An Introduction to Qualitative Research in Information Systems

Myers, Michael D.; Avison, David

doi:10.4135/9781849209687.n1

Cited by 115 publications

(146 citation statements)

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“…Nevertheless, this research will adopt hermeneutics as a mode of analysis, as well. For analytic purposes, hermeneutics provides means to understand textual data, by attempting to disclose the meaning of the text (Butler, 1998;Myers & Avison, 2002;Cole & Avison, 2007). Data analysis process was informed by the use of hermeneutic circle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with tacit knowledge: An empirical investigation in glass blowing tradition in Sweden

Kurti¹

2012

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Tacit knowledge is argued to be a crucial resource to organizations' competitive advantage. The majority of research on tacit knowledge is oriented towards the conversion of tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge, thus assuming that all knowledge can be made explicit and captured in formal ways. These approaches overlook the intangible nature of tacit knowledge by overestimating that explicit knowledge. This study takes a human centered approach with the aim to examine the factors that are necessary for an environment that works with tacit knowledge. A theoretical framework derived from the literature review and served as guidance for the data collection and analysis. Hermeneutics is the underlying philosophy that guides this study. The study is qualitative study conducted in the glass blowing in Sweden, respectively in two sites Pukeberg and Transjö Hytta. Participants of the study were masters and apprentices from these two settings. Data collection methods included literature studies, documents, participant observation, informal interviews and semi-structured interviews.Results from the analysis show the significance of several social factors that need to be present in an environment that involves tacit knowledge. These factors appeared to be related to each other. Data analysis indicated that not all factors are equally important, thus they have been classified into primary and secondary factors. III Executive summaryIn the knowledge-driven society, tacit knowledge is argued to have become the primary resource for sustainable competitive advantage for organizations. The intangible nature that characterizes tacit knowledge is argued to provide organizations with unique market positions. Despite its importance, tacit knowledge has often been an ambiguous notion and often attributed as the opposite of the explicit knowledge. The majority of approaches focus towards the codification of tacit knowledge and ways of storing it into different Information Technology systems. These approaches treat knowledge as an object that can be detached from the humans, stored, transferred and shared.This study has taken a human centred approach aiming to identify the necessary factors that enable effective working with tacit knowledge. The study is conducted in the glass blowing tradition in Sweden, respectively in two glass blowing facilities. The rationale on focusing the study in this tradition relies on the fact that this tradition has preserved the traditional master/apprentice relation. Data is collected from both settings through literature studies, documents, participant observations, informal interviews and semi-structured interviews.Results from the data analysis show the significance of several social factors that need to be present in an environment that involves tacit knowledge. These factors appeared to be related to each other, some contributing to the others. Data analysis indicated that not all factors are equally important. Thus they have been classified into primary and secondary factors. Data collect...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with tacit knowledge: An empirical investigation in glass blowing tradition in Sweden

Kurti¹

2012

PsycEXTRA Dataset

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“…As Myers & Avison (2002b) say, qualitative research in information systems can be conducted according to interpretive, positivist and critical epistemologies. To these three research paradigms one can add pragmatism (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pragmatismvsinterpretivism in qualitative information systems research

Goldkuhl

2012

European Journal of Information Systems

378

245

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Qualitative research is often associated with interpretivism, but alternatives do exist. Besides critical research and sometimes positivism, qualitative research in information systems can be performed following a paradigm of pragmatism. This paradigm is associated with action, intervention and constructive knowledge. This paper has picked out interpretivism and pragmatism as two possible and important research paradigms for qualitative research in information systems. It clarifies each paradigm in an ideal-typical fashion and then conducts a comparison revealing commonalities and differences. The possibilities of combining pragmatism and interpretivism in qualitative research in information systems are analysed. A research case that combines interpretivism and pragmatism is used for illustration. The paper thus contributes to a discussion about different paradigms and methods for qualitative research in information systems.

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“…As required by the grounded theory techniques, there should be continuous interplay between data collection and analysis (Myers & Avison, 2002). Through this iterative approach, data analysis was performed in parallel to data collection, and the results of the analysis informed and directed the data collection process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communication and Culture in Global Software Development: The Case of Mauritius and South Africa

Tanner

2009

JIITO

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Global Software Development (GSD) is a growing sector in Mauritius and South Africa. With an increasing number of information technology (IT) investors, both countries are being recognised as IT hubs in the Southern African region; hence the need for further research on GSD in those two countries. Furthermore, due to a highly diverse cultural setting prevailing in Mauritius and South Africa, common GSD practices derived from other studies might not be fully successful when applied in these contexts. It is thus useful to explore how alternative GSD practices have been put in place to handle these cultural disparities and the resulting communication requirements. The study has been undertaken in an attempt to enlighten investors on the communication and cultural practices that could be followed while partaking in GSD in Mauritius and South Africa.

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An Introduction to Qualitative Research in Information Systems

Cited by 115 publications

References 0 publications

Working with tacit knowledge: An empirical investigation in glass blowing tradition in Sweden

Working with tacit knowledge: An empirical investigation in glass blowing tradition in Sweden

Pragmatismvsinterpretivism in qualitative information systems research

Communication and Culture in Global Software Development: The Case of Mauritius and South Africa

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