The Structure of Power in Action Research Projects

Abstract

Action research is a qualitative research method that emphasizes collaboration between researchers and practitioners. The process of action research requires that choices be made determining how power is balanced in various ways between researchers and their collaborators within the host organization. We discuss three aspects of power: the procedures for initiating an action research project, those for determining authority within the project, and the degree of formalization. We analyze seven action research projects in information systems and from this analysis distil recommendations for determining power structures. These recommendations will be important to those researchers using action research in information systems.