Action research is about evaluating whether your practice is as good as you would like it to be. Through action research we improve our quality of thinking, interactions with others or practices. Similarly, every quality professional aims for improved practices and behaviours.
We do research when we want to find out something we do not already know. We test and validate the findings. Research is always to do with knowledge. Quality auditors know the standards and requirements and aim to discover the practices that should be in line with that standards. But is that enough?
Knowledge can take different forms:
Know that. This is knowledge of facts. For example, we know the day: Friday from newspaper or calendar.
Know-how. This is knowledge skills and procedures. For example we may say that we know Arabic and validate by speaking Arabic.
Personal knowledge. Knowledge we have from experience and intuition. Personal knowledge is the foundation of everything we do.
When we claim knowledge it is our responsibility to hold evidence to test the validity. If we cannot do this, we cannot expect people to believe us. This lesson can be applied to the role of quality auditor. They often act as the researches to validate practices work as expected.
We also demonstrate credibility of the knowledge by offering explanation. These are simple theories. But there are different forms of theory too. The abstract theory, for example carried from universities and organisations. But this might not be the most appropriate for investigating the world of practice.
And finally, we share the knowledge. Doing research is about sharing it with others for mutual benefit. Making research public is essential because it allows others to learn from us and it shows its legitimation.
All research proceeds systematically.
The main steps of research are:
Identify the research issue - hypothesis to be tested or idea to be explored.
Identify research aims and formulate research question
Set out research action plan including ethical procedures - rationale on why the research should be conducted and plan for how it will be conducted. The design also include ideas about testing the validity of the knowledge claim. It also provides details about ethical considerations.
Try it out - taking action by conducting experiment where variables are manipulated to show the cause and effect characteristics. Sometimes its about improved behaviour and critical thinking.
Gather data - research involves observation, monitoring practice, gathering data and keeping records.
Identify the ways by which we interpret the data - criteria define on what we want to see to judge quality. We expect criteria to be met.
Generate evidence from data in relation to the analysis - evidence is not the same as data
Link the claim with existing knowledge - once validated the new knowledge is placed within the existing body of knowledge in the literatures.
Test validity of the claim - it can be shown when other people replicate the research and produce the same results. This can also be validated when showing movement towards the values.
Submit the claim to critique - we seek feedback from ourselves and others - we need to check whether we can show that we are saying the truth.
Identify potential significance of the research - it might be a potential in contributing to further education or improvements in different contexts.
Generate new or confirm existing theory
Modify practice in line with evaluation - the research offers validated explanations for ongoing practice improvements. The practice should be seen as valid and not their own opinions.
Write a report - make the findings available to establish legitimacy of the knowledge found and show that you can contribute with this knowledge for improvements to others
Disseminate findings
Research contributes to practice transformation and allows educational improvement.
Action research is more than problem solving. It means identifying reasons for action, gathering and interpreting data and generation of theory.
Action research is about showing that claims to improved practice must be justified.
Through research we can change the direction of our future by acting intentionally in the present.
However, it is not possible to improve someones learning or educate them. All people are born with the capacity to think for themselves and they decide on whether they wish to be influenced by you. They can take action to improve it and this becomes the process of education.
Quality managers as educators
Any question in action research communicates that we want to improve something. Your responsibility as a researcher is to interrogate others behaviours and change them as they fit. We can understand ourselves as educators. Could a quality manager learn from it while researching the business practice?
We are the focus of our own research and authors of our research report. Our report is an explanatory account. Research allows for transformational evolution for better practices or better behaviours.
The action of action research is informed, committed and intentional with a view to generating knowledge of practice.
Action research is intentional. Initiating a project means that we want to do something about something. It is about exploring new possibilities and unfolding of new beginnings.
Sometimes the decisions to do something involve discomfort and require sensible evaluation on what we can realistically achieve.
In action research values transform to living practices. Taking action requires real world intend.
Values always need to be justified and negotiated wherever possible.
Researches can decide and take action to contribute to social and cultural transformation. They decide to make their account for practice to inform the learning of others. It is about encouraging people to re-think how they are and what they do to improve what they are doing.
People in elite settings including universities and laboratories do research. These are legitimated by professional procedures. However, we can do research anywhere as part of our life. This also includes the field of quality management.
As quality managers and auditors it can be challenging to influence the business. Simple understanding of the standard requirements on how these are to be evidence for compliance might not be enough for successful transformation and improvement actions. Quality managers need to understand what is behind the requirements of relevant standard and how it contributes to the overall performance.
It allows for education and effective implementation of corrective actions.
Working with others
Action research is often chosen as the most appropriate methodology for helping people study their practices and develop capacity for personal growth. There is also an expectation that researches can show the impact of the research on other people who will benefit from that knowledge.
Therefore, we need to understand what working with others involve and develop relevant strategies. It is the process of researching our own skills and job.
The first thing we need to do is to learn about ourselves, our values, preferences and self-awareness.
We might want to evaluate our personal values and decide on how committed we are to those values. we also need to be self-aware and be present to others we are working with. We need to learn to become attentive.
We also need to develop the capacity for communication. We might ask ourselves whether we speak clearly enough to be understood, do we get to the point and whether we are confident. We also need to be able to show authority for others to believe us and have an element of sensitivity and considerate with words to other people.
How do we do it?
Be optimistic but realistic. Working with others can be creative and contribute to business productivity. However doing research project can bring issues and require awareness about others traditions, ways of working and workplace identifies and territories. Organisations have their own cultural expectations. Learn how to avoid difficulties in relationships or work practices wherever possible and work strategically to keep your professional context sustainable.
Be sensitive to situations and be strategic. Developing sensitivity to others situations, cultural norms, histories and experiences requires strategies to deal with unexpected situations. This is building coping skills, learning about other people's cultures and developing the cosmopolitan mindset.
Be flexible and stay focused. Aim to develop flexibility and mental agility in adapting to people's changing needs and wishes. At the same time stay focused on what you want to achieve and find new directions if things do not go according to plan.
Have faith in yourself and others. This might be the most important capacity we can develop. People do not need fixing as we all know what we are doing. We must have faith that we will all deliver on our potentials. We need to stand, firm, do not panic we keep things in perspective. It might also mean managing to stay out of the way while people sort things out for themselves.
The people
There are certain groups of people we are likely to work with:
The research participants. Doing research or audits in the workplace might involve participants.The research may not happen without them so we must aim to maintain their goodwill. Through the project we gather data that show how they conduct their practices and suggest new ones that will enhance the life for all. The data might contain information from interviews, meetings and other interactions. You ground your claims to improvement to practice or behaviour in terms of how we have encouraged them to change their practice or behaviour, through thinking critically and their feedback counts as a string data. We have to pay close attention to matters of confidentiality. Keep the participants informed on how the research is going.
The managers. Managers should be willing to discuss the work so always negotiate the ground rules of the process relationships. You should never take them for granted as they might become your best allies. As well as expecting support from them, we must to be willing to support them. This means being available and offering advise and always aiming to praise where appropriate.
Your mentor. You might have a boss of supervisor. Their role might be to challenge you and interrogate your thinking by developing reflexive critique. They are skilled in the research practice with a lot of experience so listen to their advise and act on it. If they disagree with your perspective stand your ground and argue your case graciously. You are expected to exercise your critical judgement, but be prepared to change your mind from what might be a better knowledge. Don't be defensive, the point is not to score points but to improve practice and advance knowledge. We need to aim to keep the atmosphere friendly and positive. If things go wrong, don't immediately blame your supervisor. Assess the situation and learn from it.
Your research team. These colleagues are a good place for sharing knowledge, offering feedback and providing support. We need to aim to work collaboratively rather than competitively. Building the atmosphere of trust.
The validation group. These are the people who are able to comment fairly but critically on your research. Do not expect them to be hostile but also instantly agree with you. They expect you to justify any claims you make.
We must remember that the research we do aims to help the people but also yourself. The research gives you understanding of your subject knowledge and able to give explanations to your discipline. People also will learn from the reports and findings. The reports will also help the profession and the business and may encourage more innovative thinking and practices.
Interpersonal skills
Good interpersonal skills are fundamental to good relationships.
Listening
Listen more than you talk. Watch your body language and show your interest in others. Being a good listener is more important than being a good talker.
Managing
Managing means managing yourself and not others. Aim to carry out your responsibilities: arrange meetings, complete reports, attend all meetings and honour deadlines. Be punctual. Be aware of other people's sensitivities. Maintain professional and business-like attitude.
Collaborating
Action research means working with others. Aim to be intellectually independent but engage with others. Respect others rights to intellectual independence and personal space.
Take care of yourself
You are the most precious resource. Make sure you rest as much as you work. Develop positive attitude. Say "I will enjoy today" each morning. Keep things in perspective. Be open to learning. If we do not know something we go and find out.
Be inclusive
We need to be able to include everyone. People are different, have different values. They think and learn in different ways. Aim to present your ideas clearly. we do not need to use unnecessary "big" words but adopt professional tone.
It is undoubtedly true that quality managers need to demonstrate all those skills when working with others. The role does not only involve auditing and marking non-conformance. It involves educating others, collaborating and improving.
Bibiography:
McNiff J 2016 You and your action research project. London ; New York : Routledge; Fourth edition.
Collis J & Hussey R 2014 Business Research A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Hampshire UK; Palgrave Macmillan;
Fourth Edition
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