1. PEArL A tool to guide reflection on the character of the development process Donna Champion and Frank Stowell GPs on the line April 2003 SPMC Workshop Afternoon Workshop 30/04/03

2. GPs on the Line April 2003 SPMC Workshop Champion and Stowell P E A r L PEArL is a mnemonic to guide reflection on elements of an inquiry process. The purpose of reflecting on these elements is to gain an understanding of the character of the inquiry process, or the manner in which the inquiry is being, or was, undertaken.

3. GPs on the Line April 2003 SPMC Workshop Champion and Stowell P - Participants Who is involved? Why are they involved? What is their role in the study? Can you identify the boundary between ‘P’ and ‘non-P’? Are there any transitory participants, if so why? P E A r L

4. E - Engagement How will ‘P’ engage? What methods will be used? What timescales are involved? What environmental issues influence the engagement process? GPs on the Line April 2003 SPMC Workshop Champion and Stowell

5. P E A r L A – Authority What formal authority is associated with the various roles – (e.g. control of resources) What embedded authority do the tools for engagement have –why? What are the influences from the environment (e.g. policies)

6. GPs on the Line April 2003 SPMC Workshop Champion and Stowell P E A r L Consider any changes to relationships occurring Consider the ‘commodities of power’ that people have used in the situation This provides insights into the ways that people have managed, or are managing, power in the situation and into what control strategies are being used, by different groups. r - relationships

7. GPs on the Line April 2003 SPMC Workshop Champion and Stowell P E A r L L - Learning Learning about both Theory and Practice What has been learnt about the situation? about the approach being used? about systems ideas?

8. GPs on the Line April 2003 SPMC Workshop Champion and Stowell PEArL A tool to assess and evaluate the character of an inquiry process It can be used dynamically to manage complexity Or retrospectively to reflect upon a situation and draw out the lessons.

9. Champion, D. and Stowell, F.A. (2003) “Validating Action Research Field Studies: PEArL”, Systemic Practice and Action Research, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 21-36. Champion, D. and Stowell, F.A. (2001). “PEArL: A Systems Approach to Demonstrating Authenticity in Information System Design”, Journal of Information Technology, Vol. 16, pp. 3-12. Champion, D. (2002). “PEArL: Establishing the Authenticity of Action Research Field Studies”, Proc.of Systemist: Special Conference Edition, G. Ragsdell, and J. Wilby, (eds), University of York, June, pp. 36-43. References on PEArL GPs on the Line April 2003 SPMC Workshop Champion and Stowell

10. Contact Details Dr Donna Champion The Business School, Loughborough University E Mail: d.champion@lboro.ac.uk Tel: 01509 223613 Professor Frank Stowell De Montfort University, Milton Keynes E Mail: fstowell@dmu.ac.uk Tel: 01908 834848 Or Portsmouth University E Mail: Frank.Stowell@port.ac.uk