Engendering Change within a Water Infrastructure Client Organisation: A Participatory Action Research Approach

Abstract

Home Editors Ethics Submission Volumes Subscription Support EPPM Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 2015, 5(2), 71-81 Engendering Change within a Water Infrastructure Client Organisation: A Participatory Action Research Approach Michael Potts1, Bankole Awuzie2, Peter McDermott3, and Andrew Stephenson4 1PhD Candidate, School of the Built Environment, University of Salford. E-mail: m.potts@edu.salford.ac.uk (corresponding author). 2Post-Doctoral Scholar, Central University of Technology, Free State, SA. E-mail: obankawuzie@gmail.com 3Professor, School of the Built Environment, University of Salford. E-mail: p.mcdermott@salford.ac.uk 4Industry Supervisor, UK WASC, Greater Manchester. E-mail: mr_a_stephenson@hotmail.com Project Management Excellent Paper of EPPM2014 Conference Received January 8, 2015; received revision May 22, 2015; accepted May 24, 2015 Available online June 16, 2015 Abstract:Continuing demands by stakeholders for improved service delivery has caused Infrastructure Client Organisations (ICO) in the UK to embark upon organisational restructuring. It is expected that such restructuring would enhance cost-effectiveness and quality in asset management and service delivery. However, this change, if not properly managed and sustained, could result in the inability of the ICO to achieve these targets. This study outlines the use of systemic thinking and Participatory Action Research (PAR) in driving and managing such change within a UK-based Water and Wastewater ICO (UK WASC). Besides highlighting the context for change in response to policy, austerity and regulatory pressures, this study portrays how the PAR approach can assist in the management of change within ICOs. Furthermore, it provides an insight into the evolution of an external researcher, from novice to expert within the ICO, imbued with the required knowledge to encourage other stakeholders to participate in driving the change management process. Preliminary findings indicate the usefulness of this phased approach toward PAR. This study provides a platform for researchers wishing to engage with ICOs to improve service delivery, identifying the value of engagement, change and systemic thinking.