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Constructive Practice and Critical Theory: The Contribution of Action Research to Organisational Change and the Discourse on Organisations
[journal article]
Abstract "This article presents a new perspective on the question of how action
research may contribute to improving the discourse on organisations.
The three first sections deal mainly with some important features of action
research, following from action research methods used in projects that
comprise ... view more
"This article presents a new perspective on the question of how action
research may contribute to improving the discourse on organisations.
The three first sections deal mainly with some important features of action
research, following from action research methods used in projects that
comprise organisational change. On the basis of a distinction between
practical discourse and theoretical discourse, the point is made that while
descriptive research (like organisation theory) takes place mainly as a
theoretical discourse, action research also enters the arenas of practical
discourse. What kind of knowledge is required, and what kind of experience
is made in practical discourses, is elaborated by one example of an
action research from a Norwegian international corporation. It is argued
that in order to cause practical change, the power of knowledge is
dependent on the power of judgment.
On this basis, the three last sections deal with this question how knowledge
and experience from action research may contribute to the improvement
of organisation theory. Initially, a short historical account on the development
of organisation theory is presented. It is shown that the split of
the discourse on organisations, into a theoretical and practical discourse,
has had some unintended and unnoticed consequences as regards the style
of writing in organisation theory. This style of writing has resulted in a
discourse on organisation which is rich in very general perspectives and
concepts, but which nevertheless remains too poor in content. Thus, the
conclusion is that for the time being, one of the most important contributions
from action research to the discourse on organisations will be to make organisation theory become subject to criticism that may provoke
changes in the style of writing organisation theory." (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
organizations; critical theory; action research; organizational change; Norway; organization theory
Classification
Organizational Sociology
Document language
English
Publication Year
2006
Page/Pages
p. 283-318
Journal
International Journal of Action Research, 2 (2006) 3
ISSN
1861-1303
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications