Decoding the strategy of a university management research center: An insider action research proposal

• Main Author: Aure, Patrick Adriel H.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2016
• Subjects: Strategic planning; Research institutes; Action research; Strategic Management Policy
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11969
• Institution: De La Salle University

The purpose of my research proposal is to determine initial but crucial steps in formulating and executing a strategic plan fit for an academic management research center. As a researcher directly reporting to and collaborating with the center’s Director, Coghlan and Brannick (2010) recommend adopting an insider action research methodology. The latter methodology aims to facilitate change while rigorously documenting learning and generating insights in every phase of the action research cycle, namely (1) Context and purpose, also considered as the pre-step; (2) Constructing, (3) Planning action, (4) Taking action, and (5) Evaluating action. For this particular research proposal, I aim to initiate my first action research cycle covering context and purpose to planning action. This study is significant in numerous ways. Personally, I am invested in making sure that the center properly formulates and executes an apt strategic plan together with my Director. In terms of practice, the insights that can be derived from my learnings can help inform strategic decision-making of other similar organizations in colleges, universities, and even in industry or civil society. In terms of scholarship, I intend to refine, if not develop, a strategic planning tool, framework or process that can be tested by other researchers. Given the relative scarcity of using insider action research methodology (Coghlan and Brannick, 2010) in informing strategic planning particular to academic institutions, my research project proves to be novel and significant.