Action Research in Age Management: The Quality of Ageing at Work Model

Author(s):  
Emma Garavaglia ◽  
Francesco Marcaletti ◽  
Tatiana Iñiguez-Berrozpe

Abstract This article discusses the introduction of age management practices within organizations and the possible resistance to their implementation, linked to the persistence of stereotypes and barriers associated with employee age and the presence of hostile organizational cultures. The article proposes to adopt an action research approach to facilitate the implementation of these practices, presenting for this purpose an action research model, the Quality of Ageing at Work, tested in 31 organizations in Italy and Spain. In light of a review of the literature on age management and action research, it describes the methodology of the Quality of Ageing at Work model and discusses it through the presentation of an organizational case. The Quality of Ageing at Work model consists of alternate phases of action and reflection through which researchers, in constant dialogue with field actors (in this case, managers, work councils, and workers), analyze organizational needs, by applying qualitative and quantitative tools, discuss them, and propose solutions. The main result of the intervention can be considered the increased awareness and autonomy of the organization in implementing an age management plan. This result confirms the effectiveness of interventions built on the dialogical and iterative principles of action research, generating, in a democratic way, new awareness and knowledge and producing organizational change.

Author(s):  
Jia Ying Chia ◽  
Shenn Ni Chow ◽  
Fang Li ◽  
Patricia Kar Wai Ng ◽  
Christian Kahl

In this chapter, the researchers present the results of the action research project. The GeM (Future General Manager) Program is a specifically-designed training program for outstanding students in the hospitality school to gain specific deep-grounded work experiences in several hotels in Klang Valley, Malaysia. This study used the action research approach to understand the quality of today's industrial training programs. Four final-year undergraduate students from the hospitality school reflected on their training experiences and provided feedback on how the GeM Program can be further developed to enhance the learning outcomes for future training participants. This chapter helps to understand how to develop, design, implement, and monitor a successfully structured training program for the future of the hospitality industry. With this, hotels can acquire the best student trainees who will further their career as employees with them.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 889-910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Lawrie ◽  
Nur Anisah Abdullah ◽  
Christopher Bragg ◽  
Guillaume Varlet

Purpose This paper aims to assess the utility of an approach to the design of multiple Balanced Scorecards within large/complex organisations, consider the relevance of “emergent strategising” in this kind of strategy implementation and explore project organisation and wider coordination issues that impact this type of work. Design/methodology/approach A “research-oriented – action research” approach has been adopted, comprising qualitative observations of an ongoing programme within a major organisation in the Middle East. The case is based on feedback obtained from key actors (participants, facilitators) and the analysis of documentation produced by the project. Findings Over four years, the project engaged directly with over 200 managers from the organisation’s 35 most senior management units. Its purpose was to align the strategic aims of each unit with those of the organisation and introduce a new form of strategic control. The paper shows that consensus-forming and creation of locally relevant strategic agendas can be usefully and successfully embedded in a large-scale strategic control and alignment programme. The paper notes the large resource implications and duration of such programmes, and the challenges of integrating the resulting processes with those already in place. The paper concludes that for the case organisation, the resource investment appears to have generated useful outcomes. Research limitations/implications The project relates to a continuing programme within the client organisation that was not explicitly established before it started as an action-research activity. This has limited and constrained the quality of the information reported. Originality/value The scale of the project, the use of design methods that emphasis consensus forming and local relevance provide novel information and insights.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Päivi J Tossavainen

This paper promotes the value of including many stakeholders in service development. The experience of co-creative service development is examined through the lens of action research. Engaging multiple stakeholders in face-to-face, in simultaneous joint activities, from various organisations, with different levels of hierarchy, and dissimilar positions, may increase the diversification through the broadness of the information, knowledge, and experiences, and increase the amount, and quality of the development suggestions. This paper is an attempt to tell the story of action research, and how it was applied to increase the understanding of the usefulness of multiple stakeholders in service development. Outcomes of a research project are presented. The paper ends with discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of the conducted research.


Author(s):  
Maja Domazet ◽  
◽  
Siniša Opić ◽  

The aim of the paper is to introduce a different approaching perspective of the children with internalizing behaviors using the implemented action research. In fact, this action research is a tool for approaching to the study of the internalizing behavioral problems. Practitioners and other participants of the research can awake their own practice and thus start some changes and improvements while using it. Considering the fact that in the literature are not many described models of prevention, support and action targeted to these behaviors, especially in the facilities of early and preschool education, the approach using action research has been imposed as the most appropriate. It is the most suitable for working with children who do not manage to create social opportunities by themselves nor develop their social and emotional skills and resistance. The largest part of this research is referred to direct interaction of children identified as reclusive, shy and fearful. Specific workshops and targeted activities contributed to a significant change in children’s social skills. This research will result in strong awareness of educators, expert teams, principle and parents for the necessity of the children. A different organization of educators’ working hours will influence the quality of support which has proven to be an irreplaceable reliance of safety, so it is important that it is available to children even after structured working hours. Hence, the principle introduces a special professional training and different structure of working hours in order to keep the quality of support reached through this research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e000378
Author(s):  
Ryohei Goto ◽  
Junji Haruta

ObjectivesTo clarify the process of how caregivers in a nursing home integrate the perspectives of rehabilitation into their responsibilities through working with a physical therapist.DesignThis study was conducted under an action research approach.SettingThe target facility was a nursing home located in Japan. The researcher, a physical therapist, worked at the nursing home once a week from April 2016 to March 2017. During the study period, he created field notes focused on the dialogue and action of caregivers regarding care, responses of caregivers to the physical therapist and reflections as a physical therapist. Caregivers were also given a short informal interview about their relationship with the nursing home residents. For data analysis, two researchers discussed the content based on the field notes, consolidating the findings.ParticipantsThe participants were caregivers who worked at the target facility. Thirty-eight caregivers agreed to participate. Average age was 39.6±11.1 years, 14 (37%) were male and average caregiver experience was 9.8 years.ResultsTwo cycles of action research were conducted during the study period. There were four stages in the process of how caregivers in the nursing home integrated the perspectives of rehabilitation through their work with the physical therapist. First, caregivers resisted having the rehabilitation programme carried out in the unit because they perceived that rehabilitation performed by a physical therapist was a special process and not under their responsibility. However, the caregivers were given a shared perspective on rehabilitation by the physical therapist, which helped them to understand the meaning of care to adapt the residents’ abilities to their daily life. They practised resident-centred care on a trial basis, although with a sense of conflict between their new and previous role, which emphasised the safety of residents’ lives and personhood. The caregivers increased their self-efficacy as their knowledge and skills were supplemented by the physical therapist and his approval of their attempted care. They were then able to commit to their newly conceived specialty of care as a means of supporting the lives of residents.ConclusionsThe process of working with a physical therapist led to a change in caregivers’ perception and behaviours, which occurred in four stages: resistance to incorporation, recapture of other perspectives, conflicts and trials in the role of caregiver and transformation to a resident-centred perspective.


Dementia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 147130122199728
Author(s):  
Sherry Dupuis ◽  
Carrie McAiney ◽  
Lisa Loiselle ◽  
Brenda Hounam ◽  
Jim Mann ◽  
...  

This article describes the use of a participatory action research (PAR) approach to developing a self-management resource for persons living with dementia and care partners. Despite growing evidence that persons with dementia are able to contribute in meaningful ways to decision-making about their care and life preferences, few opportunities exist for them to participate in the design of resources and services meant for them. There is also a need to support the self-management of persons living with dementia with the provision of accurate, high quality, user-friendly information. The Living Well with Dementia resource was developed through a partnership with persons with dementia, family members, Alzheimer Society representatives, primary care providers, and researchers. The methods used in the development of this resource are outlined in six steps employed in this process, from establishment of a PAR team to final resource creation. Informed by a whole systems approach, the resource brings together essential components of self-management into a comprehensive system of care and support for living. It empowers users to be active participants in the application of new knowledge to their lives. Better self-management has important implications for access to health care and quality of life for persons with dementia and care partners.


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