If You Were in My Shoes

By: 
Raja Nerina Raja Yusof
Izhar Hanif

Abstract

A qualitative case study method is predominantly used in the field of education, political sciences, sociology, anthropology, organisational studies, industrial relations and so forth (Yin, 2003; Mertens, 2005; Kitay & Callus, 1998; Whitfield & strauss, 2000; Silverman, 2005; Hartley, 2004; Yusoff, 2001). Many of this literature is focus on the conceptual and theoretical aspects of case study approach. There is less emphasis on the practical and challenges faced by the qualitative researchers in the fieldwork especially in the area of business, industrial relations and management.

This article has two objectives. Firstly, the concept of case study and its significant in the industrial relations field will be explained. Secondly, it will expand the theoretical aspect of case study by examining the practical issues and difficulties that the researcher experienced in the field mainly from the Malaysian context. These difficulties will include ethics dilemma, the accessibility to the organisation, conducting interview with research participants, observation and documentary access. At the same time, some solutions for the above difficulties will be suggested in order for future researchers to prepare themselves before conducting research in business organisations.
Keywords: industrial relations, practical issues and difficulties, qualitative case, some like it hot
Raja Nerina Raja Yusof
Industrial Relations Program, School of Social Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Izhar Hanif
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

References

Baird, M. (2004) Comparing cases: studies of commitment system in Australia and the United States, International of Human Resource Management, 15(3), 433 – 440.

Benatar, S.R. (2002) Reflections and recommendations on research ethics in developing countries, Social Science and Medicine, 54, 1131 – 1141.

Bhopal, M. and Todd, P. (2000) Multinational corporations and trade union development in Malaysia. In C. Rowley & J. Benson (Eds.), Globalisation and Labour in The Asia Pacific Region. London: Frank Cass.

Bryman, A. (1989) Research methods and organization studies. London: Unwin Hyman.

Cassell, C. and Symon, G. (Eds.). (1994) Qualitative methods in organizational research: a practical guide. London: Sage Publications.

Chew, I.K.H. and Horwitz, F.M. (2004) Human resource management strategies in practice: case-study findings in multinational firms, Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 42(1).

Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) Qualitatve research in practice: stories from the field. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.). (1998) Strategies of qualitative research. London: Sage Publications.

Hartley, J. (2004) Case study research. In C. Casell & G. Symon (Eds.), Essential guide to qualitative methods in organisational research. London: Sage Publications.

Hartley, J.F. (1994) Case studies in organizational research. In C. Cassell & G. Symon (Eds.), Qualitative Methods in Organizational Research. London: Sage Publications.

Kamoche, K.N. (2000) Sociological paradigms and human resources: an African context. Aldershot: Ashgate.

Kelly, D. (Ed.). (1999) Researching industrial relations. NSW: The Federation Press.

Kitay, J. and Callus, R. (1998) The role and challenge of case study design in industrial relations. In K. Whitfield & G. Strauss (Eds.), Researching the World of Work. USA: Cornell University Press.

Lansbury, R.D. and Macdonald, D. (Eds.). (1992). Workplace industrial relations: Australian case studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lukka, K. (2005) Approaches to case research in manaement accounting: the nature of empiriical intervention and theory linkage. Finland: Turke Schol of Economics and Business Administration.

Markey, R. (2001) Introduction: global patterns of participation. In R. Markey, P. Gollan, A. Hodgkinson, A. Chouragui & U. Veersma (Eds.), Model of Employee Participation in a Changing Global Environment: Diversity and Interaction. Aldershot: Ashgate.

Markey, R. (2005) Globalisation and participation: The global reach of European Works Councils. Employment Relations Record, 5(2), 61 – 80.

Markey, R., Gollan, P., Hodgkinson, A., Chouragui, A. and Veersma, U. (Eds.). (2001) Models of employee participation in a changing global environment: diversity and interaction. Aldershot: Ashgate.

Mertens, D. (2005) Research and evaluation in education and psychology: integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Othman, A.H. (1980) Masalah penyelidikan di kota: suatu analisa ringkas. In Kaedah Penyelidikan Sosial. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa Pustaka (Malay Version).

Rasiah, R. (1994) Pembahagian kerja antarabangsa: Industri semi-konduktor di Pulau Pinang. Kuala Lumpur: Persatuan Sains Sosial Malaysia.

Rose, R.C. (2002) Japanese- style management abroad. Petaling Jaya: Prentice Hall.

Ryen, A. (2004) Ethical issues. In C. Seale, G. Gobo, J.F. Gubrium & D. Silverman (Eds.), Qualitative Research Practice. London: Sage Publications.

Samsudin, A.H., Sirat, M. and Ibrahim, K. (1994) Pemindahan teknologi dalam industri elektronik di Malaysia (Technology transfer into electronic industries in Malaysia). Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Sanjay and Ayob, M.R. (2003, 22 – 23 October) Ethical Values in Qualitative Research. Paper presented at the 2nd Qualitative Research Convention: Theory and Practice, Kuala Lumpur.

Shareia, B., Parasuraman, B. and Cantrick-Brooks, B. (2005) Qualitative case study research in Africa and Asia: challenges and prospects. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 3rd International Qualitative Research Convention 2005, Johor, Malaysia, 21 – 23 August.

Silverman, D. (2005) Doing qualitative research. London: 2nd Edition, Sage Publications.

Waddington, D. (2004) Participant observation. In C. Cassell & G. Symon (Eds.), Essential guide to qualitative methods in organisational research. London: Sages Publications.

Whitfield, K. and Strauss, G. (2000) Methods matter: changes in industrial relations research and their Implications. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 38(1), 141 – 151.

Yin, R.K. (2003) Case Study Research: Design and Methods (3rd ed.). London: Sage Publication.

Yusoff, M. (Ed.). (2001) Penyelidikan kualitatif: pengalaman kerja lapangan (Qualitative research: experiences from the fieldwork). Kuala Lumpur: Univesity Malaya Press (Malay Version).

Zhang, Z. (2001) Implementation of total quality management: an empirical study of Chinese manufacturing firms. Groningen: SOM.
Status: publish
Issue: Volume 1 No. 2 2008
Publish Date: May 19, 2018
Article Type: Case Research
ISSN: ISSN-2022-1234567890
DOI: https://doi.org/link/123