Lewin's Action Research and Change Management
William Lee, Manager, United States, Member
Lewin believed that people buy in to what they help create. Therefore, action research and change management should be a democratic, participatory process.
The action research model is a guide for how to lead and measure change. It occurs in a series of loops that work as follows: Identify an issue or idea, research the issue or fact-find, plan, execute, evaluate and then repeat the loop in an ongoing practice. This is learning while "taking action."
It is informed by the democratic process as a group realizes the "need" to change and uses the model as a guide for executing effectively. Seeking input from those involved in a change process, encourages those being impacted to be more engaged and provide honest perspectives if they believe that information will be used effectively. Any true action research project offers those impacted an integral role in how the research is designed and applied. Action research is about empowering people to conceive and own the changes they help create.
