a pre -step and 4 major core steps. The pre-step includes the projects context and purpose, where stated are the need of having the project, what the desired project outcome and forces affecting aspects of the project. Of the main steps, first is constructing, this is where participants of the study bring up issues involved and create a working theme which will serve as a

guideline on how actions will be planned and taken. The second step is planning action, where actions are planned in relation with those stated in the first step. The third step or taking action, this is the step where the plans will be acted upon or implemented and will all be done thru a collaborative effort. The final step before the cycle reoccurs is called evaluating action, during this step the outcome of the action is documented. After evaluation, a new course of action is decided upon and the cycle goes on. The second type of cycle involved in action research is called the thesis action research cycle. It also important to note that these cycles occur concurrently and that one cycle maybe a part of another and that even thou these cycles occur concurrently, it does not mean that they consume the same amount of time. The first of the thesis action research cycle is called content, this is where one things about the issued and notes down ones assumption on how is happening. The second is called process, this is where one make a reflection on things such as the strategies that have been applied and other things that are being done. The last is called premise, this is a reflection where one critiques assumption that have been made in the past. Also important is quality and rigor in action research. Rigor exhibited when the researcher submits his or her study to critique and quality during the evaluation of the usefulness of the study where aspects of it having a good narrative and useable knowledge formed from reflections made during the activity may be judged.

Main insights As one to have done research in the past, we were always given the impression that researchers should maintain a certain distance from those they are researching since sharing information and discussing issues may change the outcome of the project, but action research will not limit the study to this single premise but make it a component of the research study and that research is to be participated in an active fashion. The reading has also indicated that action research is adopts a cyclical approach and that ideas and actions are should be re-evaluated and tested concurrently with reflection made during the processes.

Questions One of the questions I would like to raise regarding action research is what if what is being researched is a sensitive matter and that at times not all the 3 personas are to be given information about aspects of the study, how might this limit the practice of action research methods. The other question I would like to raise is that how can follow the action research method if one of the persons/parties does not vouluntarity involve themselves. For example, the study does not get the attention of those third parties, so feedback is not made so critique from this source is minimal or none at all.

Applications I feel that the reading has help me understand that research should not be addressed in a linear fashion, it should not end by just taking action on strategies which have been planned but rather evaluate the outcome of these strategies and come up with others which may exhibit more desirable outcomes after. Currently, I am involved in a rural bank, and I feel that top managements policies ha ve been very narrow in scope or have been dynamic enough to address actively issues being taken up but having the chance to implement action research methods, I feel might bring a more holistic approach into solving of issue and documenting their outcome of each strategy applied and also adding value to strategies undertaken with the learning parties take away from each. Top management in the past would only hear out certain issues from either those who experience in first-hand , or from third parties and they would create policies to address the problem which out really giving a collaborative effort in addressing them. With lessons learned from the action research method, top management can work with those who experience it first hand and make inquires to the 3rd parties and come up with a collaborative effort in strategy making and action implementation, which would bring about a new appreciation and deeper understanding of the issues to be addressed.

Reference Coghlan, D. &Brannick, T. (2010) Introducing Action Research. In Doing Action Research in Your Own Organization, pp. 3-17, Los Angeles: Sage Publications