Table 1 Elements of quality in action research in organization development
The essence Rigor Reflective Relevant
Purpose and
rationale for
action and
inquiry
• Case for why action
and research are
necessary or
desirable?
• What contribution is
intended
• Does it provide a clear rationale for
inquiry and action?
• To what extent the focus addresses a
gap in the scientific literature?
• Does it display the data to justify the
purpose and rationale for the study?
• Is it linked to past research and
scientific literature?
• Is it linked to contemporary business
and organizational issues?
Does it describe why action is necessary
or desirable? (To achieve what for
whom)
Context Understanding the
business,
organizational and
academic context
Is the contextual data captured in a
scientific, systematic and holistic way?
• Does it build on past and present
scientific research that is central to the
focus of the study?
• Does it build on past and present
organizational experience that is
central to the issue studied?
To what extent relevant analytical
frameworks applied to understand the
context?
Methodology
and method
of inquiry
• The role of the action
researcher
• Ethical issues
• Contracting
• Establish learning
mechanisms
• To what extent is the process of
contracting, selection of methods of
action and inquiry collaborative?
• To what extent are the methods and
inquiry process described with
sufficient details?
• To what extent are alternative LMs
tapestries explored?
• Are appropriate modes of AR selected
and justified?
• To what extent are the action and
research cycles described?
• To what extent is the LMs tapestry
involved in the development of the
methodology and inquiry method?
To what extent are the methods of action
and inquiry driven by the
organization’s needs and scholarly
criteria?
Design • Data collection and
generation
• Cycles of action
research
• Building
relationships
• To what extent is the project designed
and implemented to ensure rigor?
• To what extent the data is
collaboratively and rigorously
generated, collected and explored?
• To what extent is the project designed
and implemented collaboratively?
• To what extent attention is paid to the
development of the quality of the
relationship?
To what extent is the research design
directed to meet the organization’s
needs, as well as those of academic
rigor?
Narrative and
outcomes
Describe the story and
outcomes (intended
and unintended)
• How well is the story told, with an
appropriate level of detail?
• To what extent are facts and values
distinguished?