Putting organizational research into practice

The need for more effective approaches for turning the outcomes of research into effective information and tools for managers is widely accepted, but the problems of bridging the research-practice gap are quite considerable. This paper considers briefly, one example of where traditional dissemination methods have failed to provide managers with sufficient confidence to act, and where consultancy approaches have not reached a sufficiently wide number of potential users. The approach to bridging the gap presented in this paper draws on a wide range of training and organizational development methodologies. The key ingredient is a highly flexible computer modelling system which recreates the world of the manager and allows him to manage his business into the medium term future. Some of the issues faced in developing this approach, the end product known as the AROUSAL system, and some of the surprises which have followed, are also reviewed.