The ultimate purpose of all research activities is seen as adding value to the body of knowledge accumulated in a respective area (Thietart et al 1999,
Remenyi et al 2000, Saunders et al 2009). In this work it relates to business and management knowledge (Remenyi et al 1999).
The definition of knowledge and how it is generated depends on the
researcher’s understanding of reality (Thietart et al 1999, Saunders et al 2009).
The research philosophy adopted for a particular research project contains important assumptions about the researcher’s worldview, i.e. the understanding of reality. These assumptions influence the research strategy chosen for the project (Creswell 2009, Saunders et al 2009). Saunders et al (2009) point out that the adaption of a research philosophy might be influenced by practical
considerations; however, the main influence will still be the relationship between knowledge and its generation.
Ontology is the philosophical branch concerned with the nature of reality (Saunders et al 2009). The objectivist position claims that reality exists in itself (Thietart et al 1999). Therefore social entities exist apart from social actors affected by their existence (Saunders et al 2009). In terms of research the object (reality) and the subject (researcher) observing, or testing it, are independent from each other. It can be concluded that the social or material world is external to individual perception (Thietart et al 1999). In contrast the subjectivist view postulates that reality does not exist in itself but that it is dependent of the subject (researcher) observing or testing it. The social or material world is made up of interpretations or constructions (Thietart et al 1999).
Epistemological considerations are concerned with what is considered to be acceptable knowledge in a research project (Saunders et al 2009). Here
researchers following a positivist view on reality will search for laws that explain reality, and disclose objective truth, whereas researchers taking a subjectivist position will interpret or construct reality within the context of their study (Thietart et al 1999, Remenyi et al 2000).
Saunders et al (2009) note that it might be worthwhile to also consider axiological assumptions and to produce a statement of values in order to enhance the credibility of research results.
Hereafter the major research philosophies and their basic assumptions will be presented. It has to be noted that there is no unique term in literature, e.g.
Creswell (2009) applies the term “ worldvieW’ whereas Thietart et al (1999) as well as Saunders et al (2009) use “paradigm” to describe what in here is to be understood as “research philosophy’. Different authors present different philosophies (e.g. Creswell 2009, Remenyi et al 2000). Here the term “major”
relates to those philosophies found to be the most common in the literature used in this work.
Positivism is built on the objective positions towards nature of reality and knowledge creation described above. The researcher is assumed to be independent of the subject of the research. Independent causes lead to observed effects which can be quantified and analysed by statistical means (Remenyi et al 2000). The focus of positivism lies on verifying theory (Creswell 2009). The knowledge produced in research is considered to be objective and a-contextual (Thietart et al 1999). One central belief is the idea of falsification introduced by Karl Popper (Remenyi et al 1999). Positivism is mainly based on explanatory research (Thietart et al 1999) applying quantitative methods (Creswell 2009, Saunders et al 2009). Taking a positivist approach in organisational research means that researchers view the structure of an
organisation as dependent on a reality that is independent of themselves or any other subject. By observing this reality researchers can develop objective knowledge of organisational structures (Thietart et al 1999).
Interpretivism and constructivism are based on the subjective positions towards the nature of reality and knowledge creation described above. Reality here is dependent on the subject observing it. It is comprehended by the action of the researcher experiencing it. Reality cannot be known objectively and thus knowledge can only be gained from interpretations and constructions of the social world (Thietart et al 1999). The focus of interpretivism and constructivism lies in theory generation (Creswell 2009). It is mainly based on exploratory research (Thietart et al 1999) using qualitative methods (Saunders et al 2009).
Putnam introduced internal (or pragmatic) realism stating that no description of the world is actually the world’s own. All descriptions are actually constructed by human beings. These constructions are inseparable from the structure of the world and therefore the world is equally humanly constructed (El-Hani and Pihlstrom 2002).
Taking a pragmatic approach means that the most important determinant of the philosophical view taken is the research question (Creswell 2009, Saunders et al 2009). Researchers use all available approaches to understand the problem (Creswell 2009). Pragmatism can be seen as the philosophical underpinning for mixed method studies (Creswell 2009, Saunders et al 2009).
Positivism does not apply for this study due to the following reasons. First, the researcher does not believe in an independent reality. Second, the concept of intuition in decision making introduced in Chapter 2.14 is highly subjective. It plays a major role in Chapter 4. Third, the chosen research approach here is exploratory applying qualitative methods whereas positivism focuses on explanatory research using quantitative methods. Positivism seems appealing in a laboratory setting but not in a business environment.
Constructivism is a research philosophy supporting the researcher’s own view of the world. The researcher understands reality as being dependent on her observing it. In the researcher’s view this assumption holds true particularly in business and management research where individuals are part of the research whose behaviour influences others. Furthermore, for the researcher it is obvious that she influences people’s reactions in e.g. interviews. Therefore the
knowledge gained during research will be subjectively interpreted by the researcher, resulting in contextual theory generation that is not necessarily generalisable.
In this study a real-world problem is approached. The focus is on solving the research question by introducing organisational change. Therefore pragmatism is the suitable research philosophy supporting the aims and objectives of this study.