AbstractPurpose – The purpose is explore an approach to acquire, analyze and report data concerning anorganizational change initiative that combines knowledge generation and knowledge use, and contrast thatwith a method where knowledge generation and use is separated. More specifically, the authors contrast aparticipatory group workshop with individual interviews analyzed with thematic analysis, focusing oninformation about the change process and its perceived practical relevance and usefulness.Design/methodology/approach – Participants were managers responsible for implementing a broadorganizational change aiming to improve service quality (e.g. access and equity) and reduce costs in a mentalhealth service organization in Sweden. Individual interviews were conducted at two points, six months apart(i1: n 5 15; i2: n 5 18). Between the interviews, a 3.5-h participatory group workshop was conducted, duringwhich participants (n 5 15) both generated and analyzed data through a structured process that mixedindividual-, small- and whole-group activities.Findings – Both approaches elicited substantive information about the content, purpose and process ofchange. While the content and purpose findings were similar across the two data sources, the interviewsdescribed how to lead a change process, whereas the workshop yielded concrete information about what to do.Benefits of interviews included personal insights about leading change while the workshop provided anopportunity for collective sense-making.Originality/value – When organizational stakeholders work through the change process through aparticipatory workshop, they may get on the same page, but require additional support to take action.