Basic Qualitative Study Research Articles

Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma based on Brazilian model “PNQ”

Purpose – This paper aims to show the main results of an implementation of a tool developed to assess the integrated elements originated from lean manufacturing and Six Sigma, based on Programa Nacional da Qualidade – Brazilian National Quality Program (PNQ). Design/methodology/approach – This is an applied and qualitative research, which used basic qualitative studies and descriptive techniques as research strategies. A five-point Likert scale was used for the evaluation of the elements and constructs. The instrument was applied in one manufacturing company located in the Southern region of Brazil. Findings – The application of the instrument showed that the use of an instrument like that can be useful in the management of elements and constructs of companies that have the lean manufacturing and Six Sigma implemented. In the case of this company, among the nine constructs, three of them need more attention: strategy, culture and customer. Research limitations/implications – Because it is a research by means of a case study, the results cannot be generalized and should be applied in other organizations. Thus, their results could be further explored and discussed. Practical implications – The results point out relevant aspects related to the evaluation of integrated elements of Lean Sigma and the importance of a tool to manage them in order to reduce costs and others resources. Originality/value – As the application of Lean Sigma is relatively recent and there are little data published about its utilization in a developing country, it is important to expand knowledge on this subject.

The Human Resource function contribution to human development in South Africa

Orientation: This article discusses the extent to which human under-development in South Africa and the consequent societal problems of poverty and inequality are addressed by the work of HR practitioners. Research purpose: The purpose of the study was to provide empirical evidence of the appropriateness of current HR practice in South African socio-economic conditions and to make suggestions for improvement. Motivation for the study: Societal problems caused by human under-development are impacting more and more on organisations in South Africa. It is currently not known to what extent and in what way HR work contributes to the improvement of this situation. Research design and method: An interpretive approach was adopted. Qualitative methods within a basic qualitative study strategy were used, including interviewing and a focus group. A sample of 50 individual HR practitioners at various organisational levels was interviewed. Data were analysed by means of thematic analysis. Main findings: Societal problems caused by human under-development impact tremendously on the daily work of HR practitioners. Many HR practitioners do play an Employee Advocate role within the workplace but do not see this role as extending further to any degree. Some role models of more strategic responses were found. Practical/managerial implications: HR practitioners would better fulfil their mandate to work for the success of their organisation if they took pro-active steps to accelerate human development outside their organisations. Contribution/value-add: Empirical evidence is presented to support efforts to broaden the focus of HR work to human development. This linkage has not previously been researched.

Graduate Women’s Beliefs about Gender Roles in China

Despite government laws to protect the rights of women in China, strong cultural values continue to privilege males. Well-educated women express ambiguity about gender roles and responsibilities. This basic qualitative study documents graduate students’ perceptions of gender roles in China’s rapidly changing culture through content analysis of 21 course essays on the role of gender in identity formation written by graduate psychology students in central China and eight follow up interviews with additional graduate women translated into English for analysis. Participants in this study acknowledged that males are still accorded more personal freedoms, greater acceptance for “bad” behavior at home, and privileged status in school settings and in the job market. Several interviewees indicate they admire “capable” women, meaning those recognized for achievement, but they also wonder if such women can also play appropriate family roles. Tensions clearly exist between job aspirations and traditional roles of wife and mother. A grounded theory approach to analysis using open and axial coding of data identified four emergent themes: Filial piety towards the family; Autonomy versus femininity; Division of labor: Gendered roles and responsibilities; and Media and school as mediators of gender identity. Further research with diverse Chinese women is needed including comparisons of rural and urban experiences of gender roles.

The Multiple Meanings of Play: Exploring Preservice Teachers' Beliefs About a Central Element of Early Childhood Education

This basic qualitative study explores preservice teachers' beliefs about what constitutes play. Research for this study focused on 7 preservice teachers enrolled in an early childhood through Grade 4 practicum course at a small private university in south central Texas. The findings of this study indicate that both on an individual and group level the 7 preservice teachers seemed to believe that play had multiple meanings. Even though commonalities existed among some of the attributes used by the preservice teachers to describe play, no two preservice teachers used the same combination of attributes to define play. Instead, based on the influences that had shaped their beliefs, they strung these attributes together in unique ways. Thus, for each of the preservice teachers, play seemed to have an individualized meaning consisting of multiple parts.

Transforming Verbal Counts in Reports of Qualitative Descriptive Studies Into Numbers

Reports of qualitative studies typically do not offer much information on the numbers of respondents linked to any one finding. This information may be especially useful in reports of basic, or minimally interpretive, qualitative descriptive studies focused on surveying a range of experiences in a target domain, and its lack may limit the ability to synthesize the results of such studies with quantitative results in systematic reviews. Accordingly, the authors illustrate strategies for deriving plausible ranges of respondents expressing a finding in a set of reports of basic qualitative descriptive studies on antiretroviral adherence and suggest how the results might be used. These strategies have limitations and are never appropriate for use with findings from interpretive qualitative studies. Yet they offer a temporary workaround for preserving and maximizing the value of information from basic qualitative descriptive studies for systematic reviews. They show also why quantitizing is never simply quantitative.

Vozes da diversidade: um estudo sobre as experiências de inclusão de gestores e PcDs em cinco empresas paulistas

O objetivo nesta pesquisa é entender os significados atribuídos às experiências de inclusão de gestores e PcDs (Pessoas com Deficiência) a eles subordinadas nas relações de trabalho cotidianas em grandes organizações. Seguindo a proposta dos estudos qualitativos básicos ou genéricos de Merriam, conduziu-se um estudo em cinco empresas paulistas que adotam políticas formais de diversidade e inclusão: três instituições do setor financeiro (um banco nacional privado, um banco multinacional e um banco nacional público), uma empresa do mercado editorial e uma organização pública do setor de transporte. Embora os resultados apontem que, a despeito de todos os avanços, o discurso e a prática da inclusão nas organizações nem sempre conciliam o respeito à diferença com igualdade de oportunidades, e que as experiências se concentram no paradigma de suporte e serviços, muito mais do que no paradigma de empoderamento da PcD, o estudo contribui para o entendimento do que é inclusão e quais suas implicações para PcDs, gestores e para a própria organização.

O reinado dos estudos de caso na Teoria das Organizações: imprecisões e alternativas

Com o amadurecimento do campo da Administração como área de conhecimento, verifica-se a busca de sua consolidação no âmbito das ciências sociais. Considerando a centralidade da questão metodológica para a qualidade do conhecimento na área de Teoria das Organizações, este trabalho apresenta revisão crítica da metodologia utilizada nos trabalhos publicados nos anais do ENANPAD, de 1999 a 2002. O objetivo é contribuir com as discussões sobre práticas metodológicas, especialmente no que diz respeito ao uso do estudo de caso como estratégia de pesquisa. As informações coletadas foram subdivididas em três grupos contemplando o delineamento da pesquisa, as técnicas de coleta de dados e as dimensões e recursos de análise de dados. Os resultados deste estudo apontaram para predominância de estudos qualitativos, uma relativa banalização no uso da estratégia de estudo de caso, tendência à adoção de pressupostos objetivistas, utilização de métodos interpretativistas de análise, entre outros. Esta análise sugere que a categoria de estudo qualitativo básico pode ser utilizada com proveito pelos pesquisadores brasileiros na área de Administração.

The nature of self-directed learning in older rural adults

As a result of this research we know that older rural adults from this sample were deeply involved in a variety of self-directed learning. The nature of the self-directed learning was of particular interest. This personal learning was seen as highly engaging, variably structured, collaborative, and goal-directed. This is based on a sample of ten older rural adults who were nominated to be in this study. This was a basic qualitative study incorporating constant comparative analysis. Findings indicate the importance of self-directed learning in the lives of older rural adults.