Action Science in Practice: What Can We Learn?

Action science is a form of action research that seeks to generate knowledge people can use to create behavioral environments characterized by valid information, informed choice, and internal commitment. As developed by Chris Argyris, Donald Schon, and colleagues, it identifies implications for theory and research when the objective is knowledge for action. A particular interest is the quality of discourse in a social system: what can be said, what remains unspoken, the norms for accepting or rejecting arguments, deference and face- saving routines. This interest coincides with this year’s Academy of Management theme, “The Power of Words.” In this symposium we will reflect on three organizational interventions, as presented by scholar/practitioners who did the work, which can be considered examples of action science. They illustrate diverse approaches and methods. They share a focus on creating conversations among members of a client system that are important for improving how the system works but that ar...