Systemic Practice and Action Research最新文献

In pursuit of global sustainable value creation, the conceptual ambiguity inherent in sustainability poses a challenge for goal-seeking problem-solvers. This paper addresses this challenge by introducing a typology for distinguishing among nine types of sustainability challenges that could be faced in systemic intervention. To navigate the complexity and vagueness inherent in sustainability, the Space of Challenges (SOC) is utilized as a tool for second-order systems thinking, grounded in the fundamentals of critical systems thinking. The paper aims to support system thinkers seeking to organise a systemic intervention for improved sustainability performance of systems. The support is developed to contribute to the alignment of sustainability challenges with suitable systems methodologies in multimethodological systemic interventions. A typology is proposed to differentiate sustainability challenges, and then integrated with the Cynefin sense-making framework to categorise challenges as simple, complicated or complex. The Space of Challenges framework is then applied to a case of sustainable housing in East Africa exploring alternative binders in block-based building, to highlight the differences among the nine types of proposed sustainability challenges.

In phenomenographic studies, the use of reflection is not commonly reported. Drawing on the different schools of thought and reported frameworks, this paper introduces the Reflective Practice Framework for phenomenographic data analysis. The article describes theoretical stances and constituent elements of the framework, which consist of the two levels and five steps of reflection. The application of the framework allows for a systemic account of situational factors and personal influences during the process of phenomenographic data analysis. The framework provides a clear-cut guideline for novice phenomenographers on how to maintain reflection when working on the analysis of unstructured phenomenographic data and considering assumptions, biases, and alternative perspectives.

The involvement of stakeholder groups, like patients or healthcare professionals, is highly valued in eHealth Action Research (AR) projects because it ensures a match between the project outcomes and the needs of the target group. However, few best practices or advices are available and no overview exists that describes the process of active involvement of stakeholders in the context of eHealth. Therefore, this paper presents the development of a framework for active stakeholder involvement in eHealth AR. The framework was developed based on several studies on stakeholder involvement in a project, as well as existing literature. To evaluate the framework, interviews were conducted with eight participants, who were either experts from the field or researchers currently working in practice in eHealth AR projects. Based on the suggestions made during the interviews, the framework was adjusted. The final version of the framework consists of 9 sections with a total of 56 questions, as well as material for additional reading. This framework can help researchers, especially those who are relatively new to AR and stakeholder involvement, shape their research process. A next step would be to further investigate how to operationalise the framework, for example in project meetings with stakeholders, and then, evaluate the framework in practice by implementation into an AR project from start to finish.

This article is structured around my locating a lacuna in the (mainstream) literature describing the history of the field of “systems thinking”. I investigate how dominant accounts of this history do not include an account of the contributions of Indigenous sages and scholars’ systemic thinking. Such thinking (and being) is grounded in a relational onto-epistemology and attendant axiology – where knowing is consciously tied to (re)generating reciprocal relations with others – human and more-than-human – as we enact worlds-in-the making. The argument is that at the moment of “knowing/inquiring” we co-constitute with other agents (and not only human ones) the worlds that are brought forth. Otherwise expressed, there are never spectators, only participants in ongoing world-construction. I explore the way of explaining this as proffered by authors from a variety of geographical contexts as a backdrop to indicating how Indigenous critical systemic thinking has not been catered for by those writing the history of the so-called “systems community”. This is despite many Indigenous scholars self-naming their understandings as being systemic. I indicate that exploring global superwicked problems from the standpoint of an Indigenous onto-epistemology includes pointing to, and experimenting further with, radically different options for thinking-and-being than those that thus far have been storied by those writing the history of systems thinking. I indicate why it is important to take seriously this approach, rather than drowning its contribution.

This article revisits Morten Levin’s article, “Academic integrity in action research” published in the journal, Action Research (Levin 2012). It develops the main theme of rigour and relevance from the perspective of interiority. Interiority is a philosophical theory and method that enables action researchers attend to the data of their consciousness, that is how they experience, question, understand, test their understanding, make judgments, make decisions and act, which Levin understands as bildung. I offer interiority as the perspective on how rigour and relevance may be understood and integrated in a reframing of the bildung of action researchers as Morten discussed it in 2012.

For development projects, an action research approach is often encouraged to enhance participation of end-users or beneficiaries at various stages of the project to realize the desired social transformation in the target communities. The project under consideration in this study adopted action research for some of its activities. A review of the project action research activities was conducted as part of the strategic reflection for lesson learning and to inform modification where necessary. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess the relevance of action research approach to implementation of project activities and, (ii) to draw lessons for agricultural development projects applying participatory approaches. Fifty-one participants involved in the project action research activities were interviewed on their understanding of action research, its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and level of participation in action research activities. The perception of the participants interviewed regarding action research approach was that it is relevant and important for the project, and that it has provided a good platform for learning by all participants. Some key lessons from this study for development projects when applying action research approach include the need to focus on a limited number of issues or activities that can produce social transformation in the target communities, and the necessity of adequate planning for monitoring and documentation of learning by participants. From our study, action research is a pertinent approach in community development projects, but it should be well-planned to achieve the desired objective of social transformation in the target communities.

Origin

The research analysed the messages communicated during the uprisings in a city in Colombia during 2021. The objective of the study was to determine the organisational idea of the country prefigured by the protestors during the marches.

Method

The research uses participatory observation in an ethnographic method for data collection; for data analysis and reduction, it uses grounded theory; and for data analysis, it uses cybernetic communication modelling and the Viable Systems Model. During the six marches the researchers attended to, the study registered and analysed the messages contained in speeches, alternative media outlets, chants, signs, graffiti, and theatrical plays.

Findings

It identifies the people´s demand for autonomy in the country, the emergence of new political identities, the use of telecommunications as a means for changing the state´s institutions, the use of art and culture in the country’s demonstrations, and the demand for the respect of human rights. The study analysed the findings using the socio-political cybernetics framework proposed by Stafford Beer.

Originality

The article presents a novel approach to the study of the Colombian uprisings of 2021. The paper applies the socio-political cybernetic approach, which is uncommon in studies in cybernetics. It also proposes an extension to the cybernetic theory of communications.

In this article, we introduce the reader to a social systems-theoretical concept of science, with particular emphasis on the role of theorising within a functionally differentiated society. Six cases are presented that demonstrate how social systems theory serves as both theory and method, thereby offering an insightful super-theoretical framework relevant to both conceptual and empirical studies. We conclude that social systems theory facilitates the pursuit of science for science’s sake by effectively challenging persistent self-confusions of society with politics or any other subsystem of society. As a result, the artificial distinction between science for the sake of science and science for the sake of society is overcome, and science for sake of society simply represents a return of science to its own function.

This conceptual paper explores the persistent gap between research, practice, and theory in management, hindering the practical applicability and relevance of academic research. It investigates the Socio-Economic Approach to Management (SEAM) as a participatory and collaborative model aimed at effectively bridging this gap. The paper examines the evolution of management theories and the emergence of SEAM as an innovative solution to align theory and practice, highlighting its potential to integrate theory, research, and practice in organizational management. The paper conducts a comprehensive literature review to demonstrate how action research, as incorporated in SEAM, facilitates transformative organizational development and fosters collaborative problem-solving. SEAM’s methodology offers a win-win collaboration for both managers and scholars, resulting in actionable knowledge with practical applications. Additionally, it includes a case study involving DBA executive education to illustrate SEAM’s practical application. Despite its strengths, SEAM faces criticisms and challenges, including concerns about subjectivity, rigor, contrasting approaches, validity, and generalizability. However, the paper emphasizes SEAM’s contributions to action research, offering a fresh perspective that transcends context-specificity and provides multidimensional modeling of outcomes. It emphasizes measurement and quantitative assessment of qualitative impacts, integrating qualitative, quantitative, and financial data to better understand organizational complexity. In conclusion, the paper underscores SEAM’s significance in promoting research relevance, enhancing management practices, and fostering better understanding between researchers and practitioners, particularly within the realm of DBA executive education. By advocating for SEAM as a bridge between theory and practice, the paper encourages a more collaborative and effective approach to meet the demands of a dynamic management landscape.

The ubiquity of communication technologies has influenced the way we receive and process ‘information’. It is shaping the way that human societies interact and made it to distinguish between tittle-tattle and facts. Despite its many benefits it can also lead to social disengagement where ‘data’ is treated as information and ‘news’ can be untrue. In this paper I investigate if digitization is changing the nature of society and the way we behave. Using a Soft systems method, I explore the impact that digitization is having upon society and discuss the lessons learnt. The suggestion is made that using soft ideas might help receivers to gain a better appreciation of the material they access within the context in which it is expressed.