A shared vision: Using action research for work culture change in a cardiology department

Participative Action Research (PAR) is a collaborative process in which members of an organization work with researchers in a process of exploration and change. In contrast to traditional research processes, PAR employs a cyclical and iterative process of exploration, discovery, action to implement change and evaluation. This chapter reports on a participative action research project in the Department of Cardiology at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. The Department worked with the Creative Organisational Systems (COS) Group at RMIT University in Melbourne between august 2006 to March 2008 to explore and improve the organizational culture of the Department. The project aimed to explore the underlying group and organizational dynamics of the Department of Cardiology and to discover ways to improve the work culture. A project steering committee, comprised of members of the Department and the University researchers, provided the vehicle for this collaborative research. The chapter describes the key issues raised in action research and learning for work culture improvement. It also describes some interventions made in a process of cultural change.