'Just Through Talking': A Collaborative Learning Approach for Human Resource Change Agents

My purpose in conducting this research project was to engage in collaborative action research with a group of human resource professionals in order to investigate the role of a human resource professional as an organizational change agent, and how participating in a collaborative learning group focused on change might inform our practice. We used dialogue during our collaborative learning group meetings to share professional experiences, better understand our own assumptions and the assumptions of others in our group, and for sensemaking about our profession. The data analysis focused in two areas: 1) describing what the experience as an organizational change agent was like for the participants, and 2) describing how the experience of participating in a collaborative learning group informed our practice. Additionally, a model presenting a collaborative learning approach for human resource change agents is provided. We concluded that changes in our practice did occur as a result of personal insights and growth experienced in action research and collaborative learning. Five themes related to our experience as organizational change agents reflect the ways in which we were able to better understand our practice. The themes were: change is personal – “one conversation at a time”; struggles and frustrations – “puts you in the weeds”; approach – “soft or back-door”; trust – “open and honest conversation”; and results – “where the rubber meets the road.” Through participation in the collaborative learning group, we not only had a better understanding of ourselves and others in the group, but were also able to identify and reflect on our theories-in-action, making explicit what was implicit. These five themes: “there is a process”; “suspending judgment”; “getting hold of our own change”; “just through talking”; and “safe and understanding environment” were related to the group members’ attempt to “make sense” or better understand ourselves, others, and our work environment.