Organizational development and action research

In response to the evolving social, cultural and political context, organizations have to continually adapt and change. This requires managers and professionals to invest in an on-going process of reflection and learning. In addition to individual and team coaching, organizational learning can occur through collective problem-solving. Elizabeth Harlow facilitates and assists managers and professionals as they:

• confront organizational dilemmas
• scrutinize organizational culture
• examine organizational structure and systems
• explore the delivery and quality of services provided
• develop the organization in the light of their reflection

In conjunction with organizational leaders and the range of key stakeholders Elizabeth Harlow can construct flexible and pragmatic action research projects that are inclusive in their design. Such projects lead to a better understanding of the strength and limitations of the organization and indicate towards the pathway for change. Information informing an evaluation can be gathered (pre and/or post change) by means of:

• Organizational documents
• Questionnaires
• Verbal accounts of groups of stakeholders
• Verbal accounts of individual stakeholders

Conclusions resulting from such projects can be reported verbally and in writing, and will form the basis of dialogue and proposals for the way forward.

Examples of development and research projects undertaken by Elizabeth Harlow can be found in her brief CV on this website.