An integrated action research (IAR) on improving the procure-to-pay cycle of ABC Company

• Main Author: Vizconde, Jerold Angelo
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2020
• Subjects: Purchasing; Payment; Organizational learning; Business Administration, Management, and Operations
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6035; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/13135/viewcontent/Vizconde_Jerold_Angelo_11797312_Improving_the_porcure_to_pay_cycle_of_ABC_Company_1_Redacted.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This action research aims to address the distinguished issue, which is the heightening number of incident reports being requested by the Finance Payment team among Requestors. Through data gathering, the team has concluded that most of the Requestors are unaware of the policies and procedures about the procure-to-pay cycle. In turn, this caused them several errors and delays during the process that led to the preparation of incident reports. The team agreed that the root causes are as follows: (1) the absence of formalized documents, (2) centralized storage, and (3) proper dissemination of information. The intervention happened using two cycles of action research to bridge the knowledge gap between Requestors and the policies and procedures. The researcher used different tools as methods of inquiry. This action research used two frameworks, namely, the Knowledge Management cycle and the SECI framework. Together, it created effective organizational learning that resulted in a successful knowledge transfer. This paper also discussed the application of Lewin’s Change model to initiate change in the soft area of the collaborators. Throughout this action research, the project has created, centralized the storage, and disseminated the policies and procedures. The interventions helped the team attain our primary goals as well as our other objectives. And also, doing this action research resulted in a personal gain of the researcher and an organizational benefit across the firm.