Published Books
WAL Publications offers innovative and ground-breaking books specialising in Work-Applied Learning, Action Research, and Practitioner Research — written by leading practitioners and researchers.
Developing Managers as Practitioner Researchers
In Developing Managers as Practitioner Researchers, Professor Selva Abraham presents a transformative guide for managers aspiring to become practitioner researchers capable of driving meaningful change within their organisations. The change process uses the Work-Applied Learning (WAL) model, a robust framework that integrates action research, action learning, and reflective practice to empower managers in addressing complex workplace challenges.
The journey begins with an article co-authored by Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt and Professor Abraham, which establishes the foundational concepts of WAL for developing managers as practitioner researchers. This chapter sets the stage for understanding how WAL facilitates reflective practice and action leadership, vital for fostering positive organisational change.
Chapter 2 delves into the core concepts and processes of the WAL change model, elaborating on its evolution from Work-Based Learning. The chapter highlights the innovative fusion of action research methods with action learning and reflective practices, emphasising a cyclical process of creative thinking and learning.
Chapter 3 is pivotal, offering a detailed guide on designing a WAL research plan. It outlines the two key stages — Conceptual and Action Research — and provides examples of critical components, such as defining the Research Problem and Organisational Thematic Concern. This chapter equips managers with the tools to develop a structured approach to workplace research.
Subsequent chapters provide real-world applications of WAL. Chapter 4 examines how a WAL research plan was utilised to enhance an Occupational Health and Safety Management System in Trinidad and Tobago's petroleum sector. Chapter 5 explores the implementation of a telemonitoring system for diabetes patients within a Victorian Health Services Network, demonstrating WAL's versatility across various industries.
In Chapter 6, Professor Abraham addresses the ongoing evolution of WAL, especially in the context of rapid technological changes and the rise of artificial intelligence. This chapter highlights WAL's potential to foster ethically sound change processes, suggesting its relevance for future-proofing organisations and generating workplace knowledge crucial for a humane future.
Developing Managers as Practitioner Researchers is an essential resource for managers seeking to refine their practice, engage in organisational improvement, and contribute to the creation of practice knowledge. Through detailed examples and practical guidance, this book offers a clear pathway for developing and implementing actionable research plans grounded in the principles of Work-Applied Learning.
Work-Applied Learning for Change Leaders
This book by Professor Selva Abraham is a blend of the concepts, process and practice of Work-Applied Learning (WAL). Professor Abraham has incorporated his ideas on the conceptual basis of this approach with the experience of fellow researchers and senior executives in organisations in Australia and other parts of the world.
Accordingly, this book shifts the reader from unawareness to awareness of the WAL model. It starts with a description of the concept, process and practice behind the WAL model. Chapter 2 sets out the conceptual and methodological basis of the WAL change model. This was presented as a seminal paper at a conference organised by the Action Learning, Action Research and Process Management Association Inc and Singapore Institute of Management in 1996.
In the subsequent chapters, Professor Abraham presents case studies of how the WAL model has been planned, implemented, evaluated and validated. The case studies become more detailed in progressive chapters.
Nothing stands still, of course, and in the conclusion he points to an undiminished need to further refine the model as we continue to learn more. There is no end to the process and practice, only further cycles of planning, acting, observing, reflecting, evaluating and validating this model to cope with the evolution and revolution of the world order that impacts on change in individuals, teams, organisations and communities.
Exploratory Action Research Method: A Case Study for Research Candidates and Supervisors
This book is an amalgamation of two previous releases by GCWAL's Chairman, Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham. The study described in this book was the subject of Professor Abraham's PhD thesis and was conducted more than twenty years ago, focusing on a management training and development programme for Indigenous community leaders in Port Lincoln.
It was an extensive program extending over approximately eighteen months, and was the first known example of using the Action Research method for management training and development programs for Indigenous community leaders. The Indigenous community leaders in this study were the Board members of an Aboriginal community organisation known as the Community Development and Employment Programme — an Australian Government initiative implemented to provide employment and training within Aboriginal communities.
The purpose of publishing this study in its original form is twofold. First, this book provides a step-by-step approach for supervisors of postgraduate students in how to conduct a study using the Action Research method — covering everything from the conceptualisation of the project to its completion, contributing greatly to the development of the literature in Action Research and Management Development.
Secondly, this book brings to light research which was undertaken in the past but still has great relevance to the present and the future. Indigenous peoples still suffer great disadvantage, and providing them with skills to lift themselves out of this disadvantage remains a priority. This study showed that the Action Research method can be successfully used to develop and implement management training and development programmes that address the needs of Indigenous community leaders.
Efficient and Effective Research
This book will be the foundation of a research career inside and outside universities, in a modern world where efficiency and effectiveness are increasingly emphasised. Part A aims to help readers write their thesis and journal articles in an efficient way; it can be used for both quantitative and qualitative research reports.
In the second chapter, this approach to thesis writing leads into a comprehensive guide to efficient article writing. In turn, Part B presents steps in three qualitative social science research methodologies that are particularly effective for unearthing findings about what humans actually do in work and other situations: case, interview and action research. Examples of how to carry out the methodologies are described.
Action Research Characteristics in a Work-Applied Learning for Change Context
Drawing from his long experience, first in management development and then education, Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham demonstrates the value of this approach. He balances the ideas of Work-Applied Learning with practical examples of its application not only in Australia but also Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
This book is an adjunct to Professor Abraham's Exploratory Action Research Method book, building on the literature relating to the Action Research characteristics when specifically used in a Work-Applied Learning (WAL) for change context. The term "WAL for change" encapsulates a cutting-edge process model developed by Professor Abraham, enabling managers and teams to research, reflect, learn, and at the same time introduce departmental, divisional, or organisational change.
The Action Research characteristics defined in this book have emerged from a journey of enlightenment through research, application, research supervision, critical reflection, and refinement over 26 years. The outcome are twelve key constituent characteristics of Action Research in the WAL for change context — tried, tested, and refined against the evolving literature on Action Research.
This journey began when Professor Abraham finished his MBA program at Henley Business School in the UK, and has continued through his PhD study, consultancy projects, and supervision of research and postgraduate candidates. This continuing learning and research process has led to the refinement and current formulation of the key Action Research characteristics relevant for organisational change underpinning the WAL model.
Exploratory Action Research for Manager Development
This book is a study of how an exploratory Action Research method was developed and justified in the design and implementation of a management training and development program. It provides a review of the literature on Action Research method and Management Training and Development and identifies a gap in the existing literature on those subjects.
In this book, Abraham illustrates Action Research methodology from his own PhD study working with the indigenous community leaders in Port Lincoln South Australia. It provides a model for Action Research masters and doctoral candidates and their supervisors.
Board Management Training for Indigenous Community Leaders Using Action Research
This book contains a case study which describes in detail the processes that took place whilst a management training and development programme was designed and implemented for indigenous community leaders. The approach used in both design and implementation was the Action Research method.
It is invaluable to Management Training and Development practitioners, especially those working with indigenous community leaders, government departments dealing with indigenous community leaders, indigenous community organisation board members, and PhD students and supervisors in Action Research related study.
Journal of Work-Applied Management (JWAM)
The journal is published by Emerald Publishing and accessible through Emerald Insight. Browse volumes, issues, and individual articles on the Emerald platform.