Multimodal Systemic Metamethodology: An Application to Edgar Morin’s Doctrine

This paper intends to show how multimodal system methodology can be interpreted as a metamethodology that can house different specific methodologies to be used in action-research.

Using an Action Research Framework to Explore Assessment: A South African Case Study

This article is a reflection of my first experience with action research in trying to devise a system of assessment that would benefit both first and second language speakers of English in an assessment system that is plagued by its separatist past. In this paper, I discuss an action research study on oral assessment implemented at two tertiary institutions in South Africa. The actual details of each phase of the assessments are not reported on, but the methods used to facilitate the processes are. The findings and adaptations after each phase of the assessments are discussed to show the effectiveness of using an action research methodology.

Prologue: The Global Challenge Outlined: Representation Accountability and Sustainable Futures

This volume reflects on the program of research undertaken by members and associates of the International Sociological Association’s Joint Session of Research Committee 10 on Participation and Research Committee 51 on sociocybernetics and the graduates and contributors to the Flinders University research cluster on user centric design to enhance representation and accountability for a sustainable future.

System-Organisational Aspect of a Learning Organisation in Companies

The objective of this article is to discuss the learning organisation (LO) concept in correlation with network organisation (NO), which is an indispensable element for the transition into the new era of management, i.e. knowledge networking. Business organisations (BO) rarely achieve innovativeness, and thus competitive advantage, without establishing NO/LO and knowledge management. Therefore, a suitable knowledge strategy must be developed that is related to BO's business strategy. The last two statements surface our main hypothesis, which is described in our general model on linking the elements of an LO and then tested by empirical research carried out in Slovenian BOs. Our original model of LO has proved helpful in understanding BOs as LOs in transitional economies, e.g. in Slovenia. In them an innovation-based business has not yet become the norm with BOs of all sizes, with success mainly enjoyed in larger BOs. However, NO can help the LO concept spread and support innovativeness rather quickly in all BOs.

The Role Conundrums of Co-Inquiry Action Research: Lessons from the Field

This paper focuses on the role conundrums that confront action researchers who are engaged in co-inquiry designs for purposes of generating knowledge that is both actionable and makes a robust contribution to a more generalized body of knowledge. Drawing on the lived experience of researchers in such a project in U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, this paper describes the conundrums that confronted the researchers, identifies the central dynamics around which they seem to be organized, and discusses the impact on the subsequent practice of the researchers. Practices that establish reflexivity in the research process are an important part of the role of the researchers. So too is establishing relationships that provide for sensemaking and integrating rigor and relevance.

Formalised and Non-Formalised Methods in Resource Management—Knowledge and Social Learning in Participatory Processes: An Introduction

The participation of non-state actors in public decision-making and transdisciplinary research is increasingly regarded as an effective means to cope with growing uncertainties and complexities in human–nature interactions. The management of natural resources is expected to profit from a broader knowledge base and processes of social learning, thus allowing for potentially more informed and creative decision-making. Communication is a key element of transmitting knowledge and fostering social learning. This article introduces the special issue, which assembles contributions that discuss different methods, instruments, tools, and models that have been developed in order to facilitate the transmission of information as well its selection and aggregation. Each of the contributions is briefly reviewed. The approaches discussed here and in the individual papers aim to foster learning in participatory processes. We argue that a key aspect is the degree to which methods are formalised. Formalisation refers to the extent to which information is channelled in a certain way, leaving more or less scope for open communication. Depending on the goals and context, more or less formalised methods can be employed. We conclude by highlighting the context-dependency of participatory processes in natural resource management and indicate some directions for future research.

The Role of Behavioral Factors and National Cultures in Creating Effective Performance Management Systems

Many organizations install performance management systems (PMS), based on critical success factors, key performance indicators and the balanced scorecard, to improve their results. In practice many organizations have difficulty implementing a PMS because the influence of behavioral factors and national cultures is not taken into account enough. This article describes the findings of a study into the role of behavior and national culture in setting up an effective PMS at a multinational.

Toward a Buddhist Systems Methodology 1: Comparisons between Buddhism and Systems Theory

This paper compares some key concepts from Buddhism with ideas from different traditions of systems thinking. There appear to be many similarities, suggesting that there is significant potential for dialogue and mutual learning. The similarities also indicate that it may be possible to develop a Buddhist systems methodology to help guide exploration and change within Buddhist organisations.

Improving End User Behaviour in Password Utilization: An Action Research Initiative

This paper is about the design and implementation of techniques and strategies to improve end user behavior in the utilization of passwords within a formal setting. The researchers were requested to investigate the issues inherent in the password management and utilization procedure within the client organization and thereby improve end user behavior in utilization of passwords within the organization. The researchers completed an action research study and successfully implemented a training program to improve system users’ behavior related to passwords. They used a unique approach by designing training for creating passwords to fit with theories pertaining to human memory. In addition, the researchers also created and delivered security awareness training. The end users of the target information systems reported that after training they were able to use strong passwords (A strong password in our organization is one that has 15 characters with at least two numbers and one symbol) without writing them down. Requests to the help desk for password resets decreased. Users also reported that they are much more aware of security threats.

Identity in Post Suharto Indonesia

Balancing individual and collective interests is the challenge in Indonesia and in Australia, where the challenge is (a) to enable decentralised involvement in decisions to enhance a sense of attachment to an inclusive democracy and (b) achieve careful evidence based policy to guide the use of resources for the common good.

‘Who’s in the Network?’ When Stakeholders Influence Data Analysis

Environmental applications of social network analysis (SNA) are just beginning to emerge, and so far have focussed on understanding the characteristics of social networks that increase the likelihood of collective action and successful natural resource management. We move beyond this discussion to demonstrate how knowledge gained from analysing the social networks of stakeholders can be harnessed for selecting stakeholders, and further, how these analyses can be influenced by the expressed wishes and concerns of stakeholders. Although we began our SNA using concepts derived from the resource-management literature, stakeholder involvement in the interpretation of the results led to the use of SNA techniques that had not previously been applied in the context of resource management. We thus re-analysed our data and modified our selection of research participants. Re-analysis led to the selection of research participants who (1) had unique positions in the network, thus occupying non-redundant communication roles in the network, (2) came from different stakeholder categories and (3) were relatively well-connected to others and tended to broker across different segments of the network. By combining insights from researchers and stakeholders in this way, it was possible to use SNA in an innovative and sensitive way to better meet the needs of the stakeholders and the research project.

Defining Focus and Integrity in Building a Community Research Coalition

Pervasive and systemic barriers to collaborative university-community research make such studies highly challenging. Yet the necessity of participative research means that feasible ways to conduct high quality collaborative investigations must be sought. In a longitudinal action research study investigating adult literacy, issues facing community and academic researchers centred upon focus and integrity. Differing researchers defined focus and integrity in sharply varying ways, so that terminology employed within the programme formed contested sites of meaning and interpretation. This meant that ideas of research integrity held very different connotations for different actors. Yet the viability of the programme depended on both academics and community people attempting to expand their horizons by understanding and taking into account others’ perceptions.

Practicality, Positionality, and Emancipation: Reflections on Participatory Action Research with a Watershed Partnership

In the last few decades, there has been a trend towards increased stakeholder and public participation in natural resource management in North America. To a certain extent, the rationale for this trend is found in the complexity and uncertainty of environmental issues, which confront us with the coexistance of multiple legitimate values and perspectives in society. Recognizing this “epistemological plurality” has important implications for both policy and science. In this paper, I critically reflect on my experiences as a doctoral student engaged in participatory action research (PAR) with a watershed partnership in Ontario, Canada. In providing this biographical account, I seek to make a contribution to ongoing discussions regarding the nature, challenges and benefits of this methodological approach for academic research, as well as to emerging debates on PAR in the context of environmental governance and “post-normal” approaches to natural resource management.

Communicating Through Theatre: How Organizational Theatre Engages Researchers and Industrial Companies

In this article, we focus on the communicative aspects in action research (AR), and how we as action researchers have been inspired by working with a theatre company in enterprise development. The theatre showed us a different landscape concerning communication in the enterprise development process. We discuss how communication in AR traditionally is handled, and challenge AR by introducing how a theatre company creates engagement and involvement in the development process. Action researchers can enhance their research activity through using communication forms borrowed from theatrical performance in order to inspire and increase participants’ involvement in change processes.

The Engaged Researcher–From Translator to Literary Change Agent

In this article we reflect upon an integrated approach to action research. The role of the engaged researcher is empirically addressed by using longitudinal field experiences. We take a narrative approach and tell three stories from the field. In analysing the stories we propose a transition of the role of the engaged researcher, from that of a translator of general theory and contextual practices to one of a literary change agent. The literary change agent inspires practitioners by means as concepts, metaphors and storytelling. We suggest that the narrative approach can bring a new and critical flavour to the previously under-explored area of the role of the researcher in action research.

Creating Rhizomatic Networks and Ethics for the Marginalized Group

This paper seeks to further substantiate and appreciate the importance of West Churchman’s pragmatic philosophy, and to propose the development of what we call the participatory and rhizomatic systems approach. The aim of rhizomatics is to create a deterritoriazation of current social fields and to make sense of the creation of the rhizomatic networks and ethics for the marginalized group in practice. This paper takes the contributions of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari’s notion of rhizome on ethical reasoning and incorporates them into a test. It examines how ethics for the marginalized group can assist in appreciating and developing ethical management of any systemic intervention. The paper looks into what ethics for the marginalized group is and how it is achieved in the context of rhizomatic networks.

The Systems Approach to the Pluralist Theory of International Relations: A Case Study of the European Union

This article aims at introducing concepts related to the systems approach applied to the international system. First, the authors describe the systems view considering General Systems Theory in order to conceptualize the international systems as well as the Pluralist Theory of International Relations. Based on General Systems Theory, the authors analyze the international systems from the perspective of the Pluralist Theory of International Relations, using a case study on the European Union. The pluralist image of international systems presents important similarities to Systems Theory, as it analyzes the international context, characterized by variety, complexity and dynamics and uses the concepts of object, attribute, inputs and outputs, environment, motivations and process, which enable a better understanding of the international system.

Professional Development through Action Research: Case Examples in South African Higher Education

This paper identifies the quality characteristics of a professional development (PD) program on action research (AR) and presents the results of a second-order evaluation of such a program. Three case examples in South African higher education demonstrate how AR methodology has been applied to design, conduct and evaluate the PD program and to identify new ways of learning and improving professional practice in higher education. From data analysis, we distinguish six factors significant in contributing to the quality of the PD program in all three universities: facilitator expertise, adaptive planning, responsive evaluation, critical events, application, and self-efficacy. On the basis of the evaluation results, we present five models: (1) the AR workshop cycles; (2) characteristics of a quality PD program; (3) a PD program on and through AR; (4) three levels of reflection on AR; and (5) meta-action research.

Going Green from the Inside: Insider Action Research at the Volvo Car Corporation

Various forms of action research have been proposed as remedies for the one-sided focus on theoretical interests existing in Business School research. Among other conceptual elaborations, Insider Action Research (IAR) suggests that action research needs to be supported by an insider's view of activities in order to achieve any substantial contribution to practice and theory. Even though the IAR model is potentially capable of overcoming a number of practical, political, and epistemological problems, it has been explored relatively little in terms of practical examples and lessons. This paper presents the account of an Insider Action researcher at the Volvo Car Corporation, aimed at studying the development of environmental strategies and “eco-benign” automobiles “from the inside”. The paper suggests that even though IAR remains a promising model, the political ingenuity and savoir-faire of the insider action researcher must not be underrated.

Participatory Sustainability Impact Assessment: Scientific Policy Advice as a Social Learning Process

This paper deals with the development of scientific policy advice by providing a methodology to foster a social learning process. The methodology, called participatory Sustainability Impact Assessment (pSIA), aims to structure complex problem situations, to clarify interests and basic assumptions, to interpret scientific studies, to develop impact assessment, and to explore sensitivity of uncertainty and lack of information. In pSIA workshops the participants are supposed to build conceptual models with different modelling methods, like System Dynamics, Value Chain Analysis, and Morphological Analysis. A case study is presented that describes a workshop series with political as well as academic actors, applying the pSIA approach to an impact assessment of Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and the Eastern and Southern Africa Region.