The action research in studio aps experience

The increase of interventions that can be regarded as falling within the field of action research in professional experiences of Studio Aps, is closely linked to the changes of advisory and consulting services demand that have been occurring in the long run. In the past time, because of more permanent organizing and working circumstances, the training and advisory requests used to focus on a straight orga- nizational analysis (team-work, integration, communication, decision-making, etc) or the development of specific skills (co-ordination, human resources management, authority performances, etc.); at the present time, because of more temporary organizing and working conditions and very frequent re-organizations, the request is focused on training and consulting in order to support these changes. In the Studio APS experience, a more clear and outspoken use of "action research" emerged in this new social frame. Action research is regarded as a way of intervening in organizations and at the same time as a way of researching that avoids a mechanical re-proposing of pre-arranged methodologies. Action research is an approach that aims at supporting sense-making processes and the sharing of representations which can orientate both individual and collective actions, decisions while opening up new perspectives. Action research aims at unrevealing the meanings which organizational actors attach to specific problems, the deconstruction of these meanings and the re-construction of new ways of understanding and acting. In the article we describe some action research experiences that Studio APS carried out in order to support organizational change and the development of new management and communication tools.

Marco Brunod, La ricerca intervento nell’esperienza dello studio aps in "RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA " 3-4/2009, pp 171-182, DOI: 10.3280/RIP2009-003010