About the Research Centre
Practitioner researchers are managers or other professionals who conduct research in the workplace to improve the quality of their practice, to engage in organisational improvement or other change, and to create knowledge.
Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham and his team have developed practitioner researchers over 30 years, working with chief executives and managers across private, public, and community organisations — focusing on individual, team, and organisational change.
Our methodology employs the Work-Applied Learning (WAL) model grounded in Action Research, Action Learning, and Reflective Practice across three change domains: individual change, team and manager change, and organisational change.
Research Statistics
Research Areas
- Organisational change and transformation
- Leadership and management development
- Workplace learning and knowledge management
- Action Research methodologies
- Professional practice improvement
Contributing Academics
Leading academics from institutions around the world have contributed to GCWAL's practitioner research programme.
Professor Peter O'Brien
Flinders University
Professors Chad Perry & Barry Ritchie
Southern Cross University
Professors Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt & Ron Passfield
Griffith University
Professors Jonathan Garnett & Carol Costley
Middlesex University
Professor Rod Oxenberry
University of South Australia
Professor Tony Wall
Liverpool John Moores University
Doctoral Researchers
Several Chief Executives and senior managers have explored the WAL Practitioner Research method of Action Research, Action Learning and Reflective Practice, to achieve significant impact for their organisations, themselves and their teams. In the process, they have completed doctoral research studies and include:
Senior and middle managers who have undertaken major research projects using Action Research, Action Learning and Reflective Practice and completed WAL Practitioner Research Masters studies include 19 candidates from University Malaysia Sarawak and 31 from Australian Institute of Business.
Collaborative Research & Development
GCWAL collaborates with higher education institutions, organisations, and subject experts to conduct research in Work-Applied Learning. Collaboration and dissemination of ideas are at the core of GCWAL's success.
Partnership Opportunities
- Joint research projects in organisational change
- Co-branded conferences on management development
- Cross-promotion of research publications
- Academic collaboration and knowledge sharing
GCWAL-ALARA Alliance
Strategic partnership with the Action Learning, Action Research Association Ltd (ALARA), formed in 1991.
Collaborative Activities
- • Co-badged certifications
- • Joint research projects
- • Co-branded conferences
- • Journal cross-promotion
Managers as Practitioner Researchers
Developing research capabilities within organisational contexts
Programme Overview
This programme builds on the knowledge of organisational change and Work-Applied Learning obtained by WAL for Change Leaders graduates. It integrates Action Research as a method with Action Research, Action Learning and Reflective Practice, as well as Work-Based Learning and Organisational Learning & Knowledge Management.
Duration
12 months
Prerequisite
Completion of WAL for Change Leaders programme
Key Activities
- Continuing major organisational change projects
- Replanning and implementing further Action Research cycles
- Integrating relevant literature with projects
- Developing practitioner research proposals
Deliverables
- Detailed replanning and implementation documentation
- Reflections and lessons learned
- Project, process, and learning outcomes
- Practitioner research contribution
WAL Publications
GCWAL's research is documented across books, journal articles, and conference papers. Browse the WAL Publications catalogue to explore the foundational and applied literature.