Practice research that has been influential in management and organizational studies has featured stable teams and established communities of practice. In recent years however, many work settings have become fluid, transitory and uncertain. Theories that explore collective intentionality and distributed agency are particularly relevant to such situations. Commenting on recent contributions this article concentrates on activity theory. The analytic strengths of activity theory are illustrated by a study of the reorganization of social services for vulnerable children and families. Its implications for action are illustrated by a comparison with a `value rational' approach to intervention.
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