PARALLEL LEARNING STRUCTURE

&ACTION RESEARCH

WHAT IS IT?

Parallel Learning Structures (also known as Communities of Practice) promote innovation and change in large bureaucratic organizations while retaining the advantages of bureaucratic design. Groups representing various levels and functions work to open new channels of communication outside of and parallel to the normal, hierarchical structure.

Continued…….

Parallel Learning Structures may be a form of Knowledge Management. Knowledge Management involves capturing the organization's collective expertise wherever it resides (in databases, on paper, or in people's heads) and distributing it to the people who need it in a timely and efficient way.

WHEN TO USE IT?

• To develop and implement organization-wide innovations.

• To foster innovation and creativity within a bureaucratic system.

• To support the exchange of knowledge and expertise among performers.

• To capture the organization's collective expertise.

HOW TO USE IT?

• Look for existing, informal exchanges that naturally occur among staff members.

• Have interested parties convene and develop a mission statement or list the outcomes.

• Determine what support (e.g., time, facilities, and technology) would facilitate the information exchange and learning.

• Publicize when and where the exchanges take place.

• Establish a process for organizing and recording the corporate knowledge.

Eg. Xerox Corporation.

Xerox found that its technical representatives (tech reps) often made it a point to spend time not with customers but with each other. The tech reps would gather in common areas (the local parts warehouse or coffee pot) and swap

stories from the field. Rather than trying to discourage this practice to improve

productivity, Xerox decided to formalize the knowledge exchange.

Action Research: It is the process of systematically collecting

process data about an ongoing relative to some objective , goal ,or needed of that system .

Feeding these data then back into the system; taking actions by altering selected variables within the system based both on the data and on the hypothesis.

And evaluating the results of actions by collecting more data.

• Action Research can be broadly defined as a reflective process of progressive problem

solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a “community if practice” to improve the way they address issues and solve problems.

STAGES OF ACTION RESEARCH

1.The Input phase. The client system becomes aware of problems as yet unidentified, realizes it may need outside help to effect changes

shares with the change agent (consultant) the process of problem diagnosis. What follows is a series of planning actions initiated by the client and the consultant working together. The principal elements of this stage include a preliminary diagnosis, data gathering, feedback of results, and joint action planning.

2.The Action or Transformation phase. This stage includes actions relating to learning processes (perhaps in the form of role analysis) and to planning and executing behavioural changes in the client organization. Feedback at this stage would have the effect of altering previous planning to bring the learning activities of the client system into better alignment with change objectives. This stage also includes action-planning activity collectively carried out by the consultant and members of the carried out on the job as part of the transformation stage .

3.The Output or Results phase. This stage includes actual changes in behaviour (if any) resulting from corrective action steps taken following the second stage. Data are again gathered from the client system so that progress can be determined and necessary adjustments in learning activities can be made. Minor adjustments of this nature can be made in learning activities via feedback. Major adjustments and revaluations would return the OD project to the first, or planning, stage for basic changes in the program.The action stage is a period of changing that is, trying out new forms of behaviour in an effort to understand and cope with the system's problems.

ACTION RESEARCH MODEL FOR OD

Key executive perceptionof problems

Consultation with behaviouralscientist consultant

Data gathering anddiagnosis byconsultant

Further data gathering

Feedback to key clientor client group

Joint action planning(objectives of ODprogramme and meansof attaining goals, egteam building

Data gathering

Feedback toclient group

Discussion and work ondata feedback and databy client group

Action planning(determine objectivesand how to get there)

Action (newbehaviours)

Data gathering(reassessment ofstate of system)

Feedback

Discussion and workon feedback andemerging data

Action planning

Action

Etc

Shepards Concept of Action Research Model

CASE STUDY

In the Indian scenario,the action research model has been used since long to carry out research in the exsisting system and then develop interventions to improve efficiacy of the system in the organisation.

The ECC construction group of Larsen &Toubro.This group is

one of the largest construction organisation in India rendering comprehensive engineering services in civil,mechanical and electrical fields within the country and abroad.The company was incorporated in1944 in the name of Engineering Constructed Corporation Limited,a wholly owned subsidiary of L&T limited.

From a modest beginning , the company had a gradual and consistent growth. The company started rendering comprehensive services in civil,mechanical and electrical fields after being merged with the Project Execution Departtment of L & T. The seventies offered opportunities overseas also and ECC now has its share of business in Abu Dhabi , Iraq , Sri lanka,to mention a few examples.

In 1982 a decision was taken for business reasons to merge

ECC with L & T and government clearance was finally obtained in March 1984 and the Company was renamed as Larsen & Toubro Limited ,ECC group.Its head quarters are located in Madras.Its regional office in Bombay,Delhi,Chennai,and Kolkatta and the overseas group located in Mumbai.

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