Chapter Three: Research Methodology 1 Introduction

3.7 Summary
In this chapter we have presented a detailed account of the research philosophy,
strategy and methodology according to which we shall conduct this research. We
place our research in both the positivist and the interpretivist camps, utilising a

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mixture of survey, case study and action research approaches. Previous literature
describing case studies is valuable in identifying the salient points of the case study
methodology, as well as illustrating the weaknesses associated with earlier research.
While fewer materials concerning action research are readily available, we explain
how we propose to interoperate the two interpretivist methods so as to achieve our
research objectives. This includes a substantial literature review, the enhancement
of earlier research models and the development of an instrument. These are
explained in much greater detail elsewhere in the thesis and in other published
papers. Finally we detail the operationalisation of the practical side of the thesis - the
cases - recounting how we have identified suitable organisational groups for study
and detailing our broad procedures for data analysis and software intervention. In
Chapter Nine, we will revisit the action research methodology, analysing it in the
context of the cases we will have by then undertaken, and discussing its
appropriateness for this type of research.