Title: Creating innovative work practices through reflexive interventions

Authors: Klaus-Peter Schulz; Anu Kajamaa; Hannele Kerosuo

Addresses: Department of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, ICN Business School Nancy-Metz, 54037 Nancy, France ' Center for Research on Activity, Development and Learning (CRADLE), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9 FIN-00014, Finland ' Center for Research on Activity, Development and Learning (CRADLE), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9 FIN-00014, Finland

Abstract: In this article, we suggest that reflexive interventions can be a source for innovation in complex work contexts. We distinguish between the notions of 'reflection' and 'reflexivity', and define reflexivity as an analytical principle realised through the interplay between the actions reflection and recursion. We present two case studies, one in a pharmaceutical company and one of a hospital surgery that illuminate successful innovation creation and implementation processes as well as change and development through reflexive intervention processes between researchers and practitioners. The first case shows how the participants of an intervention changed their basic assumptions and subsequently created an organisational innovation. In the second case, a reflexive intervention in the surgical operating unit of a hospital led to a model of radically new activity and leadership.

Keywords: reflection; recursion; reflexivity; intervention; innovative work practice; basic assumptions; work innovation; pharmaceutical industry; hospital surgery; surgical operating units; organisational change; healthcare management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWI.2015.071193

International Journal of Work Innovation, 2015 Vol.1 No.2, pp.143 - 160

Received: 22 Sep 2014
Accepted: 09 Mar 2015
Published online: 16 Aug 2015 *

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