Graham Van Tuyl - From Engineer to Transformational Change Agent. An inquiry into the epistemology of how traditional 'Tools and Theory' can be used and evolved in enhancing Organisational effectiveness in the natural resources sector, and how to value and evaluate change.

This research is motivated by my desire to understand what it is a Change Agent actually does. Change Agents work in a variety of ways, and have a variety of results. Over the years I have become more and more aware that there is no single body of theory that combines and explains the practical and theoretical approaches.

It is in the evaluation of these results that my inquiry started through a personal journey of change. Some results that I understand, others that I do not understand. I want to use my current and past practice into my ontology as a Change Agent and develop an epistemology based on my evolving practice. I am finding through the collaborative support of colleagues, clients and academics that a combination of Practical know-how (Operational Learning) and 'Tools and Theory' (Conceptual Learning) can combine to create exceptional results.

The second part of this inquiry is based on representing and valuing a 'Result'. How do Change Agents describe, quantify and value what it is they do. This is the traditional context, and expectation in manufacturing and natural resources industries.

The inquiry will be a combination of self-reflective practices, augmented with case studies. This thesis aims to bring together a new way in which a Change Agent can enhance the probability of success and describe the way in which practice and theory can be joined through action inquiry.