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“They don’t take notes!” Tensions perceived by first-line workers in an action research project

Kristin Lebesby (Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway and SINTEF Digital, SINTEF, Trondheim, Norway)
Jos Benders (Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway and CESO, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium)

Team Performance Management

ISSN: 1352-7592

Article publication date: 10 October 2023

Issue publication date: 12 October 2023

66

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to emphasize the importance of taking into account the perspectives of prospective participants and identifying potential tensions in action research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reflects on a (participatory) action research (AR) project in which the first author was involved as an embedded researcher. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, field notes and observed project activities. The authors conducted a thematic analysis.

Findings

This paper thematically categorized four types of tensions between both groups. These were tensions connected to: internal facilitators giving guidance, project goals, top-down expectations and unfamiliarity with AR working formats.

Practical implications

Quintessential to AR is giving the less privileged a voice. For this to work, gaining a good understanding of their perspectives is crucial.

Originality/value

This paper challenges the implicit assumption that prospective participants of AR projects are always willing to participate.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants in the presented case for their contribution to their research. The authors would also like to thank their colleagues Hanne G. Finnestrand, Jonas Ingvaldsen, Ola E. Vie and Johan Ravn for constructive and insightful discussions about earlier drafts of this paper.

Funding: No external funding was provided for this research paper.

Author contributions: Kristin Lebesby – Data collection – Analysis, Interpretation, Writing. Jos Benders – Data – Reflective outsider perspective, Analysis, Interpretation – Editing.

Citation

Lebesby, K. and Benders, J. (2023), "“They don’t take notes!” Tensions perceived by first-line workers in an action research project", Team Performance Management, Vol. 29 No. 5/6, pp. 242-255. https://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-12-2022-0088

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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