This book showcases innovative approaches to research for systemic and relationally reflexive practitioners. In conducting research we need to get alongside people in a disenfranchised world and find out their truths, our truths and collaborate to make the world a better, safer place? Internationally acclaimed contributors propose innovative research methodologies which promote sensitivity, creativity and political awareness to use everyday practice as powerful and transformative research practices.

The chapters offer practical and theoretical help in forging connections between relationally sensitive practice, reflexive inquiry and the wider field of post-positivist qualitative inquiry. Reflexivity weaves systemic social constructionist, collaborative dialogical and narrative practices in the fields of therapy, consultation, teaching, supervision, leadership, organisational development, community work and activism.

Mary Gergen - Foreword

Part 1 - Systemic Methodology

- Gail Simon - Systemic Inquiry as a form of Qualitative Inquiry
- Alex Chard - Orientations: Systemic Approaches to Researching Practice
- Harlene Anderson - Collaborative-Dialogue Based Research as Everyday Practice: Questioning our Myths
- Sheila McNamee - Research as Relational Practice. Exploring Modes of Inquiry
- John Shotter - Methods for Practitioners in Inquiring into "the Stuff" of Everyday Life and its Continuous Co-Emergent Development

Part 2 - Innovations in Systemic Inquiry

- Vikki Reynolds - A Solidarity Approach: The Rhizome & Messy Inquiry
- Saliha Bava - Performative Practices, Performative Relationships - in and as Emergent Research
- Jacob Storch & Karina Solsø - Reporting from inside the emerging process of becoming research consultants
- Lisen Kebbe - Writing Essays as Dialogical Inquiry
- Kevin Barge, Carsten Hornstrup & Rebecca Gill - Conversational Reflexivity and Researching Practice
- Ann-Margreth Olsson - The Impact of Dialogical Participatory Action Research (DPAR). Riding in the peloton of dialogical collaboration
- Andreas Juhl - Pragmatic inquiry as a research method for knowledge creation in organisations
- Christine Oliver - Using Coordinated Management of Meaning to Define Systemic Reflexivity as a Research Position
- Sally St George & Dan Wulff - Research as Daily Practice

Ann L Cunliffe, Professor of Organization Studies, University of Bradford, UK

"This book is a great resource. Each chapter practically illustrates the 'realities' of doing research - that inquiry is not the structured, de-humanised process many research methods books convey. Instead, it is often a messy, challenging, reflexive and ultimately rewarding experience."

Peter Lang and Susan Lang, Founders of KCC, London, UK

"Here is a comprehensive bringing together of thoughts and practices involved in creating knowledge through doing systemic social constructionist research. A rich and inspiring resource for the practitioner. Travel in and enjoy your research activity!"

Frank J. Barrett, author "Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz"

"This collection is a hopeful reminder that reflexive research can be a powerful and transformative intervention in social life. What an exciting and important book! "

Peter Stratton, Emeritus Professor of Family Therapy, University of Leeds, UK

"This important book has assembled leading thinkers and researchers to usher in greater coherence to the imaginative thinking that has emerged as the postmodern social constructionist shift is applied to practitioner research."
About the Author: Gail Simon leads the Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice at the University of Bedfordshire and is a systemic psychotherapist, organisational consultant and researcher. Her practice base is The Pink Practice, London.

Alex Chard:

In the early part of my career I worked within the voluntary and statutory sectors with young people in trouble. I then began to work independently. I work as a systemic organisational consultant, a role which includes inquiry into organisational functioning, culture and practice. Over 23, my consultancy practice has included public sector contexts including work within children's social care, education, youth work, criminal justice and within the voluntary sector. My experience of assisting organisations manage change has included working with statutory boards, with management teams helping them to improve their services and on occasion managing services or critical projects. My current organisational inquiry and research contexts include conducting inter-agency case reviews where significant harm has been caused and in that context developing reflexive approaches to creating pan-organisational learning. My MSc. dissertation was a systemic inquiry into the impact of government inspection on the management of a service. My doctoral thesis The Art of Organisational Development was on creating systemic change and development in public sector management. I am also a visiting senior lecturer to the Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice at the University of Bedfordshire and have developed a systemic module for a Social Work Masters Programme.