I've been reading "Critical Community Practice" by Butcher, Banks, Henderson, & Robertson and thinking that the concepts presented in the book have utility for our SPEC thinking and practice. The authors define critical community practice as:

Action based on critical theorizing, reflection, and a clear commitment to working for social justice through empowering and transformative practice.

Now that certainly aligns with SPEC in my eyes. What is particularly useful here is their practice model which includes four components: 1) Critical consciousness - a set of assumptions that include an understanding of power, a commitment to social justice and a particular set of dispositions on the part of the practitioner (and organization!). 2) Critical theorizing - an understanding and use of critical theory to understand social relationships and institutions and to envision how these relationships can be different. 3) Critical action - citizens and communities taking a key role in shaping and implementing the policies and programs that frame the conditions of their lives. 4) Critical reflection - "doing things and reflecting on the doing". At the organizaitonal level, enacting the principles of the learning organization.

To me, this model has implcations for organizational life in human service organizations that want to engage in SPEC practice. In general, it connects practitioner "mind sets",  organizaitonal philosophy / orientation and org learning to a specific type of practice that can affect community and social change. What we have been referreing to as "specific conditions" on the SPEC research team, aligns niceley with #'s 1 & 2 & 4 above and #3, Critical Aciton is SPEC practice in the community. 

The challenge is to better conceptualize "critical consciousness" and "critical theorizing" in organizations at the organiational level so as to better promote and measure it.