NEW RESEARCH METHODSAND TECHNIQUES FOR DOING

FIELDWORK INORGANIZATIONS

Anita Basinska, PhDHigher School of Humanities and Journalism

Poznan, Poland

METHODOLOGY OF SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH – THE EXAMPLEOF RESEARCH PROCEDURE, METHODS AND TECHNIQUES

RESEARCH`S METHODS AND TECHNIQUES INORGANIZATION – CHARACTERISTICS OF

FIELDWORK:

study human behaviours in natural conditions oftheir daily liferesearcher is closer to real world conditionsresearcher has a contact with respondents for along timeit is the best way to discover the particularinformation requireddata, researchers and methods triangulation

RESEARCH`S METHODS AND TECHNIQUES INORGANIZATION – THE EXAMPLE OF FIELDWORK

Own research on organizational cultures, socialrelations and cultural differences in Polish andforeign enterprises operating in Poland

Research conducted in 2008-2009 and 2011-2012

A RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATIONS – SPECIFICITYOF COMPANY

Research conducted in a natural work environmentIn-depth knowledge of the phenomenon underinvestigation (including an understanding ofsubjective meanings and symbols)The possibility of using different methods andtechniques – increased the accuracy of research

A RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATIONS – RESEARCHDIFFICULTIES:

obtaining consent to do researchaccess to datareluctance to speak about companyworking time of companytype of company (e.g. production company)the issue of safety at work

NEW APPLICATION OF SOMEMETHODS – ACTION

RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATION

ACTION RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATIONS

It is essential to understanding people in acompanyHelp in coping with problems as definable asrespondents see them (respondents also decide onhow to fix these problems, it is not only impose bythe researchers)It is not problem-solving in the sense of trying tofind out what is wrong, but rather a quest forknowledge about how to improveDifferent scale of participation of respondents in theresearch

ACTION RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATIONS –THE EXAMPLE OF DOING ACTION RESEARCH IN

COMPANY

The study of organizational culture by aquestionnaire OCAI of Cameron and QuinnResearch is aimed at diagnosis (the image ofculture) and also project of cultural change e.g. inthe situation where organizational culture isinadequate to the socio – economic conditionsThe practical advantage is the project of culturalchange and the construction of specific interventiontechniques for cultural change

1. Dominant Characteristics Current Preffered

A The organization is a very personal place. It is like anextended family. People seemto share a lot of personal information and features.

B The organization is a very dynamic entrepreneurial place.People are willing to stickout their necks and take risks.

C The organization is very results-oriented. A major concern isgetting the job done.People are very competitive and achievement-oriented.

D The organization is a very controlled and structured place.Formal proceduresgenerally govern what people do.

Total 100 100

PART OF QUESTIONNAIRE OCAI(ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT)

ACTION RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATIONS –THE EXAMPLE OF DOING ACTION RESEARCH

Management and employees participate in theresearchRespondents determine how the company shouldlook like in the future by negotiationsIt's easier to make changes in company when

project of these changes is created by members ofthe company and researchers

ACTION RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATIONS –RESEARCH DIFFICULTIES

1. Organizational barrier, e.g. in the Polishconditions:

a) long and costly researchb) difficulties associated with reluctance to

participate in researchc) difficulties associated with reluctance of

entrepreneurs to get involved in management ofthe company

d) insufficient awareness of the impact oforganizational culture on functioning of thecompany

ACTION RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATIONS – THEEXAMPLE OF DOING ACTION RESEARCH

2. Cultural barriers:a) doing research in the culturally different

companies (foreign companies in Poland)b) problems with the study of values, meanings,

symbols, associated with the possibility ofunderstanding and proper interpretation of them,e.g. in foreign companies

NEW APPLICATION OF SOMEMETHODS – COLLECTIVE CASE

STUDY IN ORGANIZATIONS

COLLECTIVE CASE STUDY IN ORGANIZATIONS

Characteristics of collective case study:• to study a phenomenon, population or phenomenon

factors• we research several cases• cases are selected for a better understanding of the

phenomenon or making theoretical generalizations(there are not generalizations about particularpopulation)

FORM OF CASE STUDY – COLLECTIVE CASESTUDY – THE EXAMPLE OF DOING COLLECTIVE

CASE STUDY

Research on organizational cultures of Polish(including the ex-state Polish enterprise) andforeign companies operating in Poland:

a) research conducted in 2008-2009b) used several research techniques: unstructured

interview, survey, unstructured observation andanalysis of documents

FORM OF CASE STUDY – COLLECTIVE CASESTUDY – THE EXAMPLE OF DOING COLLECTIVE

CASE STUDY

c) Studying several cases I improved my knowledgeof organizational culture (to identify the elementsof culture, including identification of similaritiesand differences of cultures of these companies)

IMAGES OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURES OFTHREE COMPANIES OPERATING IN POLAND

NEW TECHNIQUES FOR DOINGFIELDWORK IN

ORGANIZATIONS

NEW TECHNIQUES FOR DOINGFIELDWORK – STORYTELLING

IN ORGANIZATIONS

NEW TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEW –STORYTELLING

1. It is based on an analysis of narratives ofrespondents:

a) analysis of interview – an emphasis on stories ofrespondents life

b) analysis of company`s myths

NEW TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEW –THE EXAMPLE OF STORYTELLING IN COMPANY

Narration in the interview - the history of employeecareer:

"(...) After a vocational school at age of 16 I came here as aturner. I worked as a turner for 3 years. Then 3 years later Iwas transferred to the milling machines, where I worked for 8years. Later I became a foreman in factory (…), and later Ibecame manager and I was there for 4 years. Now I havebeen a manager for 4 years and I manage a team of 200people” [production manager, the foreign (ex-state Polish)company]

NEW TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEW –THE EXAMPLE OF STORYTELLING IN COMPANY

Narration in the interview - creating the corporate image:

„People constitute a company (…) In my opinion, employeesare value added of company, absolutely” [productionmanager, the Polish company]

„This company differs in that it weathered, one of these oldcompanies. At one time this company was bigger than now, itemployed about 600 people. Do you see this office block? Atone time they had plan for building one floor more” [employee,66 years, the foreign company, ex-state Polish company]

NEW TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEW –THE EXAMPLE OF STORYTELLING IN COMPANY

The analysis of myths - myths of work andfunctioning of the company during the period of realsocialism in Poland and myths of foreign investors.

NEW TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEW –THE EXAMPLE OF STORYTELLING IN COMPANY

Creating corporate image – impact on perception ofcompany by employees, rivals and potencial clientsIt can be a tool of implementation of variousorganizational tasks such as creating anorganizational culture, changing management inorganizationsIt can also be a tool of recomposing the missionand vision of the company

NEW TECHNIQUES FOR DOINGFIELDWORK - SHADOWING IN

ORGANIZATIONS

NEW TECHNIQUES OF OBSERVATION –SHADOWING

Constant follow the chosen respondent, e.g. toaccompany the employee at work all dayIdentification of phenomenon and behaviours (theyare often unconscious) or scale of thesephenomenon and behavioursTo know about the natural environment ofrespondents and the factors impacting on thebehaviours and opinions of respondentsIt can influence on the respondent`s behaviours -he knows that is observed (this effect can be offsete.g. by time of observation)

NEW TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEW –THE EXAMPLE OF SHADOWING IN COMPANY

Research on Polish enterprises - observation of theemployee will conduct for 7 days (the length ofobservation will impact on the respondentbehaviours)The researcher enters into the role of a newlyrecruited employee of HR Department (scheduledfor August 2011).As a result, we will preserve the natural (andunconscious) behaviours at work (restricted or lackof impact of the researcher)

NEW TECHNIQUES FOR DOINGFIELDWORK – NON-PARTICIPANT

VIDEO OBSERVATION INORGANIZATIONS

NEW TECHNIQUES OF OBSERVATION –NON-PARTICIPANT VIDEO OBSERVATION

Carried out in companies with a digital camerasystemRegistration natural behaviours (not declaration) ofthe respondents – they do not know that theyparticipate in research (the issue of research ethics)Analysis of the natural behaviours (unconsciousbehaviours as well)

NEW TECHNIQUES OF OBSERVATION –NON-PARTICIPANT VIDEO OBSERVATION

The video recording is ready to analyze researchmaterial (we do not create new tools of datacollection)We can measure such facts as: the profile ofrespondents (age, sex, clothing), time spent inspecific areas

NEW TECHNIQUES OF OBSERVATION –THE EXAMPLE OF NON-PARTICIPANT VIDEO

OBSERVATION IN COMPANY

The observation made in the Polish company thisAprilWe observed workers of production department for5 daysWe observed: a way of fulfiling respondent`sprofessional duties, behaviours toward co-workers,formans and managers (including non-verbalbehaviours)

CONCLUSIONS

1. Research effects – cognitive advantages:to learn about human behaviours in their naturalenvironment (reducing the impact of theresearcher)to know employee opinions about the functioningof the company and possibly their ideas ofimproving their company

CONCLUSIONS

2. Research effects – practical advantages:possibility of designing changes involving themembers of the company in researchopportunity of improving communication within thecompanypossibility of involving employees in the process ofchange, problem solving, improving thefunctioning of the companypossible impact on the integration of employees atvarious levels with the goals and mission of thecompany