Explain How to Conduct Action Research and Organizational Development in your Area (Coursework Sample)

23M1C ACTION RESEARCH AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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23M1C Action Research and Organizational Development
Action research is an important concept in organizations. It entails finding a solution to a problem using the required action research steps. The steps entail identifying the problems in the organization, followed by researching the relevant data from sources. From the analyzed results, the manager should be in a better position to solve the problem in a way that will enable the organization to continue operating profitably. Usually, the process is dynamic, and it incorporates scientific process in finding facts that can be used for decision-making and problem solving. Most organizations fail because they skip the imperative steps in action research while hastening to make decisions regarding the outstanding problem. In this paper, an analysis of four case scenarios has been conducted to establish the rationale for the persistent problems. Action research steps should be followed effectively to enable organization and businesses achieve their objectives effectively.
Scenario 1
In the first scenario, the XYZ Widget Corporation is experiencing reduced sales problems. It has conducted investigations to find out the cause of the decreased sales in the company. It carried out a research to find the cause the problem, but it was using the wrong procedure of action research program that was aimed at resolving the problem. Accordingly, a missing step led to the infectiveness of the solution decided. The missed step of identifying the problem. Usually, this should be a starting point of action research in which the problem should be identified (Kondalkar, 2009). In the step, the CEO and other organization officials should select departments to be examined. In the same stage, they should formulate a hypothesis about the study. A hypothesis is important because it gives a research work a sense of direction (Griffin, 2012). Using the stated hypothesis, the organization would be in a better position to understand its variables as well as other factors that were contributing towards the inhibition of achievement of increased sales.
The missing state of this feature is directly leading to failure because the selection of the department for assessment was not done in the right way. The products on sale were to be investigated to find out the reason for the decreased sales (Kondalkar, 2009). Maybe the problem was decreased quality from the production department. Therefore, a skipping of the first step was a dangerous move that messed up everything, and which caused the organization to interfere with its mission of restoring sales volume as indicated in the bad report of encountering the same problem after the six-year period.
Scenario 2
The HN Company is willing to take up the challenge and manufacture hybrid cars and motorcycles that have the potential of increasing sales as per the risen demand. In this regard, it is the action research that is conducted with a missing step. The first step of problem identification was included as required. The next step of data collection happened well in which interviews were conducted on both departments to determine the real problem. However, a failure occurred in the third step in which the application of the data to the problem failed to be effective. Data analysis is an important process that would have helped the consultants to internalize the problems of the organization and relate it to the results collected.
The missing of the step led to the failure because research should solemnly rely on the results collected in coming to a conclusion. However, the case is different in this regard because some results obtained from the employees were not utilized in making the decision about what should be done to implement the project. The assumptions biases in the project was the main problem that ruthlessly contributes to the failing of the project. The employees were complaining about the poor motivation and the safety of the cars at the planning stage. No one took consideration of their plea. Eventually, the project failed and resulted in the loss that was experienced. The voice of employees is a critical factor that should be considered when making production decisions (Tschudy, 2016). Therefore, if the step of data analysis and application were included, HN Motors Company would have designed high breed cars for to meet the expected high demand in the market.
Scenario 3
In this scenario, the CEO of ACE Carpet Cleaning is taking the chance to hire extra Action research consultant services. The consultant has a bunch of specific questions. The questions are applied on every consulting firm that seeks the expensive services. In this regard, the section of the research in charge of data collection was ineffective. The questions asked were not fully relevant to answer to and generate adequate solutions to solve the problem. Most of them had generalizations which Doctor Hotshot used his conviction to turn their attitudes positive.
The collection of data by use of specific solutions does not work for every organization when conducting an Action Research Project. It does not matter whether such research is special or having extra complements. The only concern is that the results of the evaluations should show achievement of the researcher’s objective (Kondalkar, 2009). In this regard, the failure to ask some questions made Dr. Hotshot to increase the motivation of the workers without necessarily creating a long-term solution to increase and keep on motivating and encouraging them to work effe...