Business & Management Research Methods
The origins of business & management research methods A justified classification of research methods How we encounter situations Research as Technology Research as Science Research as Phenomenology Future directions Our topics
How we encounter situations
Not a matter of different perspectives Involvement – encounter – reality Background & competence What is the essence of each involvement? The nature of the encounter determines the nature of the enquiry How we encounter situations
Marketing research / policy research / evaluation research The handmaiden to business Standards not derived from the discipline The banner of science The Philosophy of Technology Business research as technology
Research into business & management Received View of science Constructivist theories of science Phenomenological theories of science Positivist theories of management Constructivist theories of management Phenomenological theories of management
Research into business & management Received View of science Constructivist theories of science Phenomenological theories of science Husserl Heidegger Positivist theories of management Constructivist theories of management Phenomenological theories of management Searle Shaw
Science is theory, laws, propositions (particularly mathematical) Reality is out there: let us mirror it Modern science starts with Galileo & Newton Science is objective Social science are similar to other sciences Measure everything – what does this involve From 1964, not a serious view Received View
Kant Science is characteristic of human beings Science is a form of “culture” Science is subjective The business environment, stakeholders Constructivist accounts
Husserl & Heidegger Misuse of the word Two recent initiatives: John Searle UC Berkeley Robert Shaw Open Polytechnic Phenomenology of business & management
Based on experience / reflection Society, institutions, organisations, individuals Husserl – intentionality Searle – collective intentionality The social construction of institutions
Husserl’s method to seek truth Seeing sense Bracketing out Essences Local government & democracy Dwelling with essences
Is there a position in management for Martin Heidegger? Customers are equipment The phenomenology of local government Phenomenology of democracy Husserl’s phenomenological method in management Phenomenology of entrepreneurship Phenomenology of union decision-making A research programme
Technology will continue The Received View – laws of business Constructivist accounts - popular Phenomenology – strict applications The future