Action research paper on tracking internship

Posted by Melda Research on February 7th, 2019

 Introduction and methodologies

            Blue Inc. is an American company that develops software. Additionally, Blue Inc is a provider of information technology (IT) application software implementation, software maintenance, mobile application development, and software modernization services. Besides that, the company provides other services such as IT application outsourcing, system development project management, offshore services, and software development and upgrading. Blue Inc has established its competencies in the software development industry. It partners with other firms in various industries such as banking industry, the federal government of the United States, healthcare, education, and telecommunications. Blue Inc clients range from the famous companies to less known such as the American Data Networks, John Hopkins Hospital, American College of Information Technology, and the United States International Bank. The company also serves Florida State Government. Blue Inc also serves Verizon from where the giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) started.

            Blue Inc provides strategic staffing and management services in the state of Florida and other neighboring states. The company has, therefore, becomes a major player in the industry. It has obtained information technology expertise spanning several years. Its services and products have gained a global status, and their record in offering competent services is proven. Its expertise in business intelligence, data warehousing, enterprise resource planning, and database solutions has put it among the best performing firms in the United States. Business intelligence is a major component of Blue Inc technological alignment. The company is a consultant for Oracle, SQL Server, and major data companies. Blue Inc solves problems where technology and business operations meet. The company works with established and popular IT corporations and other emerging technology-based companies in developing new products and services and strategize on business operations.

The internship situation

            Recent studies have shown inflexibility and rise in the cost of the modern computer and mobile systems. BlueSys is software in development by Blue Inc. The software provides a platform for rapid cloud-based solutions while automating and managing enterprise services. Besides that, it is a web-based tool where the departmental staff can log in and requests for services and post incidences. The system then routes the requests and incidences to the suitable personnel for an effective solution. However, the tool aims primarily at providing easy and self-service access to the users. Therefore, users will be able to request and receive due assistance timely, accurately, and consistently. Blue Inc has its headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. I requested to get attached to their facility as a fulfillment of award of a master’s degree in computer science. My request got granted where I would become a part of the organization by working directly from their headquarters. However, I would get placed under the manager of information systems for the period of BlueSys development.

            My new designation would be BlueSys Java system developer where I would handle planning, the design of the system, software development, implementation, maintenance, and documentation. I would gain the chance to familiarize with all the phases of the system development life cycle (SDLC) where I have very little hands-on skills. BlueSys is an application based on problem and change management. The application is less rigid and more efficient compared to the current systems. My new roles would be gathering system requirement, develop system functionality, solve problems, troubleshoot system development problems, and research on other functionalities. I will also serve as the link between the manager and the clients as well as generating daily reports and work schedule. My aspiration is the achievement of a practical understanding of various technologies and management skills while providing assistance to the development of the application.

Methodology

             Action research gets carried with the aim of satisfying some objectives. The theory made from action research must contribute to solving both current and future organizational and societal problems. However, the primary objective of action research is improving the current system by changing the undesirable elements. However, changes should only get implemented after a thorough study of the problematic situation.

             According to Boog (1996), action research brings changes whose aim is improving the situation under study. Therefore, the researchers must grasp and understand the improvements that they would like to introduce into the project. It will help them to examine their anticipated achievements, reasons they have hopes of achievement, and why they get convinced their solutions are suitable.

             The current literature review on action research has shown that Kurt Lewin introduced it in 1946. Action researchers pay homage to him as the father of action research. Kurt Lewin was a psychologist where he defined action research as a research that compares the conditions and effects of different forms of social action and research leading to that specific social action. Action research follows a systematic process of spiral steps where each step is made up of planning, action, and researching on the outcomes of the action (Lewin, 1946).

 The process of action research

            Planning phase – The researcher undertakes planning activities where they should get done before the project gets implemented. Planning phase starts with a general idea where the researcher has nothing specific at first. 

            Acting phase – The action research acts on the activities through implementation of the plan of the project. Additionally, new insights and ideas are likely to appear during this stage

            Development phase – The action researcher undertakes revision or improvements arising from the action. He also goes on to develop future actions otherwise known as an action plan.

            Reflection phase – The researcher summarizes the outcomes and develops a strategy through which he will share the summary.

  Figure 1: Action research process (Riding, Fowell, & Levy)

            Any suggested changes in the above process must have adequate information. Furthermore, changes should not get implemented without involving the right stakeholders who took part in the planning phase. Whenever stakeholders get involved, there is a commitment to the course of action and will have an understanding of the changes needed (Chisholm & Elden, 1993).

Importance of action research

            Action research examines the evidence systematically making its outcomes reliable. Action research has a minimal emphasis on the universality of findings. Action researcher places relevance on the findings. Action research aims at understands the interactions of a social context system. The action researcher proposes a theory of action which gets focused on introducing an intentional change into a social system context. However, before the action researcher goes on to introduce the change; he must have the required changes in mind. Theory must be a carefully thought process with keen attention to data and skillful data analysis and interpretation. It might turn out to be hard for a researcher to understand changes in the social contexts of the organizations. However, he can use activity theory, social network theory, system theories. Additionally, he can use tools of assessment such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups (Kock & Nereu, 1997)

            Action research aids in offering solutions to the societal and organizational problems through assessment of the functional requirements of a process. Action research has four phases as discussed above planning, action, observation, and reflection. The phases get performed at each iteration where the action is taken on the basis of the outcomes of the iteration. Action research is the most suitable methodology for the development of the BlueSys application through Java platform. The application is a problem and changes management system. Therefore, action research fits the development process perfectly. The first phase of my internship at Blue Inc is the training I will receive from the manager of the information system. I will gain application knowledge from the first phase of the internship. I will get allocated the project after training. That will come in the second phase. I will get assigned the project where the information system will expect me to identify the errors and make the necessary changes. The third phase will require me to implement all the changes and make all the documentation. The fourth and final phase of the Java system development tests and maintains the system. Therefore, the action is a perfect and effective tool that can get used to tracking the four phases while I will be doing my internship at Blue Inc.

 Works Cited

Boog, B. (1996). Theory and Practice of Action Research: With Special Reference to the    Netherlands. Tilburg: Tilbury University Press.

Chisholm, R., & Elden, M. (1993). Features of Emerging Action Research. Human Relations .

Kock, J., & Nereu, F. (1997). Myths in Organizational Actional Research: Reflections on a Study of Computer-Supported Process Redesign Groups. Organizations and Society , 65-91.

Lewin, K. (1946). Action Research and Minority Problems. Journal of Social Issues , 34-46.

Riding, P., Fowell, S., & Levy, P. (n.d.). An Action Research Approach to Curriculum       Development. 

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in College Essay Writing Service if you need a similar paper you can place your order from cheap essay help online.