In-powering spaces: a cooperative inquiry with young women in management

Abstract

My thesis focuses on evidencing the practice of co-operative inquiry. I explore key themes and questions that emerged as I worked with this methodology for the first time, having established a co-operative inquiry group of young women managers within Procter & Gamble UK for the purpose of my PhD research.

At the time of embarking on this work, accounts of the detail of practical engagement in inquiry process were sparse. Progress has since been made. My thesis contributes to this progress by raising questions about practice and evidencing the detail. Through this, I offer ideas about quality of practice – ‘the educative edge’ of action research – and a re-visioning of the co-operative inquiry extended epistemology – ‘Naming as Knowing’.