Action Research Methodology as a Managerial Tool: Discussion and Implications
Dec 20, 2017
DOI:
Published in: AAU Journal of Business and Law
Publisher: Al Ain University of Science and Technology
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of action research methodology as a managerial tool. A practical example was employed to explain the dynamic process of action research and its role in understanding a managerial problem: observe, reflect, plan, & act. This paper argues that the implementation of this tool in organizations can be considered as a foundation for managerial problem solving. Employing action research can facilitate the crafting of appropriate strategies and lead to highly desirable results, and thus three points should be recognized: )1( the intention in a given situation is to get a deep understanding and to construct a social reality based on participants’ perceptions; )2( involving managers to help in understanding what might be done to improve the situation and what action should be implemented to overcome the problem; )3( implementing the recommended solutions )action(, as well as repeating and evaluating the process is to be considered the cornerstone to improve an undesired situation.