Centre for Sustainability Management Assignment Sample
Section A (or)
The rationale for choosing interview as a Data Collection method
Interviews are collected from a small group of subjects on a broader range of topics. Choosing an interview as the way of collecting data can enable the researcher to frame the questions in structured or unstructured interview questions (Casey, 2006). The researcher has the choice to opt for a different interview tool so that recording is possible for the views and opinions made by the participants. For example use of different video conferences in tools such as Skype or Microsoft Teams can be effective (Sullivan, 2012). With the help of collecting the data through the interview process, the researcher will be able to gather extensive and intensive data and can help in exchanging experiences and ideas with the interview participant.
Choosing interview subjects
In order to determine success in academia, semi-structured interviews will be most appropriate. As the questions are pre-determined in this form of interview therefore it will be easier for the researcher to evaluate the data while conducting an interview and mitigate several complications and issues. In order to choose the interview subject, the side home needs to interview. Based on the chosen subject the number of interview questions that can be enough to generate an idea about the subject topic or concerned area is important (Sullivan, 2012). Further and appropriate tool or place needs to be chosen for conducting the interview. The interview subjects can be chosen by deciding on different questions to be asked to the interview participants. Formulating the subject can be initiated by spending time on the formulation of the question. Different areas for choosing the interview subject can include identification of the problem, the current status in academics as per the opinion of students and the academics, and respective or individual suggestions regarding future ways of improvement.
Interview protocol
Interview questions directed at Academics
- What are the different factors which influence high academy achievement?
- What according to you are the obstacles faced by the academics to generate higher academic achievement for the students?
- What resources are useful to motivate the students in order to achieve academic achievement?
- To what extent do emotions and motivational beliefs impact the Intellectual capacity of the students?
- What future strategies can you implement to address the issues being faced by the given student community?
Interview questions directed at students
- To what extent do you believe in academic success so please role in the performance of educational institutes?
- Are there any risks according to you which are associated with the growing obsession with better academic performance and ranking?
- Availability of what type of resources do you believe can help you to improve academic performance?
- What are the obstacles you are currently dealing with while trying to improve your academic performance?
- What resources, tools or materials do you believe can be included in the institution for improving your academic performance and success?
Motivating participants to provide needed information
In order to collect the data from the academics and students, it is important to ensure that they are motivated throughout the data collection and interview session. In order to maintain their motivation and generate maximum information during the data collection method, different strategies can be implemented by the researcher. The researcher can provide preliminary information and ideas to the interview participants about the ethics protocols and data confidentiality of the study (Yeung, 2004). Through email, researchers can send the student and the academics the consent form ethics approval form, and information sheet to the participant which will assure them about the standard ethics being considered in the study. During the interview, the researcher will need to listen and learn about the opinion of the participant. It will ensure the participant a motive of being heard and a consistent system for analyzing the interview result will be generated. From the very beginning, it will be important for the researcher to ensure that the questions are focused or framed in such a way that it allows for the validation of the problems. Developing the question in ways through which relevant data can be generated can motivate the interview participant to provide accurate data and information. Asking open-ended questions can create a space for the participant which can also enhance their motivation to participate actively in the data collection method. Depending on the responses of the interview participants the interview questions can be tailored for a better understanding of their opinion and habits. Any form of controversial questions or personal questions should not be asked by the researcher to the interview participants which will limit their participation as the authenticity of the study might be questioned.
Dealing with stereotype answers, evasiveness, and lying
Usage of repeat strategy is an effective way to identify and detect stereotype answers or especially lying answers. The basic cognitive research has reflected that lying and evasiveness require greater access to executive control processes than truth-telling and the neuroimaging research has also revealed those different areas of the brain involved in working the memory response conflict response monetary multitasking and inhibition are greatly activated while lying compared to while telling the truth. The research and detective line and stereotype answers by identifying greater cognitive demand among the participants (Bradburn, 1983). While telling lies greater cognitive demand is required compared to telling the truth. By increasing the cognitive load during the interview the liar or the participant providing stereotypical answers will have limited resources compared to the truth-teller. The observable signs such as the decrease in body movement and more frequent pauses and response latencies can be evident and observed by the researcher to identify the liar. As the interview responses are provided by the student or academics the stereotypical answers or any form of evasiveness can be mitigated by asking the interview participant to provide the answer with relevant cases that they have personally experienced within an exact time period. It will help the researcher. It will help the researcher to generate additional conditioning and context to the question that also enquires about the past evidence and event.
The potential drawback of including an interview
Conducting interviews for generating qualitative data and information is a time-consuming strategy. Apart from that another significant drawback of including interviews is that it can cause bias (Alshenqeeti, 2014). For example, the responses made by the interview participants can be affected by individual experiences that make the analysis process more difficult for the researcher. The extent of anonymity in the interview process is comparatively less and that is a major concern for the respondent for not participating in an interview.
Alternative approaches that could be employed instead of interviews
Quantitative research or survey could have been a potential alternative rather than interviewing for this type of subject area where the concern is not only limited to a small cap of individuals but includes a huge cap population. For example, within an academy, the academics and students or other take holders who are associated with decision making and resource provision are also included and their four conducting and interviews over the limited number of individuals reduce the credibility and appropriateness of the recommendation provided to mitigate the identified issue (Hofisi et al., 2014). Therefore framing close questions and conducting quantitative research and survey could have been a better method of collecting the data. Apart from that, the researcher could have been able to generate generalized results about the population and make predictions regarding the causes of responses provided by the survey participant.
References
Alshenqeeti, H., 2014. Interviewing as a data collection method: A critical review. English linguistics research, 3(1), pp.39-45. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hamza-Alshenqeeti/publication/269869369_Interviewing_as_a_Data_Collection_Method_A_Critical_Review/links/55d6ea6508aed6a199a4fd34/Interviewing-as-a-Data-Collection-Method-A-Critical-Review.pdf [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Bradburn, N.M., 1983. Response effects. Handbook of survey research, 1, pp.289-328. Available at: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8EW0BQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA289&dq=Dealing+with+stereotype+answer,+evasiveness+and+lying++Data+Collection+method+&ots=eMUT0v-hTN&sig=JmmhCfE7eziwiPCkMK8jC2w5IO0 [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Casey, D., 2006. Choosing an appropriate method of data collection. Nurse Researcher, 13(3). Available at: https://journals.rcni.com/doi/pdfplus/10.7748/nr2006.04.13.3.75.c5980 [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Hofisi, C., Hofisi, M. and Mago, S., 2014. Critiquing interviewing as a data collection method. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(16), p.60. Available at: https://www.mcser.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/view/3280 [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Sullivan, J.R., 2012. Skype: An appropriate method of data collection for qualitative interviews?. The Hilltop Review, 6(1), p.10. Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/hilltopreview/vol6/iss1/10/ [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Yeung, A.B., 2004. The octagon model of volunteer motivation: Results of phenomenological analysis. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 15(1), pp.21-46. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/B:VOLU.0000023632.89728.ff [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Section B
Ways in which the author decided what companies should be selected
A preliminary discussion about the choice of two sample cases chosen by the author has been shared. From the information provided it can be identified that the launching of the new green management policy by the Korean Government in 2003 was the prime focus in terms of identifying the changes in the supply chain management, especially for the small and medium-sized enterprises (Lee, 2009). As the Enterprises focused on improving the environmental performance and utilizing manufacturer supplier relationships the author shows the concept of the International orientation of the industry and the exposure of the enterprises to the issue of implementing green management in the supply chain. Apart from that, the issues faced in the chosen sector were also considered in the study in terms of market share, business operation sales volume International expertise, and periods. The case studies were conducted by the authors between March 2008 and September 2008 for which the primary data collection method was conducted through a series of interviews with the line managers and senior managers in the companies.
Appropriateness of the chosen criteria
As discussed earlier the author chose to conduct an interview with the line manager and the senior management in the company for collecting the primary data between March to September 2008. A Series of the focus of the interview questions have been highlighted in the case company. In addition to the interview, the author has also claimed to conduct document research and frequent sites in order to examine and cross-check the qualitative data and information collected from the interview participant. This has increased the credibility and validity of the research (McLellan et al., 2003). Further, it has also been mentioned that the researcher has chosen the electronic industry of Korea for identifying the impact of implementing the green management policy on small and medium-sized enterprises. Conducting the interview of the senior management and line manager appropriate for the current study as a decision for incorporation of different management practices and policy specifically lies in the hands of senior management and line managers. Rather than conducting any other form of primary data collection method the choice of the author to conduct the primary data collection method is very much appropriate for the subject area.
Evaluation of the data collection strategy and its appropriate given the Research question
From the findings and discussion in the case study, it is evident that by conducting the interview the author has been able to generate ideas and information about the strategies implemented by both the case study organizations regarding their adoption of green management challenges in the production process and the previous background. Apart from that the author has also collected data and information about the changes implemented in the case organization in terms of organizational structure in order to process the green management and implement the strategies as per the government regulation on their supply chain (De Hoyos and Barnes, 2012). Therefore it can be stated that by conducting the interview the authors have been able to accurately screen the scenario. The responses generated from the interview are well organized, transcribed, analyzed, and reported. Compared to any other form of primary data collection the author has been able to generate higher quality sampling by collecting the data from the interview responses which has ultimately resulted in getting relevant insight and valuable findings.
Criticality of the case for theory building
Building theory from case studies and responsiveness is a research strategy that involves the use of one or more cases in order to construct theory and its preposition from empirical evidence and case base studies. The central notion of any form of theory building is to use the case as the basis from which theory can be developed inductively. In the current study, each case chosen by the author serves as a distinctive experiment that stands on its own as a form of analytic unit (Yamada, 2009). This has allowed the author to generate contrast and a further extension of the emerging theory. From the case study, the theory-building process occurs through recursive cycling among the data generated from the case study, the extant literature, and the emerging theory. For the current and chosen case companies by the researcher, it can be stated that theory building from the case studies can enable the readers to generate testable theoretical prepositions as the study provides the bridge between the mainstream research and the rich qualitative evidence generated from the responses and interview participants.
The extent of drawing generalizations from the cases
Generalization from cases can be regarded as an effort by the author or researcher to generalize a concept or objective from a small number of cases that applies to a large population of cases. The current study is based on identifying the challenges and the impact of the green management policy introduced by the Korean Government in 2003 on the entire supply chain especially for small and medium-sized enterprises to improve environmental performance. From the responses generated from the senior management and line managers of two distinctive companies belonging to the electronics industry of Korea, the author has been able to generate the challenges in the production process and the future strategies to adopt green management (Gomm et al., 2000). For the small and medium-size enterprises belonging to the electronic industry not only but also in other nations, this study can draw generalizations. However, other industries having different supply chains such as the automobile industry or retail industry cannot draw generalizations from the study due to the compact information generated by the author regarding the electronics industry only.
Defining and limiting the unit for study
As the discussion of the chapter comes to an end the author highlights the future implication of the study. The extent to which the study identifies the ways of strategy organization changes for green management in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises has been highlighted. The author has also generated future scope for the opportunity that the enterprises can have in a wider range of different companies and industries.
Choice of Data Collection which could have led to different results
If the author had interviewed the line managers and senior management of an electronic giant in South Korea, the responses might have been different from that of the responses made by the senior management and line managers belonging to the small and medium-sized enterprises of South Korea. It is because of this reason that the corporate social responsibility and the extent of investment towards green management for the larger organizations are comparatively higher than that of the small enterprises. Similarly, if the author might have conducted a survey on the supplier or employees belonging to the supply chain management in the small and medium-sized enterprises all the responses from a larger cap of a population could have been generated but the extent of all the vacation in the survey might have been faced that could have a reduce to the validity and overall credibility of the study (Batsell and Louviere, 1991). Moreover, such stakeholders might not have been able to appropriately identify the challenges to implementing the green management strategies in the supply chain compared to the line managers and senior management.
References
Batsell, R.R. and Louviere, J.J., 1991. Experimental analysis of choice. Marketing letters, 2(3), pp.199-214. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02404072 [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
De Hoyos, M. and Barnes, S.A., 2012. Analysing interview data. Warwick Institute for employment research. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Reza-Biria/post/Can-you-provide-me-with-references-employing-Conversation-Analysis-of-Interview-settings/attachment/5c90f4bccfe4a729949701ce/AS%3A738165149163521%401553003694025/download/analysing_interview_data_1_-_w6.pdf [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Gomm, R., Hammersley, M. and Foster, P., 2000. Case study and generalization. Case study method, pp.98-115. Available at: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=cs7yAwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA98&dq=drawing+generalization+from+the+cases+&ots=KUfvMHCKpq&sig=uIEG_IIN8wlezNy-M3y-PhZe35c [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Lee, K.H., 2009. Why and how to adopt green management into business organizations? The case study of Korean SMEs in manufacturing industry. Management decision. Available at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/00251740910978322/full/html [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
McLellan, E., MacQueen, K.M. and Neidig, J.L., 2003. Beyond the qualitative interview: Data preparation and transcription. Field methods, 15(1), pp.63-84. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1525822×02239573 [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
Yamada, E., 2009. Discussion on the concept of ‘Criticality’. Literacies, 4(3350), p.2004. Available at: http://www.literacies.9640.jp/dat/litera6-1-2.pdf [Accessed on 31 May 2022].
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Know more about UniqueSubmission’s other writing services:
