Numbers in parenthesis refer to the competencies demonstrated in the outcome chart.

Lead Innovation Through Inquire and Research

How the artifacts serve as evidence for meeting the program outcome
Each artifact discusses the planning phase of an organizational action research study gathering
initial data regarding a process or opportunity in its current situation (16). Each plan includes the
integrated production team (IPT) which consists of four teams, independent in their contribution, all of
whom play a pivotal role in creating interactive courseware (ICW) (13). Involving the IPT members,
beyond the management level takes a systems approach to solving problems, gathering feedback, as
every member is intimately familiar with the customer, product production procedures, and the customer
(13). In the Qualitative Data Analyses plan, IPT leaders formed a research team to identify the
overarching cause of customer complaints; and after categorizing customer comments, based on the
team responsible, every team had their share (17). Each action research study intends to improve
situations through the deployment of a new tool or process, as is evident in the research questions. When
solving problems through action research it is important stay within the scope of the intention because the
10-step ARPP process may often uncover other problems that can pull the attention of the researcher into
other areas. Create a purpose statement and research question to avoid scope creep. The purpose
statement explains the action to implement to achieve the desired results, while the research question
states the overall goal and the specific focus of interest as it relates to the intended intervention. Two
members from each IPT volunteered as participants answering 10 questions (five qualitative and five
quantitative) since mix methodology increases the validity and credibility of research (13, 17).
Consciously monitoring bias within the research team, several cycles of coding begins and this is another
area in which to monitor because with every rendition of coding the researcher becomes even more
familiar with the data increasing the chances of invalidating results. Participant response coding has
various directions it could take, initially the Qualitative Data Analysis data tracked repetitive words. Of the
six identified terms, a version of the word train appears only one additional time over the word know
stimulating further consideration of the results. Reflecting on the responses and repeated terms brought
the revelation that every repeated word stemmed from a negative comment (17). The initial coded data
ignored significant information that consists of five themes: negative staff emotions, lack of customer

expectation clarity, self-induced errors, what about training, and where to put the information (18).
Recommendations of how to move forward are part of the presentation given to stakeholders as well an
explanation of the intervention change based on the data discovered through the initial data gathering
and discovery (18).
How the completion of the program outcome incorporates the literature
The ARPP is a systematic path used to understand and analyze, and resolve identified problems
within an organization to which the action researcher is intimately involved. It is a process of inquiry and
following a systemic process increases interaction with other organization members, which grows the
researchers critical perspective in various arenas (Kuhne and Quigley, 1997). Involving others in the
research study is highly encouraged, other perspectives minimize the chances that the intervention
chosen fails to address the problem (13). Start slow and refrain from taking on a problem with too many
other problems attached to it, action research is cyclical and encourages double-loop learning taking on
too much may result in never solving the issue (Capella, n.d.). Through the action research process
journaling is a powerful tool that not only helps the researcher make quick notes during observations but
something written down along the way could later become relevant in a way not thought of before. One of
the last steps in the process requires the researcher to reflect on the results of the intervention and during
the evaluation process. Reflection raises questions regarding how to move forward, is there another cycle
to plan or perhaps there is something needs improving upon (18). Reflection is relevant before starting
the planning phase to consider engaging other professionals to discuss the perceived problem is it
appropriate for action research, is it manageable in size or too big to tackle without significant
collaboration from others (Kuhne and Quigley, 1997).