AGORA Research - Designed Interventions in Interorganizational Settings

Licentiate thesis, 2006

The thesis is about a research approach in the intersection of action research, artificial science, and innovation systems. The thesis is based on two projects, one from intraorganizational context (EURobust) and the other from interorganizational settings (Open Arenas). The studies are reflected upon from three “audiences”: policymakers’; action researchers’; and my self. The reflections constitute a bricolage (set of building bricks) to a design proposition of an action research approach, called Agora Research. The term “agora” is inspired by Helga Nowotny et al (2001) in Re-thinking Science. Agora Research might be seen as a meta-intervention in ongoing societal interventions. It intervenes by practicing action research approach, applies diversified research team, cultivate dialogues, cultivate systemic thinking, and design webs of interacting artifacts. The distinctive characteristic of Agora Research with respect to action research in general, is that the research process should improve its interaction and develop new relations in its contexts, and practice second order leadership of interorganizational public-private arenas. Agora Research is a perfect match to the request of development of vertical and horizontal learning processes in regional innovation systems that resulted in an interactive research program by Visanu.