WAL PRACTITIONER RESEARCH

What is WAL Practitioner Research

The term “practitioner researchers” refers to 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, to create knowledge and to make the result of their research including the process, project and learning outcomes known to relevant stakeholders or publics through oral presentations, written company reports, dissertations or thesis, articles or books.

Practitioner research undertaken at GCWAL uses the work-applied learning (WAL) model which is grounded in Action Research, Action Learning and Reflective Practice. The founder of GCWAL, Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham and his team have used the WAL model in developing Practitioner Researchers over the last 30 years, these being chief executives, senior and middle level executives in private, public and community organisations, in the areas of individual, team and organisational change.

The following academics have contributed significantly to this research:

  • the late Dr Anthony Jackson, Henley Business School
  • Professor Peter OBrien, Flinders University
  • Professors Chad Perry and Barry Ritchie, Southern Cross University
  • Professors Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt and Ron Passfield, Griffiths University
  • Professor Peter Songan, University Malaysia Sarawak
  • Professors Jonathan Garnett and Carol Costley, Middlesex University
  • the late Professor Ruth Helyer, Leeds Trinity University
  • Professors Rod Oxenberry and Dora Briggs, University of South Australia
  • Professor Tony Wall, Liverpool John Moores University

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:

  • Dr Mohamad Hashim – Chief Executive
  • Dr Kauko Karvinnen – Chief Executive
  • Dr Alois Daton – Commissioner
  • Dr F’ng Ah Seng – Chairman/Chief Executive
  • Dr Paul Jurman – Chief Information Officer
  • Dr Joseph Khan – Consultant
  • Dr Lisa Mohammed – Consultant
  • Dr Jenny Brereton – Consultant
  • Dr Natalie Holyoake – Business Improvement Manager
  • Dr Param Abraham – Chief Executive

    • 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.

    The research practitioner offerings by GCWAL include:

    Collaborative Research & Development

    Collaboration and dissemination of ideas are at the core of GCWAL’s success. We undertake collaborative research and development in WAL with a number of higher learning institutions, organisations and subject experts. Our findings are shared globally through publications, conferences, and events.