Interpretive Research Approach Research Articles

How do digital technologies influence the dynamic capabilities of micro and small businesses in a pandemic and low‐income country context?

It is not clear how extreme disruptions like COVID‐19 pandemic affects the dynamic capabilities (DCs) of micro and small businesses (MSBs) in the context of low‐income countries. Therefore, this study makes sense of how MSBs leverage DCs through digital technologies (DTs). Using mixed‐method and interpretive research approaches, the first phase of the study applied a deductive coding technique to analyze interviews from 30 MSB managers in Ghana. Coding activities revealed 21 DC constructs of MSBs in Ghana. Next, we contextualized and simplified the DC framework by proposing an interpretive blueprint of DC framework applicable to Ghana and other low‐income countries. The second phase, through a questionnaire, progressed the research by assessing how DTs influence the 21 DC constructs. Findings suggest that collective DCs of MSBs as a business sector did not change in a pandemic situation; nonetheless, the extent to which MSBs demonstrate DCs increased by up to 82%; and the use of DTs such as mobile payment and social media tools increased significantly. Interpretive reflections on the research outcomes argued that whilst the collective DCs of MSBs remain the same, each MSB uniquely explored opportunities by manifesting different combinations of DC constructs and DTs, at varying extents, and the knowledge of how MSB combines DCs could promote MSB management and digital innovation as low‐income countries seek to recover from the COVID‐19 economic downturn. Consequently, this research extends literature and progresses the UN sustainable development goals 8.3 as it helps to enhance policies that promote digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth of MSBs.

Woke brand activism authenticity or the lack of it

The increasing popularity of woke brand activism, tied to movements such as Black Lives Matter and Me Too, is creating new opportunities for brands to signal their responsibility and concerns toward social issues. However, such woke activism can lead to consumer backlash, hence carrying significant risks. Brands struggle to convince the public that their virtue-signaling efforts are authentic. Thus, this study explores the dimensions of woke branding authenticity, adopting an interpretive inductive research approach, and conducting content analysis. This study identifies six dimensions for woke activism authenticity: social context independency, inclusion, sacrifice, practice, fit, and motivation. By exploring different drivers of woke activism authenticity, this study proposes as a conceptual model, the woke activism authenticity framework, highlighting the interactions among the woke authenticity dimensions. The findings make conceptual contributions and offer several managerial recommendations toward woke authenticity and neutralizing the perception of inauthenticity.

The Reimagination of Tourism Studies: Positive Renewal, Restoration, and Revival Today

In this second of three related articles on the adoption of disruptive qualitative cum interpretive research approaches, further coverage is given to the contexts and issues that "soft science" social scientists (and humanists, and posthumanists) face today. While the first artricle (by Hollinshead, Suleman, and Nair here in the previous issue of Tourism, Culture & Communication ) made the case for the potential of disruptive qualitative research and subtle science outlooks in Tourism Studies—to help compensate for the domain's perduring calibrative, managerialist and fast-capitalist perspectives—this follow-up article is a consolidation of the advanced social justice material being covered overall. In this second of the three companion article, the authors provide a further insight on the soft science concepts and constructions that have been aired in the important watershed book on "subtle science methodology" by Brown, Carducci, and Kuby (entitled Disrupting Qualitative Inquiry). In this second of the three companion articles, the need for such research-as-resistance insights within Tourism Studies is expressed per medium of the complex ways in which tourism is imbricated with a sometimes bewildering litany of ongoing cultural, political, economic, environmental, psychic, and other matters, something that regularly renders the ontologies of tourism and travel/Tourism Studies difficult to profile and fathom on account of the fluid acumen (or plural knowability/critical multilogicality) required. At the end of this article, a further seven terms are explicated for the cumulative glossary being developed across the three companion articles. These terms include "methodological freedom" and "guided wandering" (vis-à-vis the discursive cartography of tourism). The third article by Hollinshead, Suleman, and Lo (to appear in the next issue of Tourism, Culture & Communication) will complete the additive glossary by explain terms and concepts that pertain to (1) the revised cognitive practices of tourism, and (2) the rhetorics of futurity of tourism.

Expectations of Generation Z

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate expectations of Generation Z in relation to the onboarding program. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts an interpretative research approach and data was gathered using interview and participant observation techniques. Fifteen group discussions lasting 40-50 minutes were carried out covering 136 participants. Findings The study identifies six key variables for effective onboarding: meaningful work, performance management, work-life balance, personal connect, the bigger picture at work and learning and development. Practical implications Organizations can use these findings to tailor onboarding programs to meet the expectations of Generations Z and reduce the likelihood of new hires leaving the company in the first few months. Originality/value This paper has an original approach by examining expectations of Generation Z during new hire orientation programs.

Telework operationalization through internal CSR, governmentality and accountability during the Covid-19: evidence from a developing country

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of Covid-19 on transforming accountability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and office operation and control. This paper explains how unleashing the rationality of health and safety along with internal CSR made the transformation to telework successfully operable in a periphery of a western multinational corporation.Design/methodology/approachThe study draws upon the theories of governmentality and social accountability. It adopts an interpretative qualitative research approach and uses the case study method. Data were collected from one of the biggest private sector telecommunication companies in Egypt.FindingsThis study finds that Covid-19 and its related health and safety discourse represented a good rationale for the western home office to accelerate the initiation of its office transformation plan to reach full working from home policy in a less developed country peripheral subsidiary. Under the guise of CSR, the company spent a large budget to make this transformation quickly operable, while its Egyptian subsidiary is financially distressed. Moreover, the company achieved its objectives from this new rationality as employees currently prefer the telework mode which reduces the company costs in the long run.Practical implicationsThe study provides practitioners with evidence and practicable knowledge regarding the impact of Covid-19 on office reconfiguration and the ways used to achieve this in the Egyptian telecommunication sector.Originality/valueThe current study extends the governmentality literature by illustrating that transformation to telework in emerging markets is an operational manifestation of cost reduction and efficiency rationality under the guise of CSR. Moreover, it extends the office transformation literature by bringing early evidence regarding office transition plans during COVID-19 in an emerging market.

The Assessment and Recommendations for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) at a Public Higher Education Institution in The Mekong Delta Region, Vietnam

The changing needs of the graduate employment market require universities to take a broader view of the goals of higher education (HE). Over the years, more Chinese investors have come to invest their business in Vietnam, creating a huge demand for Chinese language skills to meet its job markets. The assessment of student learning matters as an integral part of HE and it is essential to enhance student learning through effective assessment. This study employed an interpretive qualitative research approach in which three data collection tools, including document analysis, a test design and questionnaires, were utilized. The questionnaires were delivered to all students learning Chinese 2 (Tiếng Trung 2 – the highest Chinese-level course offered at An Giang University (AGU) in order to assess their learning outcomes according to the current learning curriculum and to research what needs addressing if a new curriculum is to be developed. The data collected showed that although the current course load was heavy, it did not meet HSK certification requirements in each area - listening, reading, conversation, grammar and logogram recognition. Over 80% of the students considered necessary to reconstruct the current Chinese curriculum and redevelop the courses focusing on the communicative skills rather than academic ones. The study finally suggested some recommendations for improving the Chinese learning and teaching materials and the teaching Chinese approach for the teaching staff in the faculty effectively.

Cybersecurity Posture of Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania

In a bid to become a middle-income country by 2025, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania promoted the productive use of ICT for rapid development, which is why Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) adopted information systems to handle admission matters. Urgent response to directives without enforcing credible cybersecurity measures is a massive security vulnerability that cyber attackers can exploit. This study assessed the cybersecurity preparedness of HLIs in protection, detection, and response to cyber-attacks using the NIST cybersecurity framework. To achieve this objective, a qualitative method and an interpretive research approach were adopted. The target population was four (4) Higher Learning Institutions located in Arusha Municipality. A purposive sampling technique was used due to an inadequate number of cybersecurity experts in the population. Empirical data were collected using semistructured, face-to-face interviews, documentary reviews, observation, penetration testing and analyzed using content analysis. Despite implementing minimal countermeasures, the study discovered that Higher Learning Institutions are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Higher Learning Institutions must be vigilant by; addressing identified weaknesses, providing cybersecurity training to all staff, and continuously monitoring information systems. The study recommends a need to explore the factors affecting cybersecurity preparedness in Higher Learning Institutions.

Institutional reforms, control of corruption, and diaspora entrepreneurship: insights and perspectives on America's poorest economy

PurposeWhile diaspora entrepreneurs remain important sources of capital and innovation, many developing countries are facing serious challenges to tap into these sources because of their weak institutional settings and the endemic and systemic corruption. To this end, this study explores how institutional reforms and control of corruption can influence diaspora entrepreneurship. This study also seeks to provide perspectives on how diaspora entrepreneurs can influence institutional reforms and market policies.Design/methodology/approachTo meet these objectives, qualitative and interpretive research approaches were employed.FindingsUsing responses collected from Haitian diaspora entrepreneurs living in the USA, this paper highlights different attributes of institutional reforms and control of corruption that can influence diaspora entrepreneurship.Practical implicationsBased on these insights, this paper argues that Haitian diaspora entrepreneurs need to play a proactive role as policy entrepreneurs by supporting competent and well-intention political leaders to gain office and by joining forces with local actors to advocate for institutional reforms, market reforms and control of corruption in order to be able to exploit market opportunities. In this respect, further perspectives for diaspora entrepreneurship, limitations and consideration for future research are highlighted.Originality/valueBy collecting insights on institutional reform and diaspora entrepreneurship from diaspora entrepreneurs, this paper makes important contribution to the entrepreneurship literature.

Risk-based management control resistance in a context of institutional complexity: evidence from an emerging economy

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact of competing logics on the implementation of risk-based management controls (RBMC) by providing evidence of resistance due to competing logics. Moreover, the study proposes solutions to logic contestation. These solutions may help the company override logic complexity.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws upon the theory of institutional logics. It adopts an interpretative qualitative research approach and uses the case study method. Data were collected from one of the biggest private sector insurance companies in Egypt through a triangulation of interviews, observations and documents.FindingsWe found that internalised and institutionalised roles and structures – represented by the incumbent corporate and community-related sets of logics – compete and disrupt the emerging enterprise risk management and RBMCs. The newly imposed RBMCs produced heterogenic practices that changed the means of controls at the case company. However, this change was faced by resistance from local employees, as it represented a challenge to the prevailing cultural symbols and norms in their traditional work environment.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by offering new evidence on resistance to Western risk-based management control projects applied in emerging markets. Moreover, it extends the cultural political economy of management accounting and control by illustrating that management accounting in emerging markets is also an operational manifestation of culture, community and location.

COVID-19 affected remote workers: a temporal analysis of information system development during the pandemic

ABSTRACT This paper explores the temporal complexity of remote working within information systems development (ISD). Traditional remote working literature is ill-equipped to deal with the COVID-19 context. An interpretive research approach is used to generate a qualitative data set, based upon the results of field interviews with key ISD professionals. The thematic analysis of the research data is classified based on a temporal complexity framework. The study provides several key takeaways that emerge when temporal complexity theory is applied to study COVID-19 affected remote ISD workers. It explores how temporal characteristics influence remote ISD working, while investigating the resulting challenges. Recommendations are provided which researchers and practitioners may focus on when researching and applying ISD methodology. This is the first paper which examines temporal complexity within remote ISD workers. This research will provide a starting point for ISD researchers and practitioners to test their commonly held temporal assumptions about remote working.

Developing Graduate Capabilities Beyond Technical Competence – Do Undergraduate Accounting Programmes Provide Adequate Support for the Workplace?

Since the late 1950s, numerous studies pointed out that the theory-practice gap in accounting is widening, expressing strong doubt on the survivability of tertiary accounting education. The objective of this study is to add clarifications by providing recent insights into the expectations of accounting graduates at the workplace and the emphasis placed by universities in developing graduate capabilities. Using an interpretive research approach, this study collects data from semi-structured interviews with accounting employers and early career graduates from diverse industry settings in Fiji. Document analysis of the undergraduate accounting curricula at the Fijian universities is undertaken to gauge expectation of accounting academics. The results from this study suggest that the accounting education programmes have been very responsive in trying to prepare students for changing workplace needs. While both employers and graduates acknowledged the significance of technical knowledge and non-technical skills, there is a gradual shift in demand for non-technical skills. This study used a purposive sampling technique to select the participants and as such the findings cannot be generalised. However, the findings and conclusions provide contextual arguments that tertiary accounting education do provide adequate workplace support to the students and all stakeholders need to recognise that graduate capabilities are developed over two different learning environments.

Developing Graduate Capabilities Beyond Technical Competence – Do Undergraduate Accounting Programmes Provide Adequate Support for the Workplace?

Since the late 1950s, numerous studies pointed out that the theory-practice gap in accounting is widening, expressing strong doubt on the survivability of tertiary accounting education. The objective of this study is to add clarifications by providing recent insights into the expectations of accounting graduates at the workplace and the emphasis placed by universities in developing graduate capabilities. Using an interpretive research approach, this study collects data from semi-structured interviews with accounting employers and early career graduates from diverse industry settings in Fiji. Document analysis of the undergraduate accounting curricula at the Fijian universities is undertaken to gauge expectation of accounting academics. The results from this study suggest that the accounting education programmes have been very responsive in trying to prepare students for changing workplace needs. While both employers and graduates acknowledged the significance of technical knowledge and non-technical skills, there is a gradual shift in demand for non-technical skills. This study used a purposive sampling technique to select the participants and as such the findings cannot be generalised. However, the findings and conclusions provide contextual arguments that tertiary accounting education do provide adequate workplace support to the students and all stakeholders need to recognise that graduate capabilities are developed over two different learning environments.

Activities and characteristics of instructional school leadership from the perspective of elementary school principals

This paper shows results of an empirical study on characteristics of instructional school leadership conducted on the sample of 30 Croatian elementary school principals. Two research questions were asked: 1. How elementary school principals describe and comment instructional school leadership activities that they conduct in their schools, observing them from their own role’s perspective and instructional goals that they want to achieve and 2. How elementary school principals describe and experience circumstances that have an impact on initiation and implementation of previously described instructional school leadership activities. In regards to set questions, elementary qualitative interpretative research approach was used. Data was gathered using written interview, whereas the results of thematic content analysis revealed two key thematic categories: the list of most conducted instructional school leadership activities and key interactions of principals during the implementation of instructional school leadership. Variabilities in the implementation of instructional school leadership in several aspects were observed, out of which key instructional school leadership’s contents and outcomes focused on the strengthening of students’ and teachers’ capacities are singled out as well as roles and principals’ relationship in interaction with various subjects.

Experiences in physical education and sport: reflections of female athletes with visual impairments

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to understand how individuals identifying as female, an athlete and having a visual impairment experience physical education and sport experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach was adopted, and four female athletes with visual impairments aged 23–28-years-old acted as participants. The study utilised two sources of data: semi-structured, audio-taped, telephone/video call interviews and reflective interview notes. Data were analysed thematically using a three-step process and two themes were constructed (a) Physical education was ‘just a credit’ and (b) ‘If you enjoy this, we will drive you’. The participants reported that they did not have meaningful physical education experiences. Interestingly, however, the participants noted that these poor experiences were not critical to them, as they had developed a sense of athletic identity in others, outside of school physical activity opportunities supported by family.

Gestión y organización de los conservatorios profesionales de música

El incremento en los ultimos anos de la demanda de formacion musical por parte de la ciudadania ha puesto el foco de interes en la eficiencia de los Conservatorios para dar salida a dicho interes, con el afan de comprobar las caracteristicas unicas de este tipo de centros formativos en educacion musical. El objetivo de este estudio se centra en analizar la perspectiva de los directores y los responsables administrativos que supervisan los conservatorios profesionales de musica de titularidad autonomica y municipal para estudiar la gestion y la organizacion de estos centros y las diferencias derivadas de sus correspondientes titularidades. El enfoque del estudio es interpretativo, por medio de una investigacion con metodologia mixta, donde, a nivel cualitativo, se realizan una serie de entrevistas semiestructuradas y, a nivel cuantitativo, se realiza un cuestionario a los directores de centro, estableciendo una serie de variables objeto de analisis. Los resultados revelaron que existen diferencias significativas en la gestion y organizacion de los conservatorios profesionales de musica, pese a que ambos centros siguen la misma normativa legal, concluyendo ademas que tanto el volumen de alumnado que atienden dichos centros como su proyecto de organizacion y gestion esta muy vinculado a la atencion de las numerosas peculiaridades derivadas de una tradicion musical especifica de indole local.

Physical Education professional practice and teacher education in Brazil: historical analysis of public policies and recommendations for advancing professional practice and teacher education

This study aims to analyze the process by which public policy relating to Physical Education Teacher Education in Brazil is developed, highlighting both the most important advances and the issues that still need to be better understood and evolved. To that end, from an interpretative research approach, we analyzed documents related to several laws and guidelines of Brazilian public policy. The results focus on the relation between Physical Education in Brazil and the field of public policies in a historical analysis and its intersection with a sociological perspective. This article concludes that although the field of Physical Education has achieved greater social importance in public policies, there are still several challenges that it must overcome to achieve social legitimacy. Further studies in this approach are therefore necessary to shed light on what is not apparent but is nevertheless part of "how the game is played".

Epistemological Values and Limitations of Ethnography as an Interpretive Research Approach

The research method in humanities and social sciences shares a certain theoretical frame and research design with the interpretive approach. The “interpretive approach” of ethnographic research brings humanities and social sciences together in the realms of naturalistic inquiry as well as knowledge production. This article discusses how ethnographers would tend to address these epistemological fronts in scholarship and research design in humanities and social sciences. It also raises some of the pragmatics and methodological utilities of the ethnographic approach, followed by a short description of ethical and practical issues involved in the research process. Both the humanities and social science research adopt the interpretive approach to explore the subject of investigation in the specific theoretical frame and from multiple perspectives. The article concludes that the strengths that it offers, particularly concerning unravelling complexities of people’s daily lives in their “meaning perspectives,” are unique and appealing even though ethnography never remains immune to some of the limitations of qualitative research.

Owner capabilities in social infrastructure projects: towards an expansion of the dynamic capabilities’ framework

PurposeThe project organising literature has increasingly paid attention to the dynamic capabilities required for the development of projects. The current research aims to expand the dynamic capabilities framework by including owner capabilities required throughout the whole project life cycle.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses an interpretive qualitative research approach. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with the key actors of a social infrastructure project.FindingsThe findings suggest that the expansion of the dynamic capabilities framework to include owner capabilities required throughout a project life cycle could positively impact the success of a project. “Transformational capabilities” are recommended to enable the owner to overcome challenges and lead the evolution towards project organisations that are capable of transforming its outputs into beneficial use.Originality/valueExisting research on dynamic capabilities does not address the particular challenges of social infrastructure projects such as housing. The current research fills this gap by exposing the challenges experienced by owners in the development of certain capabilities and their impact on the performance of a project.

Understanding Generation Z expectations for effective onboarding

PurposeOrganizations have long recognized that focusing on the onboarding experience is vital to the success of the employee and the organization. Organizations are confronted with inter-generational issues as they prepare to accommodate Generation Z in the workplace. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the expectations of Generation Z from the onboarding program so that the organizations are better equipped to welcome the new cohort.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts the interpretive approach to understand the subjective opinions, thoughts and conversations of the respondents. The study adopted an interpretive research approach for two main reasons. First, in the absence of empirical evidence, such a type of approach is helpful when the study aims to understand the subjective experience of individuals, and often can help in theory construction. Second, the approach helps uncover unknown facts and relevant research questions for further research.FindingsThe results from the study can help organizations to fine-tune the onboarding program that meets the needs of Generation Z. The study identified six essential variables that could be addressed in the onboarding enabling the new hires to quickly onboard the organization.Research limitations/implicationsData were collected from the students who are pursuing final year of masters in business administration. Since the respondents are business students findings cannot be generalized to the rest of the cohort as these respondents had a fair idea of what to expect from the organizations.Practical implicationsThe study presents six important themes for designing and managing an effective onboarding program for Generation Z. It is important to note that the inter-generational differences are natural, and organizations have to live with it. HR professionals have to bear in mind that this is also an opportunity to revisit, redesign and readjust their onboarding programs to suit the new employees.Originality/valueThe literature on Generation Z is at a nascent stage. Empirical studies on Generation Z were conducted to understand their expectation, beliefs and attitude. However, studies related to their expectations during the new hire orientation programs are absent. The present study could be one of the first studies in helping both managers and the HR function in understanding the expectations of Generation Z.

Metodología para determinar la evolución del proceso de implementación de las Normas Internacionales de Información Financiera: el caso de las pymes de Bogotá

En medio de una política económica de apertura, tratados comerciales e inversión extranjera han surgido nuevos cambios en los que se incluyen las normas contables, la información financiera y el aseguramiento de la información, que ahora se acogen a las Normas Internacionales de Información Financiera. Reconociendo la impor-tancia atribuida a las Normas Internacionales de Información Financiera - pymes, en esta investigación se construye un instrumento metodológico que, articulado con una metodología de diagnóstico, permite medir el proceso de evolución que ha tenido la Norma Internacional de Información Financiera en 44 pequeñas y medianas empresas de Bogotá. Para lograr este objetivo se utiliza el enfoque de investigación interpretativo. Los resultados de esta investigación demuestran que existen las condiciones para la adopción de esta norma en las empresas, pero se necesitan aumentar acciones como sensibilización gerencial, cronograma de implementación y la capitación del personal de apoyo en este proceso.