An organizational ethnography of strategic networking practice in an under-researched and potentially difficult to access setting : the roles of the researcher, the researched, and context / William Phanuel Kofi Darbi, and Paul Knott.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Darbi, William Phanuel Kofi, author.

Knott, Paul, active 2019, author.

Series:

SAGE Research Methods. Cases.

SAGE Research Methods. Cases

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Informal sector (Economics)--Ghana.

Informal sector (Economics).

Business anthropology--Research--Ghana.

Business anthropology.

Data sets.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

London : SAGE Publications Ltd, 2019.

Summary:

This case study sets out the preparation and conduct of a piece of organizational ethnographic research undertaken for a doctoral degree. A feature of the research is the distinctive set of challenges presented by the research setting, which was part of the informal business sector in Ghana, Africa. Having been formerly under-researched, this business setting presented several hurdles for the research design to overcome, notably a need to situate the study within strategic management scholarship, select a theoretical framework commensurate with the study, and adopt a suitable research strategy. The narrative sets out the rationale for following the SAP research paradigm, adopting a hybrid research strategy involving an embedded case study structure and ethnographic data collection and analysis methods, and framing the research using Bourdie??s logic of practice framework. Given the unusual setting, the case sets out how the researche?s own background was germane to gaining and sustaining access. Equally, it sets out how this background in part facilitated the potentially delicate issue of human ethics clearance to study a sector characterized by a degree of legal non-compliance in a societal setting far removed from that of formal developed-country businesses. The case sets out in detail how different elements of the data collection played out in practice, including semi-structured interviews, shadowing, observation, and documentary research. It concludes with illuminating reflection on lessons learnt, including the roles of the researcher as well as those of the researched and of context.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on XML content.

ISBN:

1-5264-6626-0

9781526466266

OCLC:

1084523692