Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ postings

Marshall

When determining the type of qualitative research that the researcher will conduct it is important to determine the method of collection and how it will be used to analyze the empirical evidence.  Yin (2018) proposes that multiple research method can be used for exploratory, descriptive and explanatory studies if properly applied to the research topic.  However, there is often one methodology that is more appropriate to address the research question (Smith, 2019).

            The case study design can be defined as a method of research that comprises an all-encompassing research that has its own method of approaching the data and seeks to understand a real world problem by drawing from multiple sources of evidence (Yin, 2018).  This intensive analysis based on evidence gained from one or more individuals evaluates a phenomenon in real life context and provide the researcher with valuable data on performance in a selected domain (Margeviciute, 2012). 

            Sanders et al. (2015) defined phenomenology as research design that focuses on the subject’s experiences, including their interpretations and recollections of lived experiences and how those experiences provide insight into the phenomenon being studied.  Furthermore, phenomenology can be viewed as evaluating consciousness and finding meaning (Song, 2017).  The phenomenological design can be time be very in depth but may take considerable more time that a single case study.

            The business problem I have identified is that aviation-manufacturing organizations often lack strategies to promote innovation in the organization.  The research question focuses on what strategies to business leaders use to promote innovation in aviation manufacturing production.  The case study desing requirements are for 3 to 10 participants.  After reading other studies found on ProQuest and the Walden Library, I believe that my study will align with the case study design.  Phenomenology would be appropriate, however, the requirement for 20 participants and the time required to complete the study would be a significant challenge considering the timeline required for the doctoral study.  

References

Margevičiūtė, R. (2012). The advantages and disadvantages of single case and group study design in neuropsychology. Psichologija, 46, 135–142. doi: 10.15388/psichol.2012.46.816

Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2015). Research methods for business students (7th ed.). Essex, England: Pearson Education Unlimited.

Smith, M. (2019). Discussion – Week 1 [Online discussion post]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/

Song, Z. (2017). The debate between empirical and broader phenomenological approaches to research. Tourism Management, 58, 307–311. Retrieved from doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2016.03.016

Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Walden University. (2019). DBA doctoral study rubric and research handbook. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/osra/dba

Dwight

Business Problem

My specific business problem is that some business leaders lack a strategy for understanding the impact of organizational culture on firm performance. My interviews focused on the organizational culture in two different Department of Defense (DoD) contracting companies. Both interviewees were executive level leadership with over 20 years’ experience. I wanted to ensure I interviewed leaders who had enough experience to properly adequately answer the interview questions. 

Another important factor in my choice of interviewees was I wanted them to have a military background. I felt that my military background would allow me to connect with my interviewees in a way that would get them to open about organizational culture. More specifically, any toxic culture that may or may not exist. Toxic organizational culture can negatively impact firm performance (Warrick, 2017). Both leaders spoke of this in the interview. Another reoccurring them both leaders addressed was communicating the culture down to the lowest level. A survey of over 500 people noted that 72% felt that organizational culture was important, but only 25% felt that organizational culture is properly communicated throughout the organization (Eaton & Kilby, 2015). Again, both organizations were actively working on communicating the mission, goals, and values to all employees. 

Analysis Method

I am currently still coding my transcriptions, but two themes I currently see trending in both interviews are identifying toxic culture and communication. I am still not sure what I am going to do about the anomaly I discovered outside my interview questions. Which is, the correlation between previous military leaders and how they see organizational culture within an organization. Because of this anomaly, I may alter my problem statement later. Once I am finished coding my transcriptions, I plan to use the grounded theory method to analyze the data from the transcriptions. The grounded theory method allows me to start the analysis with no philosophical position, but instead allows me to develop codes and themes based on the answers derived from the interview questions (Yin, 2018). At this stage of my research, I am not sure what I am looking for. I just know that organizational culture has a profound impact on firm performance. 

References

Eaton, D., & Kilby, G. (2015, January). Does your organizational culture support your business strategy? The Journal for Quality and Participation, 37(4), 4-7. Retrieved from http://asq.org/pub/jqp/index.html

Warrick, D. D. (2017). What leaders need to know about organizational culture. Business Horizons, 60(), 395-404. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2017.01.011

Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design methods(6th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.