1000355

Course

Research Methodology in Organization and Management Analyses (Runs annually)

Faculty

Professor Jesper Strandgaard Pedersen
Professor Eva Boxenbaum
Associate Professor Magnus Larsson
Professor MSO Signe Vikkelsø
Professor MSO Anne Reff Pedersen
Postdoc fellow Anders Ravn Sørensen
Assistant Professor Anton G. Larsen
Assistant Professor Christoph H. Ellersgaard
Research Assistant Fabian Müller

Course Coordinator

Professor Jesper Strandgaard Pedersen & Professor Eva Boxenbaum

Prerequisites

It is a prerequisite that the participants are working on their projects (including the empirical work), can bring forth ideas about, reflections upon, their experiences and problems with the analyses.

The participants are required to submit a written presentation – 7-10 pages – which is read by the other course participants and form the basis for discussions and reflections of each other’s projects. Deadline for submission of the presentation is 4 February 2019.

It is a precondition for receiving the course diploma that the PhD student attends the entire course.

Aim

The course focuses on the whole PhD process from research question(s) over the role of theory, the generation and analysis of data, and the composition of the thesis. The course does so to discuss and make participants holistic about their choices and their PhD projects. The holism is shown in presentations from researcher about their research projects and is part of the discussions of the participants own projects.

Presentations of research projects from experienced researcher are presented in the mornings (Tuesday – Friday and on Monday afternoon), and the idea is that these presentations are inspirational for participants both for their projects and the discussions of them in the afternoons (Tuesday – Thursday). The presentations comes in pairs where the two presentations are to some extent in opposition to one another to show that the role of theory (research questions, the empirical field, the generation and analysis of data and the composition of the project) comes in many different forms and shapes, but all of them have to be holistic or consistent, as it is a common feature for all scientific work.

The objective of the course is to make participants aware of the many choices they are bound to make and how to provide consistency between those choices and to make a holistic project (linking research question(s), the theoretical framework, data generation and analysis, and the composition of the thesis)

The course deliberately differs from more specialized courses on method (which typically address only one methodological aspect or approach such as ‘the qualitative interview’ or ‘case studies’) and more general courses on qualitative and quantitative methods by focusing upon and dealing with the overall methodology and holism of the project: The relation between research questions, the empirical field, the theoretical framework, data generation and analysis, and the composition of the thesis.

The ambition of the course is to create awareness of and discuss the connections between the different elements and how to establish a methodological coherence of each PhD project, which makes the participants more aware of both the single elements and the coherence of their own PhD project.

To highlight the discussion of both the elements and the coherence an in-depth discussion of each single PhD project in smaller groups in the afternoons (Tuesday – Thursday) is an immanent and essential part of the course. The discussions follow a concept that provides room for constructive discussions of each PhD project and help participants develop their projects and the coherence of them.

Course content

The course is built up around four basic methodological elements:
1) How to work with the research question?
2) How to develop and use a theoretical framework?
3) How to generate and analyse data?
4) How to write the dissertation?

The course mornings are lectures focusing upon specific methodological themes followed by discussion and plenary debate. The afternoons are reserved for presentations and discussions of the participants’ projects and discussions of these in groups of 4-6 persons.

The course is based on the following assumptions and premises:
- The combination between presentations from experienced researcher and the discussions of the PhD projects provide fertile ground for getting new inspiration and specific comments to work with and improve the projects.
- Research as a creative process involving both learning processes and personal development and they are both highlighted in the combination of the course
- The focus of the course on coherence (consistency) seeks to constantly interweave theory and empirical material related to organization and management processes.
- The course sees methodology as the linkages between theoretical perspectives, methods and techniques, empirical field, researcher and work process, and it makes methodology a practice which finds its legitimacy in relation to the completion of the research project and the research publications’ ability to convince relevant research and practitioner communities.

Teaching style

The course is not an introductory course to methodology with the intention of giving ‘solutions’ to the participants’ projects in terms of one specific ‘how-to-do design’ (as ‘solutions’ differ between projects). The course, instead, invites to a joint discussion, exploration, and reflection to develop the participants’ methodological competences especially in relation to their own projects, but also as a qualified participant in research-related connections as opponent, reviewer, etc. The reflection is based on two elements (that mutually benefit each other throughout the course):

1) Discussion of methodological questions related to the course participants’ own projects
2) Presentation and discussion of methodological reflections and experiences related to completed research projects.

Lecture plan

Preliminary lecture plan

Monday 25 February	12.30 – 13.00 Introduction to the course • Presentation of the program and the participants 13.30 – 16.30 Research Question(s) and Focus • ’Tricks of the Trade’ • What is an interesting project? • How do you create a research question? • The development of the research question • The aim and research interest of the project • The status and consequences of the research question • Contribution and profiling Speakers: - Professor, Eva Boxenbaum, CBS, IOA - Professor, Jesper Strandgaard Pedersen, CBS, IOA
Tuesday 26 February	9.00 – 12.00 The Role and Status of Theory in the Project • How is theory included in the project? • What is ’theory’ in my project? • Different strategies for the interplay between theory and empirical data (theory-driven or phenomenon-driven, theory testing or problem identifying, one-or-more theories approach?) Speakers: - Associate professor, Magnus Larsson, CBS, IOA - Professor Eva Boxenbaum, CBS, IOA 12.00 – 13.00 Lunch 13.00 – 16.30 Project Discussion I 18.00 Dinner
Wednesday 27 February	9.00 – 12.00 Data Generation and the Analysis Process I (ethnographic methods) • Choice of methods for data generation • Data Analysis • Relevance in relatioon to the problem definition and the theory of the project Speakers: - Professor MSO, Signe Vikkelsø, CBS, IOA - Professor MSO, Anne Reff Pedersen, CBS, IOA 12.00 – 13.00 Lunch 13.00 – 16.30 Projects discussion II
Thursday 28 February	9.00 – 12.00 Data Generation and the Analysis Process II (archive- and case studies) • Choice of methods for data generation • Data Analysis • Relevance in relation to the problem definition and the theory of the project Speakers: - Postdoc fellow, Anders Ravn Sørensen, CBS, MPP - Professor, Jesper Strandgaard Pedersen, CBS, IOA 12.00 – 13.00 Lunch 13.00 – 14.30 Projects discussion V
Friday 1 March	09.00 – 12.30 The Representation of Data • 9.00 - 9.45 (app.) Network Analysis (Anton G. Larsen & Christoph H. Ellersgaard) • 9.45 – 10.30 (app.) Multi-modal representation (Eva Boxenbaum) 10.30 - 10.45 (app.) Break 10.45 – 12.30 (app.) The Composition of the Dissertation • 10.45 – 11.30 (app.) Discussion • 11.30 - 12.15 (app.) How it could be done: An example (Fabian Müller) Speakers: - Pofessor MSO, Anne Reff Pedersen, CBS, IOA - Assistant Professors, Anton G. Larsen & Christoph H. Ellersgaard, CBS, IOA - Research Assistant, Fabian Müller, CBS, IOA - Professsor, Eva Boxenbaum, CBS, IOA 12.30 – 13.30 Wrap up of the course Summing up, evaluations, light lunch (sandwiches) and farewell Course coordinators: - Professor, Jesper Strandgaard Pedersen, CBS, IOA - Professor, Eva Boxenbaum, CBS, IOA

Learning objectives

The course provides students with
- Greater insights into a number of approaches to organizational analyses,
- Offers a larger repertoire to choose from
- A better foundation for making qualified and consistent choices about each and every element in the PhD project and the coherence between the elements of the PhD project

The course improves the students' ability to critically and constructively evaluate the coherence and adequacy of different choices and parts of the research process. This strengthens the research methodology of their own projects and develops their competences to discuss and help other’s research projects (the latter increases their competences in the research community and ability to do other research-related tasks, such as: Reviewer and opponent / discussant).

Exam

N/A

Other

Start date

25/02/2019

End date

01/03/2019

Level

PhD

ECTS

Language

English

Course Literature

A course compendium with selected texts on the four headlines of the morning lectures.

Preliminary literature

Research Question(s) and Focus

Barley, S.R. (2006) When I Write My Masterpjece: Thoughts on What Makes a Paper Interesting. Academy of Management Journal, 49(1) 16-20.

Murray S. Davis. (1971) That’s Interesting! Towards a Phenomenology of Sociology and Sociology of Phenomenology. Phil. Soc. Sci I. pp. 309-344

Bartunek, J. M., Rynes S. L. & Ireland R. D. (2006): What Makes Management Research Interesting, and Why Does it Matter? Academy of Management Journal; Vol. 49; no. 1; pp 9-15.

Becker, Howard (1998) Imagery. Fra: Tricks of the Trade. How to Think About Your Research While You’re Doing it. Chicago University Press, pp.10-66

The Role and Status of Theory

Gioia, D.A.,Corley, K. G. And Hamilton, A. L. Price, K.N., Hamilton, A.L. (2012): Seeking Qualitative Rigor in Inductive Research: Notes on Gioia Methodology. Organizational Research Methods, OnlineFirst Version, pp. 1-17

Vendelø,, M. T. and Rerup, C. (2011): Crowd Sensegiving and the Pearl Jam Concert Accident. Third International Symposium on Process Organization Studies, June 16-18, Corfu, Greece, pp. 1-14.

Scheglofi, E. A.(1997): Whose Text? Whose Context?. Discourse & Society, 8 (2), pp. 165-187.

Larsson, M. & Lundholm S. (2013): Taking Work in a Bank: A study of organizing properties of leadership in work interactions. Human Relations, 66 (8), pp. 1101 – 1029.

Data Generation and the Analysis Process I (ethnography)

Bowker, Geoffrey & Susan Leigh Star (1999) Some Tricks of the Trade in Analyzing Classification. Fra: Sorting Things Out – Classification and It’s Consequences. MIT Press, pp. 33-50

Becker, Howard (1998) Sampling. Fra: Tricks of the Trade. How to Think About Your Research While You’re Doing it. Chicago University Press, pp. 67-108.

Latour, B. (1997) Where Are the Missing Masses? The Sociology of a Few Mundane Artifacts, i Bijker, W. & J. Law (1997) Shaping Technology/Building Society. The MIT Press.

Meyerson, Debra E. "Normal" Ambiguity? A Glimpse of an Occupational Culture fra Frost, Peter J. (et al.) ‘Refraiming Organizational Culture’, 1991, Sage Publications, Inc., pp. 131 – 144.

Martin, Joanne, Kathy Knopoff and Christine Beckman: Bounded emotionality at the body shop fra Fineman, Stephen (editor) Emotion in Organizations, 2nd edition, Sage Publications Ltd., 2000, pp. 115 – 139.

Data Generation and the Analysis Process II (archive- and case studies)

Kjær, Peter (2008) Institutional History. Fra: Peter Nedergaard & John L. Campbell (eds.) Institutions and Politics. DJØF Publishing Copenhagen, pp.111-133.

Prior, Lindsay (2004): Doing Things with Documents. InSilverman, D. (ed.): Qualitative Research. Theory, Methoid and Practice. Los Angeles, Sage, 2004, pp. 76-94.

Weick, K. E. (2007): The Generative Proporties of Richness. Academy of Management Journal, Vol 50 (1) pp. 14-19

Siggelkow, N. (2007):: Persuasion with Case Studies. Academy of Management Journal, Vol 50 (1), pp. 20-24.

Eisenhardt, K. M. & M. E. Graebner (2007): Theory Building from Cases: Opportunities and Challenges. Academy of Management Journal, Vol 50 (1 pp. 25-32.

Flyvbjerg, B. (2006) Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research. Qualitative Inquiry,12 (2) (219-245) Sage Publications.

The Composition of the Dissertation

Richardson, L. (2000), Writing: A Method of Inquiry. Fra: Norman K. Denzin & Yvonna S. Lincoln (eds.) Handbook of Qualitative Research, 2nd edition. Sage Publications, pp. 923-948

Van Maanen, J. (1988) Tales of the Field – On Writing Ethnography. Kap. 4, pp. 73-99, kap. 5, pp.101-124

Fish, Stanley (1998) What Makes an Interpretation Acceptable. Fra: Is There a Text in this Class? The Authority of Interpretive Communities. Harvard University Press, pp. 338-355

Suggested readings

Background literature: Denzin & Lincoln (eds.) (1994) Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage · Becker, H. (1998): Tricks of the Trade. How to Think About Your Research While You’re Doing it. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Fee

DKK 6,500 (covers the course, coffee/tea, lunch and one dinner)

Minimum number of participants

Maximum number of participants

Location

Copenhagen Business School
Kilevej 14 A
2000 Frederiksberg
Room: KL4.74 (4th floor)

Contact information

The PhD Support
Katja Høeg Tingleff
Tel.: +45 38 15 28 39
E-mail: kht.research@cbs.dk

Registration deadline

11/01/2019

Please note that your registration is binding after the registration deadline.

In case we receive more registrations for the course than we have places, the registrations will be prioritized in the following order: Students from Doctoral School of Organisation and Management Studies (OMS), students from other CBS PhD schools, students from other institutions than CBS.

Top