The Social Psychology of Organizations.

This article investigates the relationship of systems thinking to action research by reviewing the main developments in systems thinking and relating these to action research. There are two main lines of thought in systems thinking that lead to wholly different conceptions about action research. The first (systems thinking) advocates thinking about real social systems that it assumes exist in the world. The second (systemic thinking) supposes only that the social construction of the world is systemic. Greater emphasis is placed on systemic thinking consistent with its greater importance to contemporary action research. The article concludes that systemic thinking when taken to its practical conclusion from a critical perspective offers to action research a somewhat unique liberating praxis. Concern that any liberating praxis could remain hollow is addressed through a certain kind of ‘spiritual’ awareness that is suggested by wholeness.

The Relationship of ‘Systems Thinking’ to Action Research

Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament

https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/downloads/sb3978970

Reconstructing Israel: Restoration Eschatology in Early Judaism and Paul's Gentile Mission

Purpose – This paper aims to review and critique the public sector knowledge management (KM) literature, offers an overview of the state of public sector KM research and outlines a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approach – Articles published in KM journals are analyzed using a structured literature review methodology. The paper analyzes 180 papers published within ten journals specializing in the field of KM. Findings – Public sector KM is a research area of growing importance. Findings show that few authors specialize in the field and there are several obstacles to developing a cohesive body of literature. Low levels of international cooperation among authors and international comparisons mean that the literature is fragmented. Some research topics and some geographical areas within the public sector theme are over-analyzed, while others are under-investigated. Additionally, academic researchers should re-think their methodological approach if they wish to make significant contributions to th...

Public sector knowledge management : a structured literature review

One of the most reliable and helpful books on interpretive method is now available in a new and up-to-date edition. Firmly founded in the best scholarship, John Barton's Reading the Old Testament helps students to understand both the established methods of biblical study and the newer emerging trends.

Reading the Old Testament : Method in Biblical Study

The Oxford Bible Commentary is an exciting new ecumenical verse-by-verse commentary on the whole Bible, including all the books of the Apocrypha, for use by Christians, Jews, and members of other religious traditions, or of none. 1.5 million words long, it has been written by a team of internationally respected biblical scholars chosen for their expertise and ability to communicate rather than for their adherence to any particular faith. Now available in paperback, the Oxford Bible Commentary will provide the one-volume resource for the Bible for the 21st century.

The Oxford Bible commentary

Oracles of God: Perceptions of Ancient Prophecy in Israel after the Exile

Notes on contributors Glossary 1. Introduction John Barton Part I. Lines of Approach: 2. Historical-critical approaches John Barton 3. Literary readings of the Bible David Jasper 4. The social world of the Bible Keith W. Whitelam 5. Poststructuralist approaches: new historicism and postmodernism Robert P. Carroll 6. Political readings of scripture Tim Gorringe 7. Feminist interpretation Ann Loades 8. Biblical studies and theoretical hermeneutics Anthony Thiselton 9. The Bible and Christian theology Robert Morgan 10. Biblical study and linguistics William Johnstone 11. Aspects of the Jewish contribution to biblical interpretation Stefan C. Reif 12. The Bible in literature and art Stephen Prickett Part II. Biblical Books in Modern Interpretation: 13. The Pentateuch Joseph Blenkinsopp 14. The historical books of the Old Testament Iain Provan 15. The prophetic books Robert R. Wilson 16. The poetic and wisdom books Robert Alter 17. The synoptic Gospels and Acts of the Apostles: telling the Christian story Pheme Perkins 18. John and the Johannine literature: the woman at the well John Ashton 19. The Pauline letters James D. G. Dunn 20. The non-Pauline letters Frances Young 21. Apocalyptic literature James VanderKam General Index Index of biblical references.

The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation

This paper considers those interpretations of action research that can be traced to Kurt Lewin at the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the University of Michigan, and the work in social ecology by Emery and Trist at the Tavistock Institute. It locates the logical basis of these interpretations in the philosophy of pragmatism, particularly as it relates to Peirce’s inferential logic and inquiry system. Drawing on this argument, and on the significant developments in approaches to systemic thinking over the past 40–50 years, a normative set of criteria is established for action research. The paper concludes that both positivist science (which relates to closed systems thinking) and action research (which relates to open systems thinking) are essential to any complete scientific approach.

John Barton

Papers

Reading the Old Testament : Method in Biblical Study

The Oxford Bible commentary

Oracles of God: Perceptions of Ancient Prophecy in Israel after the Exile

The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation

Action Research: Its Foundations in Open Systems Thinking and Relationship to the Scientific Method