Action researchers’ competence-in-use in operations management research

Action research (AR) has become increasingly established as a methodology in operations management (OM), yet limited attention has been paid to the competence required to perform AR skilfully. This paper examines the qualities of OM action researchers’ competence-in-use in terms of how they are enacted and represented in published AR studies within top-ranked OM journals. Drawing on a literature review of 28 empirical AR papers, and a competence-theoretical framework, the study analyses researchers’ working practices, self-understanding, and understandings of work. The findings show that AR in OM is predominantly characterised by task-oriented competence, reflected in instrumental use of established AR models and tools. In contrast, ideological-normative and development-oriented competences—such as reflexivity, ethical sensitivity, and methodological innovation—are less visible. The paper contributes by shifting the discussion from methodological design to researcher capability, highlighting how the quality and impact of AR depend on competence-in-use. Implications are discussed for developing AR capability, reviewer practices, and future research on collaborative methodologies in OM.