Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management
In fragile and often complex supply chains, PSM failures continue to be reported in the media, often with severe economic, social and environmental consequences. To encourage organisations to engage in responsible PSM, we need engaged research. In this paper we argue that Action Research (AR) is an...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41415/ |
| _version_ | 1848796268065718272 |
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| author | Meehan, Joanne Touboullic, Anne Walker, Helen |
| author_facet | Meehan, Joanne Touboullic, Anne Walker, Helen |
| author_sort | Meehan, Joanne |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | In fragile and often complex supply chains, PSM failures continue to be reported in the media, often with severe economic, social and environmental consequences. To encourage organisations to engage in responsible PSM, we need engaged research. In this paper we argue that Action Research (AR) is an influential, participative method to challenge the more dominant versions of PSM impacts, which tend to focus only on the positive, and often only monetised elements of what is valued. AR places change at the core of the research process, requiring critical reflexive practice of the impact of assumptions, values and actions on others. We argue that PSM research has more potential for influence if it starts from a ‘real’ problem anchored in practice, and that crucially, the problem itself should be challenged dialogically by scholars, practitioners and diverse stakeholders. Critical AR can reframe performance from a technical, company-centric notion to explore broader relationships between inputs and outputs over a longer time frame. We explore the risks and rewards of Critical AR for PSM scholars and draw conclusions on our role as engaged advocates of change. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:45:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-41415 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:45:17Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-414152020-05-04T18:23:40Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41415/ Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management Meehan, Joanne Touboullic, Anne Walker, Helen In fragile and often complex supply chains, PSM failures continue to be reported in the media, often with severe economic, social and environmental consequences. To encourage organisations to engage in responsible PSM, we need engaged research. In this paper we argue that Action Research (AR) is an influential, participative method to challenge the more dominant versions of PSM impacts, which tend to focus only on the positive, and often only monetised elements of what is valued. AR places change at the core of the research process, requiring critical reflexive practice of the impact of assumptions, values and actions on others. We argue that PSM research has more potential for influence if it starts from a ‘real’ problem anchored in practice, and that crucially, the problem itself should be challenged dialogically by scholars, practitioners and diverse stakeholders. Critical AR can reframe performance from a technical, company-centric notion to explore broader relationships between inputs and outputs over a longer time frame. We explore the risks and rewards of Critical AR for PSM scholars and draw conclusions on our role as engaged advocates of change. Elsevier 2016-12-31 Article PeerReviewed Meehan, Joanne, Touboullic, Anne and Walker, Helen (2016) Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 22 . pp. 255-257. ISSN 1478-4092 Action research; Critical management; Engaged research; Supply management research; Critical action research http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1478409216300553 doi:10.1016/j.pursup.2016.08.006 doi:10.1016/j.pursup.2016.08.006 |
| spellingShingle | Action research; Critical management; Engaged research; Supply management research; Critical action research Meehan, Joanne Touboullic, Anne Walker, Helen Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management |
| title | Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management |
| title_full | Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management |
| title_fullStr | Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management |
| title_short | Time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management |
| title_sort | time to get real: the case for critical action research in purchasing and supply management |
| topic | Action research; Critical management; Engaged research; Supply management research; Critical action research |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41415/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41415/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41415/ |