Collaborative research for sustainable learning: The case of developing innovation capabilities at Volvo Cars
Journal article, 2011

This paper aims to make a contribution to the stream of literature on action research by describing a longitudinal collaborative research project which evolved out of a long-term, participation partnership with Volvo Cars. The collaboration was aimed at developing innovation capabilities in the company and accumulating knowledge on how capabilities are developed. The paper provides insights into the design of collaborative research projects to enable mutual, sustainable learning. It draws on key notions in the literature on collaborative management research and action learning, highlighting the research design of the project at Volvo Cars and its relations to action learning. The paper describes how the research design opened the way to establishing a learning system at Volvo Cars while simultaneously generating new scientific knowledge within the area of innovation capabilities. The paper provides rich and detailed data on a collaborative research setting and highlights key aspects related to organizing and undertaking collaborative research.

action learning

emergent research process

actionable knowledge

joint knowledge production

collaborative management research

action research

ALAR

Author

Sofia Börjesson

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Innovation and R&D Management

Action Learning: Research and Practice

1476-7333 (ISSN) 1476-7341 (eISSN)

Vol. 8 3 187-209

Subject Categories

Educational Sciences

Economics and Business

DOI

10.1080/14767333.2011.603407

More information

Created

10/7/2017