Authors:
Lars-Olof Johansson
;
Björn Cronquist
and
Harald Kjellin
Affiliation:
Kristianstads University, Sweden
Keyword(s):
Learning organization, visualization, usability, action research, method, operationalizing.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Artificial Intelligence
;
Business Process Management
;
e-Business
;
Enterprise Engineering
;
Enterprise Information Systems
;
Information Systems Analysis and Specification
;
Knowledge Management and Information Sharing
;
Knowledge-Based Systems
;
Requirements Analysis And Management
;
Symbolic Systems
Abstract:
This paper presents a method for operationalizing theory. The method has its basis in the empirical findings arising from collaboration between the researchers and a research partner, Flower Systems Ltd. The research partner is a software company characterized as a SME. The presented method is exemplified with theories from learning organizations, usability, and visualization – which are all connected to the problem articulated by our partner. The method is an iterative process characterized by a systemic and holistic long-term view that incorporates feedback. The method takes as its point of departure the problematic area described by Flower Systems ltd; the researchers both intervene and interpret in this problematic area, so the method is both described and verified.. The paper combines the case study and action research methods in what is sometimes referred to as a “hybrid” method, the action case method. The view of innovation presented in this paper is that innovation entails s
upporting change processes in order to create purposeful and focused change.. The underlying research question has been: How usable is our method for operationalizing theory in solving the problem of adapting to changes in an SME?
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