Lu, S and Sexton, M G (2004) Appropriate research design for investigating innovation in small knowledge-intensive professional service firms. In: Khosrowshahi, F (ed.) Proceedings of 20th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2004, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract
Performance improvement in the construction industry is significantly influenced by the innovation performance of small knowledge-intensive professional service firms. The importance of knowledge-based innovation as a critical source of sustainable competitive advantage in such firms has hitherto not been adequately appreciated or investigated. There is thus an urgent need to develop appropriate research design which enable us to better understand the nature and process of innovation in small knowledge-intensive professional service firms. This paper details a 'nested approach' which integrates an interpretative philosophy, case study- and action-research approaches and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. The operationalisation of the 'nested approach' is then discussed by drawing upon ongoing collaborative research with a single case study company. The paper concludes with the identification of lessons learned from the research design aspects of the collaborative research and their methodological implications for future investigation into knowledge-based innovation in small knowledge-intensive professional service firms.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | small professional service firms; innovation; research philosophy; research design |
| Index terms: | lessons learned, construction industry, performance improvement, investigation, research design, drawing, philosophy, professional service firm, competitive advantage, innovation performance, case study |
| Subjects: | market analysis, industry analysis, philosophical studies, performance measurement, professional development, technical documentation, data collection methods, organization, research design and methodology |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Information Management, Design Practice, Quality Management, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here