Frank Bogna, Aldo Raineri and Geoff Dell
Traditional approaches in qualitative research have adopted one research paradigm linked to an established typology. This paper addresses the unconventional application of two…
Abstract
Purpose
Traditional approaches in qualitative research have adopted one research paradigm linked to an established typology. This paper addresses the unconventional application of two research paradigms in one study. A critical realist approach was used to augment a constructivist analysis of data in a research project seeking to explore the meaning that managers in small to medium enterprises (SMEs) attach to hazard identification, the construction of a hazard profile reflective of the business and its use in assisting to manage hazards within the SME's safety management system framework. Critical realism offered a complementary but essential framework to explore causal mechanisms that led to a deeper understanding of the findings by searching for the processes and causality that lay beneath the social and organizational phenomena observed.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper compares the two research paradigms in order to seek junctures and apply them to a research project. Analytical tools applied to each research paradigm within the project are presented, followed by a new multiparadigm conceptual model that integrates critical realism and constructivism, providing an original contribution of knowledge to this field of qualitative research.
Findings
The adoption of a multiparadigm model enabled not only the interpretation of social phenomena but also the determination of its causality, enabling a more insightful answering of the research question and leading to a deeper insight into the phenomenology that was studied. This research approach widens the boundaries of qualitative inquiry within organizational research by promoting strategies that challenge more traditionally anchored research typologies, and consequently contributes to better research outcomes.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted across four organizations. Similar research is encouraged across a greater number of case studies to validate the process of using a constructivist and critical realist paradigm to gain a more insightful understanding of events and their causality.
Practical implications
The comparison of two research paradigms and consequent provision of a conceptual model (Figure 3) provides potential for the development of further multiparadigm models for research projects within the field of organizational management.
Social implications
This paper has the potential to promote engagement and collaboration between research scholars seeking to explore the use of multiple research paradigms.
Originality/value
Such an approach has not previously been widely discussed or adopted to examine qualitative data, and advances theory in qualitative research. The application of two research paradigms using such an approach can be applied to businesses in a number of different contexts to gain a more insightful understanding of research participant perspectives, observable events arising from those perspectives and their associated causality.
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As entrepreneurship education has seen substantial growth over the last ten years, so has the debate over the right mix of academic theory and practical insights that best equips…
Abstract
As entrepreneurship education has seen substantial growth over the last ten years, so has the debate over the right mix of academic theory and practical insights that best equips entrepreneurial minded business students to realize their entrepreneurial goals and to impact economies. The University of Texas at Austin’s acclaimed Moot Corp Program has not only laid the groundwork for effective, powerful entrepreneurship education, it has created a model that integrates the most value added contributions from the academic and business worlds. The Moot Corp Competition, has been a pioneer as a showcase for new ventures developed at universities across the world.
B. Waterfield and Geoff Griffiths
At the Annual General Meeting of ISHM‐France, held on 12 June 1991, the following were elected:
David J. Skyrme and Debra M. Amidon
Anyone can argue that great knowledge management benefits the business. But how do you measure the results?
Yingqin Zheng and Geoff Walsham
The purpose of this paper is to engage with the debate on social exclusion in the e‐society from the human development perspective, which goes beyond inequality in distribution of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to engage with the debate on social exclusion in the e‐society from the human development perspective, which goes beyond inequality in distribution of technological goods and services to emphasise the options, choice and opportunities related to accessing and using information.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an interpretivist study. It draws on Sen's capability approach (CA) to conceptualise social exclusion in the e‐society as capability deprivation, both in well‐being and agency freedom. A framework of the core aspects of the CA is used to analyse two empirical studies in South Africa and China which serve to illustrate social exclusion manifested as capability deprivation in different “spaces”.
Findings
The paper demonstrates the relational features of social exclusion and different types of capability deprivation in e‐society; highlights “unfavourable inclusion” which can be masked by technological diffusion.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is an early attempt to apply the capability approach to social studies of information communication technologies in developing countries.
Practical implications
The paper provides implications for government policies to go beyond technological provision and pay attention to socio‐political, cultural and institutional aspects in ensuring effective utilisation of information and channels of communication, which should serve to enhance people's opportunity to better participate in economic, social and political activities.
Originality/value
The paper is a novel attempt to apply concepts of the CA in information systems, which provides a conceptual lens to address the complexity and multiplicity of social exclusion in the e‐society.
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The purpose of this paper is to describe the design for manufacture (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) concepts and illustrate their benefits and applications.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the design for manufacture (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) concepts and illustrate their benefits and applications.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, this paper provides an historical background to DFM and DFA. It then describes these techniques, highlights their capabilities and benefits and provides some examples of their applications. Finally, brief conclusions are drawn.
Findings
Software implementations of DFM and DFA are shown to yield significant financial savings by allowing products to be designed with enhanced manufacturing and assembly characteristics.
Originality/value
The paper provides an introduction to the DFM and DFA concepts which play a critical role in today's highly competitive markets.