Applying the Principles of Interpretive Field Research: an Example of an Is Case Study on Shared Services

APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETIVE FIELD RESEARCH: AN EXAMPLE OF AN IS CASE STUDY ON SHARED SERVICES Suraya Miskon1, Wasana Bandara2 and Erwin Fielt2 1Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia 2Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia E-Mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT All sound research commence with the selection of a research paradigm. The chosen research paradigm is significant in shaping the researcher’s perspectives of the world and it is a vital step in any study’s’ research design. There are different paradigms that IS researchers can choose from; amongst which the interpretive paradigm is growing in acceptance.. Though interpretive research has emerged as an important strand in Information Systems (IS), guidelines on how to conduct interpretive research and how to evaluate them have been scarce. Klein and Myers presented seven principles with examples for each from three case examples. While these principles are much valued, there is a lack of support for novice researchers on how to embed these principles in an overall research design, which could help with the aid of a detailed example that has done so. Thus, this paper aims to address this gap, and presents how Klein and Myers’s principles were applied within an example study that investigated shared services in the Malaysian Higher Education context. The example study adopted the interpretive paradigm as the most suited approach that fitted their research questions and goals. More details about the selection and adoption of the Klein and Myers’s guidelines in the context of the shared services research case study are presented in the paper. Keywords: Interpretive Research, Research Design, Case Study, Qualitative research INTRODUCTION qualitative research. While Lincoln and Guba (2000), Selecting the right research paradigm for a initially categorized positivism, post-positivism, critical research is a crucial step in any study’s’ research design. A theory and constructivism as the basic beliefs of rational scientific research paradigm includes basic alternative inquiry paradigm. This paper focuses on the assumptions of the research, the research questions, the interpretivist paradigm and addresses how to move from research techniques and all relevant basic rules that will high-level paradigmatic concerns to more concrete guide the thinking and behavior of researchers while guidelines (supported with the illustrative case example) conducting research. As stated in Gummesson (2000, p. for conducting research. 18), “It will be used to represent people’s value Though “interpretive research has emerged as judgments, norms, standards, frames of reference, an important strand in Information Systems” (Klein & perspectives, ideologies, myths, theories, and approved Myers, 1999, p. 67), guidelines on how to conduct procedures that govern their thinking and action”. interpretive research and how to evaluate them have been Hirschheim and Klein (1989), state that the paradigms scarce. Klein and Myers (1999, p. 70) presented seven would typically consist of assumptions (1) about how principles of interpretive field research in response to this knowledge can be obtained (epistemology), (2) about the gap, which were provided “in the spirit of being views related to physical and social world (ontology), and fundamental ideas that may be helpful to authors and (3) how to acquire it (methodology). According to Krauss reviewers”. They state that they were not meant to be (2005, p. 759), epistemology have close connection mandatory rather a set of guidelines. To date, these between ontology and methodology, “ontology involves principles are held strongly amongst IS researchers to the philosophy of reality, epistemology addresses how we guide and evaluate interpretative research. come to know that reality, while methodology identifies the While Klein and Myers (1999) described the particular practices used to attain knowledge of it”. guidelines well and provided an example for each The chosen research paradigm is significant in guideline from a collection of prior work (see their Table shaping the researcher’s perspectives of the world 1, p. 72), their paper and those following after that (Díaz (Maxwell, 2009). The paradigm is also influenced by the Andrade, 2009; Rowlands, 2005; Shemi & Procter, 2013), context of the research and also the people around the do not describe how these guidelines can be applied across researcher. The researcher’s paradigm can also greatly an entire single study’s design. Furthermore, according to influence the research design, the chosen research ú切ú methods, how the data are being collected, analyzed and TE <EndNote><Cite finally assist them in justifying the outcome of the inquiry, ExcludeAuth="1"><Author>Cardoso</Author><Year>20 “You need to make explicit which paradigm(s) your work 12</Year><RecNum>14</RecNum><DisplayText>(2012 will draw on, since a clear paradigmatic stance helps )</DisplayText><record><rec-number>14</rec- guide your design decisions and to justify these decisions” number><foreign-keys><key app="EN" db- (Maxwell, 2009, p. 224). id="vvx2ze0pse525ievpr7pw20vfa0p5zw95f2w">14</key There are various schools of thoughts on ></foreign-keys><ref-type name="Journal classifying paradigms and these worldviews have Article">17</ref- continually evolved. Creswell (2007) named post- type><contributors><authors><author>Ana positivism, constructivism/ interpretivism, advocacy/ Cardoso</author><author>Isabel participatory and pragmatism for different paradigms in Ramos</author></authors></contributors><titles><title> Looking at the Past to Enrich the Future: A Reflection on Klein and Myers’ Quality Criteria for Interpretive Research</title><secondary-title>Electronic Journal1 of Business Research Methods</secondary- title></titles><periodical><full-title>Electronic Journal of The paper recaps the seven principles of Principles Descriptions interpretive field research by Klein and Myers (1999) and The Fundamental This principle of human then introduces the case study. The next section presents 1 Principle of the understanding is fundamental to how these were applied with the case study. Hermeneutic Circle all the other principles. This principle suggests that all human OVERVIEW OF INTERPRETIVE FIELD understanding is achieved by RESEARCH PRINCIPLES repeating between considering Interpretive researchers attempt to understand the the interdependent meaning of parts and the whole that they phenomenon of investigation through social constructions form. and sharing of meaning by the people for example based The principle of This principle requires clear on the language used, their interaction, communication 2 Contextualization reflections of the social and and overall atmosphere of the studied context (Klein & historical background of the Myers, 1999; Myers, 1997). Interpretive research helps IS research setting to ensure the researchers to be able to explore human thought and action intended researcher able to see within social and organizational contexts as it allows them how the current situation under to have better understanding into information systems investigation emerged. phenomena such as the management of information The Principle of This principle requires clear systems (Klein & Myers, 1999). Interpretive paradigm is 3 Interaction reflections on how the data or much influenced by hermeneutic and phenomenological Between the research materials were basis as the research and the researcher’s learning process Researchers and constructed through the continually iterate (Carroll & Swatman, 2000; Klein & the Subjects interaction between researchers Myers, 1999; Lee, 1999). Researchers are guided by the and respondents of the study. initial interpretation or understanding of the phenomenon The Principle of This principle requires relating and it will continuously be changed through further 4 Abstraction and the idiographic details revealed exploration of the literature and especially through Generalization by the data interpretation through investigation and interaction with the studied context the application of principles one (Klein & Myers, 1999, p. 71). The overall discoveries and two to theoretical, general throughout the process are valuable and could be reflected concepts that describe the nature by the researchers at the end of their journey. of human understanding and social action. There are seven principles of interpretive field The Principle of This principle requires research from the IS literature as presented in Table 1 5 Dialogical understanding to potential (extracted from Klein & Myers, 1999, p. 72). The first Reasoning contradictions between the principle of Klein and Myers (1999) is an overarching theoretical preconceptions principle for the interpretive research and this will be guiding the research design and expand to the other six principles. The other six principles actual findings with subsequent are interdependence with each other and these can be cycles of revision. applied in IS research when the researcher(s) determine The Principle of This principle requires what relevant context(s) should be explored (principle 6 Multiple understanding to potential two) depends upon the following: how the researcher Interpretations differences in interpretation "creates data" in interaction with the subjects (principle among the respondents as are three); the theory or concepts to which the researcher will typically expressed in multiple be abstracting and generalizing (principle four); the narratives or

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