Expert Interviews in Interpretive Organizational Research

Abstract

Reputable and scientifically founded research strategies adhere to certain basic methodological assumptions impressed upon the analysis procedures by the specifics of the actual area of research. In this way, the underlying methodology regulates the entire research process and assumes a reporting function that covers everything from the definition of relevant research issues and the characteristics of any material collected or produced through to the interpretive adaptation of the analysis results. Against this background, this article focuses (first line of argumentation) on how best to view the subject of “the organization” from an interpretive social research methodological perspective to (second line of argumentation) determine the consequences and relevance of different types of expertise and procedural specifics on the characteristics and applicability of expert interviews. In the process, three types of expertise are differentiated, each with its own specific functions in the research process. A case study is then used to address the systematic inclusion of expert interviews in interpretive research design (third line of argumentation).