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IOA Research Hub

Research, reports, and resources supporting the advancement of the ombuds profession.

Current Research Agenda
Ombuds Effectiveness & Value  |  Journal of the IOA  |  Community Connections
AI Working Group  |  Practice & Compensation Survey  |  Research Award & Grant Programs

Current Research Agenda

The Current Research Agenda covers three primary areas: The Ombuds Profession, Ombuds Practices, and The Ombuds Professional, with eight research goals detailed below:

THE OMBUDS PROFESSION

Research Goal 1: To Examine How Ombuds Demonstrate and Communicate Value

  • Evidence of the ombuds office value/benefits/impact/effectiveness
  • Communicating about and marketing the ombuds office value
  • Perceptions and expectations of the ombuds office
  • Why organizations adopt and maintain an ombuds office (or not)
  • Functions of the ombuds within a conflict management system
  • Hiring and performance appraisal methods of ombuds

Research Goal 2: To Better Understand the IOA Standards Of Practice (SOP) and Code Of Ethics (COE) 

  • How ombuds adhere to and deviate from the SOP
  • How ombuds balance inherent tensions within the SOP
  • The meaning and functions of the SOP within and across different sectors
  • How the use of the SOP and COE is supported and enforced

Research Goal 3: To Assess the Development and Health of The Ombuds Profession

  • Development, growth, and durability of the profession
  • IOA’s role and influence
  • Prevalence of ombuds positions and offices
  • Impact of laws and policies
  • The global ombuds profession

OMBUDS PRACTICES

Research Goal 4: To Explain How Ombuds Carry Out Their Work

  • Specific practices with visitors and other parties
  • Providing upward feedback
  • Working with systemic issues and initiatives
  • Dealing with challenging cases
  • Managing dual roles
  • Navigating legal and policy challenges
  • Working with principles of fairness, justice, advocacy, and activism
  • Variations in practices around the world

Research Goal 5: To Describe How Ombuds Gather, Use, and Report Data

  • Record-keeping practices
  • Practices in tracking issues and other case information
  • Use of data to identify issues new to the organization, patterns, and trends
  • Preparing and distributing reports

Research Goal 6: To Determine How Ombuds Build Collaborative Relationships in Their Organizations and Profession

  • Ombuds supporting and connecting with each other
  • Collaborating with other roles, professions, and resources
  • Interacting and collaborating with organizational leadership.

THE OMBUDS PROFESSIONAL

Research Goal 7: To Explore the Development, Identity, Characteristics, And Skills of Ombuds

  • Educational preparation, training, and professional background
  • Continuing education and professional development
  • Identity and characteristics of ombuds
  • Skills and abilities of successful ombuds
  • How ombuds perceive themselves and evaluate their own work
  • Resilience and self-care methods
  • How and why people enter and exit the ombuds profession

Research Goal 8: To Examine the Nature and Scope of The Ombuds Role And Position

  • Issues the ombuds help address
  • Ombuds role in the organizational system
  • Role variations in different organizational contexts
  • Caseload and workload
  • Functions and services provided

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Research on Ombuds Effectiveness and Value

Coming Soon!

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Journal of the International Ombuds Association (JIOA)

The JIOA is the peer-reviewed journal for scholarly articles and information relevant to the ombuds profession. JIOA helps us understand, define, and clarify the role and function of the professional organizational ombuds. For more information, visit the JIOA webpage.

Learn More About the JIOA

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Community Connections: Experiences of Ombuds Scholar-Practitioners

As a field expands, one of the indicators of a growing profession is a strong literature and scholarship base. To have this strong base, the field relies on its members as contributors and creators of that knowledge. As many ombuds are practitioners first and scholars second, engaging in knowledge production and dissemination can be daunting given time constraints, their varied responsibilities within their organizations, and perceptions of the research and publishing process in general.

This panel, comprised of the JIOA Editor, Associate Editor, Reviewer, and authors, will outline the developmental approach taken by the JIOA in working with authors.

Watch Now

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group (A Subgroup of the Research and Assessment Committee)

Join the conversation in the new CommUnity online discussion group for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Ombuds Practice.

Join the Conversation

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IOA Practice & Compensation Survey

IOA is committed to expanding our profession and documenting the value of organizational ombuds worldwide. The biennial Practice and Compensation Survey provides an important snapshot of the contemporary field of organizational ombuds based on responses from members of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) who were practitioners at the time of taking the survey.

Review Past Reports

(Member log-in is required to view the past reports)

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Research Award and Grant Programs

IOA offers two programs intended to facilitate research related to organizational ombuds theory and practice. Quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodologies are welcome, as is research from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

Research Grant Program
Annual Research Awards

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