Action Research (AR) Cycle Guiding Questions Presented to WROE Participants Module 3 Phoenix, AZ October 23-25, 2007 Jacques Nacson

The Action Research Cycle: Three Essential Features  Reliance on evidence as the basis for moving forward  A collaborative culture to support the process  The process is iterative with feedback loops at every level and at end of the cycle

Desired State --Organizational Goal  Agreement on measures, values and standards?  Shared understanding and commitment among key people?  Consistent with the organizational values  Realistic and attainable?

Current Reality – Organizational Performance  Agreement on the measures used?  Validity and Reliability of the data?  Primary or secondary source?  Other data to support current reality?  Consensus or agreement with current reality?

GAP – The Difference Between Desired State and Current Reality  Real or due to normal fluctuations/noise in system?  Agreement that gap is important/serious enough to warrant action?  Is the gap within the organization’s sphere of influence?  Political implications?

Collecting and Analyzing Data  Supporting data available to inform the issue?  Additional data needed to identify potential root causes?  Networking with and learning from those directly and indirectly involved (brainstorming)?  Sharing information, hypotheses and seeking feedback?

Initial Definition of Problem/Opportunity  Initial statement of the problem or opportunity to be embraced?  Structured feedback from key players?  Analysis of organizational resources and capabilities to address issue?  Additional data and analyses, as needed based on feedback and organizational assessments?

Refinement of the Problem/Opportunity  Clear and unambiguous reformulation of the statement of problem/opportunity?  Explicit working hypotheses (if…then…statements) and assumptions?  Workable consensus and commitments among key players?  Purpose and goals perceived as fair, important and attainable?

Planning Concrete Steps: Selecting the Intervention  Considered alternative interventions?  Evidence of success?  Feedback from key people?  Analyses of organizational capabilities and resources for different interventions?  Application of diagnostic models (e.g., Bolman & Deal)  Workable consensus among key people?

Planning Concrete Steps: Planning the Intervention  Defined the work (work breakdown structure)?  Are tasks feasible given timeline and resources?  Task contingencies defined?  Authority and responsibilities delegated?  Clear management structure?  Process and outcome evaluation plans detailed?

Implementation (and Ongoing Process Evaluation )  Collecting data about ongoing implementation progress?  Making corrective actions based on process evaluation data?  Sharing implementation tracking data with key people?  Confident that implementation issues are not hidden or swept under?  Documenting and sharing learnings and insights

Outcome Evaluation  Collecting, analyzing and displaying correctly outcome data as evidence of improvement?  Documenting and sharing outcome findings and process implementation findings with key people?  Drawing correct conclusions and making sound recommendations for follow up?  Applying knowledge and experience to next AR round?

Repeat the AR Cycle