PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH

RESEARCHING WITH PEOPLE TO CO-CREATE A LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE

It was decided to adopt a collaborative approach to this research, concerning the staff experience of co-creating strategy. This arguably reflects the wider organisational culture already in evidence here. Participatory action research is concerned with those issues that matter to people seeking practical action and change.  The action research processes that have been adopted here, enable new voices and hopefully new, different leadership stories to be told.

The method of creating learning histories forms part of a long oral history tradition, whereby the core elements of oral history, listening, voice and story become central to the research undertaking itself. As a method oral history enables the highs and lows and experiences of individuals and groups, to be captured in all their uniqueness, as well as being recognised as a universal experience in some way.

The intention  has been  to go beyond descriptions, supporting best practice approaches to leadership and  to really consider and undestand more fully the thinking, arguments and experimentation informing action within a given situation, and from which those involved and others may learn.