Action research and organisation theory

This book discusses action research and organisation theory. Kurt Lewin said, «There is nothing as practical as a good theory». But «good theory» is also developed from practice. By linking action research and mainstream thinking about organisations the contributors challenge and transcend the disparate positions and insufficiencies within both research communities. The texts cover fields or topics not usually addressed in industrial action research, such as gender, ethics, organisational rationalities, the question of self-reference, the discourses of management and leadership and the public-private dimension. What emerges as common recommendations from most of the chapters are more self-reflective, self-critical, and task-oriented research approaches with a clear space for deliberation in the application of knowledge. The contributors come from the Work Research Institute (WRI) in Oslo.