This chapter determinate used methodology in this research. The methodology of this research displays its strategy, methods and also research implementation. This research as a case study is following formula of qualitative research study and it gathers together authors own analysis and material from data sources.
Hirsijärvi, Remes and Sajavaara (2002, 123,194-197.) states a case study presents the subject in detailed level and needs realistic data based on natural environment. The subject can be single case or just present small group of issues. This research is based on interviews with planned themes. Themes are based on supportive questions, which is one characteristic of structured interview.
However, normal discussion around themes were obtained and this helped to get more detailed information about the subject. Questionnaire with closed questions was first data source from the case and it helped to plan themes and subtopics in order to help and support coming interviews with company representatives. Also this questionnaire was sent to other companies as well to get comparable data about the subject. Other companies were using also CI methodologies in their businesses. Also supportive interviews were established with some of these companies. Thesis theoretical framework covers known theories and variety of known natural cases, which helped to bring out own analysis and to develop themes with questions.
7.1. Data collection
The primary data source used in this study was the case study organization and its representatives. The author believes the data based on interviews has not been introduced earlier in public. Theoretical framework presents known data collected from prevalent literature, researches and articles, which have been gathered during this study for different purposes. Also particular, supportive research was executed using questionnaire, which has not been
used before. The material data for this study was gathered in order to help researcher to find answers for research questions.
Main data collection methods were case study interviews and a web survey (questionnaire). Also few interviews were established to get supportive data from small number of companies. These companies also answered to the questionnaire.
Web survey was made during fall 2016 and early spring of 2017.
7.2. A qualitative research using case data
Qualitative research is a type of scientific research and in general it can be used in terms of investigation, which tries to find answers to a question or questions. This method’s nature is naturalistic, emergent and purposeful for studying real world situations and possible cases for study. It helps researcher to find answers to the questions and collects evidence based on research problems or questions. Also researcher is open for findings which were not possible to evaluate upfront. One of the benefits of this method is that it gives a possibility to find specific information about the leadership and organizational culture which have a context of human behavior, -values and other related social content related to organizations, which uses continuous improvement. (USC Libraries 2017a; 2017b.)
Based on known theories and prevalent literature there is a possibility to get a decent picture about continuous improvement. Furthermore, planned research will get more detailed and practical information about the context.
That is the reason for choosing qualitative approach. This research presents a case study from organization MC, which is using CI as part of their everyday work. This case data is based on many interviews and questionnaire data.
Also author will use same basic questionnaire to gather data to get some information about the status of CI in other organizations.
7.3. Questionnaire
This thesis questionnaire is a closed list of questions, which are identical for every party to be answered. This questionnaire was also used with a case study to gather information about the status of CI in that organization. It implicated the direction for interviewing specified company people later.
Interviews were meant to be events which will go deeper in the subject to get meaningful information and answers for research questions. Same questionnaire as mentioned above, was used to collect supportive information about how other operative companies in Finland proceeds CI in common including questions how they see the link between operational excellence and organizational culture with leadership during the change. All answers are evaluated as a background information to get some information how organizations would think about operational excellence if using CI as a main method.
Denscombe (2010, 165-166.) states questionnaire can hold two types of questions, a closed type or open type. Closed ones are typically presented with choices that respondent can pick up. It means that answers are going to be categorized, because they are pre-determined by researcher. Open questions give a chance for variation, so respondent can decide the context what to answer.
In order to get unique and comparable data, this study used closed and open questions. For finding out the situation how company think about their situation at CI journey, closed questions were mainly represented in that questionnaire. Although, in the end of closed questions there were open textboxes to answer without any restricts. After questionnaire, open questions were mainly used in case interviews to gather unique data based on their experiences during CI journey.
7.4. Validity of the research
Research should focus on meeting those objectives what were presented to be measured and find answers in such a way that research has a validity. In qualitative research, the validity is more reliant with respondent’s authenticity and in the way how researcher treats the data and validate results based on interviews and possible questionnaires. Golafshani (2003) presents by Eisner (1991, 58) and Stenbacka (2001, 551) that a good qualitative study
‘’could help to understand a situation what otherwise could be enigmatic or just confusing’’ and if looking qualitative study as a quality concept, it has a purpose of generating understanding about the subject.
Validity can be proceeded after each interview by presenting the summary of that interview and respondent would notify if it is valid or not. In similar way, researcher can ask validity and member check sending case study results to respondents of that case organization. Herani and Advani (2016, 14.) presents validity by Lincoln and Guba (1985) who described how it can be proceeded using methods like ‘’member check, interviewer corroboration, peer de- briefing, prolonged engagement, negative case analysis, auditability, confirmability, bracketing, and balance”. Validity checking in this thesis research would be proceeded by member checks and corroboration and also comparing results for those researches, which has been published already.