Qualitative Methods in Trans- disciplinary Socio-economic Research Professor Linda McKie

Aim Case study: Policies & practices of ‘care’ in business organisations Case study: Policies & practices of ‘care’ in business organisations 3 year project 3 year project Conceptual background Conceptual background Research design Research design Team from 3 disciplines Team from 3 disciplines Cultural geography Cultural geography Marketing & management Marketing & management Sociology Sociology

The Context Socio-economic ‘contracts’: Socio-economic ‘contracts’: EU Knowledge Economies EU Knowledge Economies Innovation Innovation Labour market trends Labour market trends Flexicurity Flexicurity IHRM trends; policies & practices IHRM trends; policies & practices Interdependencies: economies, business, households Interdependencies: economies, business, households Recession Recession

Conceptual Frameworks Caringscapes Caringscapes McKie, L., Gregory, S. Bowlby, S. (2002) Shadow Times: The Temporal and Spatial Frameworks and Experiences of Caring and Working. Sociology, 36, 4, McKie, L., Gregory, S. Bowlby, S. (2002) Shadow Times: The Temporal and Spatial Frameworks and Experiences of Caring and Working. Sociology, 36, 4, Briefing paper. See Briefing paper. See Carescapes Carescapes McKie, L., Gregory, S. and Bowlby, S. (2004) Starting Well: Gender, Care and Health in Family Context. Sociology, 38 (3): McKie, L., Gregory, S. and Bowlby, S. (2004) Starting Well: Gender, Care and Health in Family Context. Sociology, 38 (3): Organisation Carescapes Organisation Carescapes McKie, L., Hearn, J., Bowlby, S., Smith, A. and Hogg, G. (2008) Organisation Carescapes: Researching Organisations, Work and Care. Helsinki, Finland: Hanken School of Economics Working Paper McKie, L., Hearn, J., Bowlby, S., Smith, A. and Hogg, G. (2008) Organisation Carescapes: Researching Organisations, Work and Care. Helsinki, Finland: Hanken School of Economics Working Paper

Trans-disciplinary Origins Care is a multi-faceted term that can combine feelings of concern and anxiety for others alongside the provision of practical labour and tasks that attend to a person’s needs (Cancian and Oliker 2000: 2). Ethics, philosophy, sociology Care is a multi-faceted term that can combine feelings of concern and anxiety for others alongside the provision of practical labour and tasks that attend to a person’s needs (Cancian and Oliker 2000: 2). Ethics, philosophy, sociology Most discussions on care emphasise either the social policy and welfare context; work- life balance, or organisational well-being and occupational health (Sevenhuijsen, 1998). Business, economics social policy Most discussions on care emphasise either the social policy and welfare context; work- life balance, or organisational well-being and occupational health (Sevenhuijsen, 1998). Business, economics social policy

Trans-disciplinary Origins Culture refers to the beliefs of the organisations and their symbolic and practical representation through a range of activities. Organisation studies, sociology Culture refers to the beliefs of the organisations and their symbolic and practical representation through a range of activities. Organisation studies, sociology Cultures of care; identify values (how organisations specify what people ought to do through policies and practices) and norms (the rules of behaviour that create parameters for behaviour) (Wilson, 2001) Cultures of care; identify values (how organisations specify what people ought to do through policies and practices) and norms (the rules of behaviour that create parameters for behaviour) (Wilson, 2001) Exploring a conceptual framework in empirical research....

Management & Business The relevance and potential for organisational cultures to endorse the concept of care across a range of employment policies, is critical to working relations and thus, productivity The relevance and potential for organisational cultures to endorse the concept of care across a range of employment policies, is critical to working relations and thus, productivity The notion of organisational health is apposite in any examination of the complex relationship between organisational cultures, productivity and the health and well-being of employees and companies The notion of organisational health is apposite in any examination of the complex relationship between organisational cultures, productivity and the health and well-being of employees and companies

Organisation Carescapes Organisation carescapes are not static: thus planned ‘routes’ (policies and practices) must sometimes be changed or amended in response to shifts in public policies (e.g. the introduction of disability rights legislation, and flexible working guidelines), the actions of employers or, in the case of family life, personal events such as the arrival of a first or subsequent child.

Organisation Carescapes (2) These issues also change in response to the influences of others (governments, EU, business, organisations) and changes in mobility, communication & institutional organisations that confront individuals and companies (McKie et al., 2008)

Research Design Organisations, Work & Care Organisations, Work & Care Economic & Social Research Council Economic & Social Research Council Multi-method Multi-method Stage 1; what’s care? Oh that! Stage 1; what’s care? Oh that! Stage 2; unpacking the concept Stage 2; unpacking the concept Equalities & diversity Equalities & diversity Health & well-being Health & well-being Rights & responsibilities Rights & responsibilities Stage 3; Critical Incident Techniques (CIT) interviews. Incidents: age, discipline, flexible working, training, well-being Stage 3; Critical Incident Techniques (CIT) interviews. Incidents: age, discipline, flexible working, training, well-being

Epistemological Basis Interpretative drawing upon Interpretative drawing upon Critical theory Critical theory Feminist theory Feminist theory Structuralism Structuralism Postcolonialism Postcolonialism Mapping (context), interviews (depth) Mapping (context), interviews (depth)

Research Process Stage 1: Exploratory interviews Stage 1: Exploratory interviews Reflect UK economy. 10 EOs, 6 SMEs Reflect UK economy. 10 EOs, 6 SMEs Care as an absent-presence Care as an absent-presence Accommodating care Accommodating care Trade-offs. Care and organisational goals Trade-offs. Care and organisational goals

Research Process (2) Stage 2: Survey Stage 2: Survey Equality and diversity; parental leave to religious observance Equality and diversity; parental leave to religious observance Health & well-being; occupation health to bullying and harassment Health & well-being; occupation health to bullying and harassment Responsibilities & rights; working hours to staff development and training Responsibilities & rights; working hours to staff development and training 103 EOs 103 EOs

Research Process (3) Surveillance & control Surveillance & control Base line Base line Working hours, sickness Working hours, sickness Retention Retention Appraisal Appraisal Maternity/paternity leave Maternity/paternity leave Employer of choice Employer of choice Skill shortages Skill shortages Reputation Reputation Self fulfilment Self fulfilment Outward facing EOs Outward facing EOs Leave of absence / pro bono Leave of absence / pro bono

Research Process (4) Critical incident technique Critical incident technique Describe the experience or situation Describe the experience or situation Outline what they, or the people observed, did Outline what they, or the people observed, did What was their assessment of this? What was their assessment of this? What would they have liked to happen? What would they have liked to happen? Overall, what did they conclude? Overall, what did they conclude? Age, Discipline, Flexible working, Training, Well-being Age, Discipline, Flexible working, Training, Well-being

Research Process (4) Themes to emerge Themes to emerge Defining ‘care’ and caring in the workplace Defining ‘care’ and caring in the workplace Boundaries within and between work /non-work Boundaries within and between work /non-work Knowledge and use of policies - access, support to use, non use Knowledge and use of policies - access, support to use, non use Inter-sectionalities - gender and identities; age and identities and gender, age and sector Inter-sectionalities - gender and identities; age and identities and gender, age and sector Cultures and changing nature of these as recession becomes apparent Cultures and changing nature of these as recession becomes apparent Organisational health and well-being Organisational health and well-being

Conclusions Organisation Carescape look like... Organisation Carescape look like... The history of EO, or the unit analysed such as department or team. The past experiences of workers The history of EO, or the unit analysed such as department or team. The past experiences of workers Contemporary context and experiences. Policies and practices Contemporary context and experiences. Policies and practices A summation of the dominant culture and its implications A summation of the dominant culture and its implications Assessment of futures; aspirations and contextual constraints and opportunities. Forecasting and speculations about EOs and people. Assessment of futures; aspirations and contextual constraints and opportunities. Forecasting and speculations about EOs and people.

Conclusions (2) Methods Methods Exploratory stage Exploratory stage CIT interviews CIT interviews Conceptual Conceptual Social moral economy Social moral economy Fairness Fairness Gender stereotypes Gender stereotypes Workplace pressure & support Workplace pressure & support Labour process Labour process Political rhetoric Political rhetoric