Erik Lindhult

Emancipation or Workability? Critical versus pragmatic scientific orientation in action research

In this article a distinction between a pragmatic and a critical orientation of action research is made. These orientations can be considered, implicitly or explicitly, to be the main alternatives in AR today. What are the assumptions behind, and practical implications for, AR projects with different orientations? A number of themes are introduced where a tension between the two are identified and illustrated in the form of a dialogue and friendly quarrel between proponents from each side. It is argued that the two orientations suit different research contexts and cannot easily be combined. The pragmatic orientation is well suited for contexts where concerted and immediate action is needed, whereas the critical is preferable where transformative action needs to be preceded by critical thinking and reflection. In the former, power to act is a desired outcome, and in the latter, unequal and invisible power relations need to be unveiled before they can be transformed. The responsibility of the researcher, as well as the form of knowledge developed, differs between the two orientations.

Development of total innovation management approach for service innovation

Stronger global completion provides an impetus for servitization in global industrial companies, that is, to shift from selling products to selling integrated products and services. To increase efficiency in service innovation there is a need to reorganize innovation system and build suitable capabilities, something which require significant organizational transformation. The purpose of the paper is to describe a Scandinavian effort to develop a Total Innovation Management (TIM) approach to service innovation. Firstly, a theoretical framework for innovation system for service is developed. Secondly, through a case illustration it is shown that servitization in practice imply complex dynamics of many factors, forces and agency which both works towards and restricts servitization. To deal with this dynamic there is a need for a TIM approach.