“Not business as usual” – a tale of critical participatory action research and the extended case method

Purpose This paper outlines the approach of critical participatory action research (CPAR) and the extended case method (ECM) within an applied research context. The context for the research example explored is set within employee ownership. Design/methodology/approach CPAR is at the heart of this paper. The ECM is applied to underpin the approaches adopted. The approach to managing data is qualitative. Findings A journey of originality is presented within this paper, which focuses upon CPAR and ECM to provide a unique and alternative methodological thinking crucial for pushing the boundaries of research approaches in organisations. Originality/value Researchers can be encouraged by the stance adopted in the methodological positioning in combination with the participatory data approach and the action research methods underpinning the whole project, affording learning from the experience of complexity and difficulties encountered and shared. It is hoped that this approach will allow other such kindred forms of research to be developed.