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00:00:00 – 00:50:35
The speaker, a former engineer with experience at Boeing and Ford, provides insights into the study of organizational dynamics through qualitative research, emphasizing methodological rigor and relevance. They discuss the importance of understanding organizations' ontological, epistemological, and methodological aspects, and advocate for grounded theory where theory emerges organically from data. The speaker acknowledges the challenges in publishing qualitative research due to the field's preference for quantitative methods but highlights the significant impact of qualitative studies despite their low incidence. They call for research that is practically relevant and forward-thinking, noting the potential and impact of qualitative studies in understanding managerial actions and decision-making processes. The speaker also touches on the broader societal context, emphasizing the need for integrity in scientific research amidst challenges such as political attitudes toward science.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the speaker expresses gratitude to the strategy practices group for the speaking invitation, particularly acknowledging Rajeev for his persuasive skills and Ann Langley for her recent induction into the Academy of Management Fellows. The speaker shares a humorous and personal anecdote about participating in last year’s Academy meeting via a pre-recorded, scripted video, which turned out to be effective. This year, expecting to use a teleprompter, the speaker had to adapt last-minute to using PowerPoint slides instead, apologizing for any disorganization. He then contemplates the best way to contribute to the SAP group discussion, ultimately deciding to focus on his strengths in methodology and philosophy of science, despite finding these topics potentially dry or daunting for the audience.
00:05:00
In this part of the video, the speaker aims to make a complex and potentially dull subject more engaging and relevant to the audience by discussing a rigorous, systematic qualitative methodology for research. The speaker explains their passion for this approach due to its development and relevance in studying strategy as practice. They share their background as a trained engineer, initially working at Boeing Aerospace during the Apollo lunar programs, which provided insights into organizational systems. Later, they joined Ford Motor Company with aspirations to work on the racing team but ended up as the recall coordinator, notably involved in the Pinto fires case. This experience revealed to them the complexity of organizations and the importance of understanding managerial decision-making and actions. Transitioning to academia, the speaker found that traditional models of organizations, based on physical science theories, didn’t align with their industrial experiences, prompting their interest in qualitative methodologies.
00:10:00
In this part of the video, the speaker delves into the concepts of ontology, epistemology, and methodology, emphasizing their interconnected nature in studying organizations. Ontology concerns the inherent nature of organizations, epistemology addresses how we can understand these entities, and methodology involves the techniques used to study them. The speaker identifies as a pragmatic idealist, which combines principles with practical application, and highlights the importance of conceptual relevance. They reflect on their role as a grounded theorist, explaining their approach to understanding organizational experiences and writing analytical narratives. Furthermore, the speaker contrasts Ford and Boeing, illustrating Ford as a social system rather than purely an engineering system, necessitating a different approach to understanding its organizational structure.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the concept of meaning, particularly in social and organizational studies, which cannot be fully captured by the methods of physical sciences. They stress that much of the world is socially constructed, meaning that people collectively create and agree upon the realities they deal with. This realization was profound for the speaker, especially given their background as an engineer. They point out the inappropriateness of using physical science metaphors, such as “mechanisms,” in social sciences, arguing that terms like “processes” or “factors” are more fitting. They also touch on the effort to eliminate the default use of masculine pronouns in language, linking it to the broader theme of challenging existing power structures.
00:20:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the barriers to understanding organizational dynamics and emphasizes the importance of focusing on processes. They highlight a 1999 article by Ann that examines the study of processes and suggest that understanding how organization members construct and understand their experiences is crucial. The speaker introduces the term “knowledgeable agents” to describe people who are well-informed about their experiences and can articulate their actions, intentions, and reasons. An example is provided from an earlier research project on strategy-making in academia, demonstrating that assumptions about theoretical language may not align with the actual experiences of the subjects being studied. The conclusion is that researchers should empower the voices of these knowledgeable agents, effectively becoming more like reporters who capture genuine insights directly from these individuals.
00:25:00
In this part of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of giving voice to informants in qualitative research before imposing theoretical frameworks on their experiences. They recount a personal experience with their first interpretive qualitative research project, highlighting the unexpected discovery that real decisions were made in informal “kitchen cabinet” meetings, which they initially missed. The speaker discusses the balance between maintaining creative potential and ensuring methodological rigor in inductive studies, aiming for systematic, credible interpretations of data. They stress the challenge of making findings defensible and convincing to gatekeepers in the academic field.
00:30:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses strategies for convincing readers of the credibility and utility of a research report. The main approach emphasized includes encouraging discovery, providing evidence for assertions, and connecting evidence to any grand claims made. The speaker highlights the need for both first-order (informant level) and second-order (researcher level) understanding. They also mention a “third order understanding” but dismiss it as unnecessary and obscure.
The importance of data structures in qualitative research is stressed, with the data structure serving as a static picture and the grounded model as a dynamic process, akin to the relationship between anatomy and physiology. The speaker prefers to maintain the use of data structures despite some criticism, as they believe it is essential for honesty and transparency in reporting their research.
The speaker touches on the difficulty of publishing and convincing academic reviewers of the value of one’s work, emphasizing the challenge of demonstrating brilliance and the significance of research findings within the rigorous standards of academic publishing.
00:35:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses the increasing focus on theoretical contributions in their field and the shift towards more arcane topics. They emphasize the importance of practical relevance and visibility of research focusing on managerial actions. The speaker highlights the dominance of quantitative research and the gatekeepers’ preference for deductive thinking, hypothesis testing, and quantitative data, which challenges qualitative research acceptance. They stress the need for plausible and defensible explanations over definitive answers in qualitative work, sharing personal anecdotes and experiences, including challenges faced when submitting qualitative studies to journals traditionally favoring quantitative methods. The speaker advocates for grounded theory, where theory emerges from data, and recounts the difficulties in having qualitative research recognized and published.
00:40:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the feedback received from paper reviewers, who insisted that the theory should be presented upfront in the paper structure. The speaker shares an illustrative anecdote from the TV series “M*A*S*H” to highlight the importance of prioritizing reviewer requests, comparing it to the show’s depiction of triage in a medical unit. They reflect on their own experience in adapting to reviewers’ demands, leading to a consistent placement of theory at the beginning of their studies.
The speaker then addresses the challenges of publishing qualitative research, noting its underrepresentation in the field and the difficulties they have faced with rejections. Despite these challenges, the speaker advocates for the value of qualitative research and its impact, citing data from journals like Administrative Science Quarterly and the Academy of Management Journal that show a relatively low incidence but high impact of qualitative research papers. The speaker encourages the audience to pursue qualitative methods if it aligns with their research interests, highlighting its potential for significant contributions to the field.
00:45:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the contrast between the low incidence and high impact of qualitative research papers in two journals over the last 25 years. Despite these papers making up a small percentage, nearly half of the award winners come from them, indicating their significant impact. The speaker advises caution for those without tenure, as the publication process in qualitative research can take over five years. They argue that while qualitative research can be impactful, those seeking tenure might consider other approaches.
Furthermore, the speaker critiques the prescriptive quality of current research, suggesting that it should provide more actionable practices for managers. Drawing inspiration from Herbert Simon’s work on bounded rationality, the speaker suggests focusing on procedural effectiveness.
Finally, they express disappointment that significant innovations often originate from industry rather than academia, challenging academics to be more forward-thinking and predictive in their research. The speaker also touches on the challenge of conducting research in a polarized societal context where facts are often disregarded, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity in both physical and social sciences amidst issues like climate change.
00:50:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses their perspective on living in the U.S. under the current regime, expressing concern about the treatment of Muslims and questioning why someone from a diverse place, like where a third of the population is Muslim, would want to come to the U.S. now. Additionally, the speaker critiques the regime’s attitude toward science, including social and organizational sciences, and stresses the importance of resisting such attitudes. They acknowledge the political nature of their statement and frame it as their parting shot.