Action Research and Organizational Development / Edition 1

by John B. Cunningham

Overview

Action Research and Organizational Development describes a process of change that encourages research and consulting skills. In this process, research data about an organization or culture is systematically collected to develop an understanding of the needs, issues and problems. The information provides the impetus for focusing the change and making discoveries. This work describes the characteristics of the action research process and the procedure for its implementation. This particular type of applied social research differs from other varieties in the immediacy of the researcher's involvement and collaboration in each stage of researching, focusing, and implementing. The work describes the continuous process of research and learning in relation to the researcher's long-term relationship with a problem or issue. This book is relevant for all those who share the goal of positive change within the organization.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275942656
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/17/1993
Series:	Jewish Denominations in America
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.69(d)
Lexile:	1310L (what's this?)

About the Author

BARTON CUNNINGHAM is a Professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada. He also has an appointment in the School of Accountancy and Business at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Table of Contents

Foreword by A.W. McEachern
A Definition on Action Research
The Need for an Action Research?
The Early History of Action Research
The Emerging Action Sciences
Adjusting Research Methods for Organizational Problem-solving
An Action Research Procedural Model
Types of Interviews
Developing Data Gathering Instruments
Observations and Unobtrusive Measures
Dealing with Messy Data
Carrying out the Process of Change: Some Implementation Steps
Focusing the Change
Different Stages of the Change Process
Action Research and Organization Development
Final Consideration