Action research: a research approach for cooperative work

Action research is a qualitative research approach, which is not only suitable for multidisciplinary research teams, but also for mixed teams of researchers and practitioners. It aims to improve practice through the collaborative work of researchers and practitioners. It is a synergistic relationship because practitioners, and the improvement of practice, inform research and researchers whilst, at the same time, researchers apply their theories to practice. In this paper we discuss action research and how Multiview, an approach to the design and development of information systems, is itself defined through action research.