From “blue sky” to real world research

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to share reflective insights on three key questions of concern to critical diversity scholars: what influences play a part in framing a research project and the research questions, what determines the chosen methodology and what knowledge contributions do we want our research to make? Design/methodology/approach The paper, drawing on organisational ethnography, incorporates key fieldwork experiences to provide reflective insights on an innovative research project design conducted in multiple organisation sites. Findings The paper highlights the author’s learning from the conceptualisation of an innovative research project to the actual “doing” of what was proposed. It reflects on the unforeseen dilemmas that required continual adaptations be made because of the shifting demands of the research settings. Practical implications The paper is important as it provides the sharing of ideas into the influences that shaped a major piece of externally funded research and highlights a range of practical considerations if planning a critical diversity research project where negotiating access to organisations is required. Originality/value By reflecting on some important learning and insights into the crafting of an innovative research project and the challenges of enacting what was proposed, the paper is of value to post-doctoral and early career scholars and/or researchers interested in some insights into operationalising an organisational ethnographic methodology.

Reflections of a feminist organizational ethnographer: considering the subject matter and the research setting

“…The research study I reflexively interrogate here was the final piece of a larger, feminist inspired organizational ethnographic research study that had until that point, involved four private sector "case" organizations in New Zealand. To entice large (in terms of NZ) private and public sector (government) organizations to partner in an ethnographic research project on the broad theme of diversity and inclusion was a daunting, difficult task (see Ryan, 2018). Indeed, as Louvrier (2018) and Riese (2019) note, issues of access dictate the feasibility of a prospective research project and are an under-told part of our research stories.…”

The seven deadly sins and ethnography

“…These objectives are relevant to ethnographic research because they offer a reference through which researchers can be inspired to conduct the necessary reflection for their research process (Pozzebon and Petrini, 2013). We hope that reflection, with the seven sins as metaphors for ethnographical research, help scholars to be prepared for the issues that can arise when doing this type of research, problems that cannot be predicted but can be prepared for (Ryan, 2018). With that in mind we also encourage researchers of organizations to use ethnography in their research whatever their epistemological or ontological approach.…”