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As a result clear research objectives were formulated (Phase I). In Phase II, semi-structured or elite interviews were held with nine key government officials and highly ranked personnel of the private sector. The opinions of these high-ranking individuals who are ultimately responsible for determining, implementing, or advising on any changes in Kuwait‘s national resource policy, are critical to the findings of this study. The knowledge
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context of Kuwait. This phase was vital in constructing a research instrument for the main survey. In Phase III, the questionnaire as a research instrument was administered. After accumulating, analyzing, summarizing, and synthesizing the information gained in Phases I, II and III, one was in a strong position to present major research findings, and to describe a ―road-map‖ for Kuwait‘s future. This was accomplished in Phase IV.
5.3 PRE PHASE l - LITERATURE SURVEY AND REVIEW
A literature review is an opportunity to critique the status of knowledge on a carefully defined topic. Apart from providing an understanding of the existing knowledge, the literature review helps define the rationale for our research. Critically evaluating previous studies justifies the need for new research. Personal judgment together with knowledge acquired through the literature review allows us to identify any gaps in previous research, and resolve any conflicts in contradictory findings of such research. This was fundamentally necessary since this study is the first of its kind for Kuwait.
5.4 PHASE I: PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY
This study: "resource curse reduction through innovation: The Case of Kuwait” considers the strategic issues surrounding the governance of oil resources and its implication for the growth and development of Kuwait through innovation. There is an urgent need to take forward the agenda of this research with specific reference to Kuwait. Should Kuwait fail to build upon its resource base productively and exert caution in its use, the result would be reduced future growth. Since Kuwait‘s overt social and economic dependence is on oil resources, as a researcher one has to ascertain whether natural resources are a blessing or a curse for Kuwait. The prevalence of abundance of oil may appear to represent automatic wealth, yet when fragile institutions and factional politics are prevalent (as discussed in Chapter Two); resource abundance may be a mixed blessing.
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The problem however lies not with the resources themselves, but in how the resources are managed, for whilst there may be strong evidence of the resource curse syndrome, there do remain some compelling examples of economies who have converted the curse into a blessing. This study thus considers innovation within the context of high oil revenues in Kuwait, and how these oil revenues have impacted on the nature and growth of other sectors.
5.5 PHASE II: SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS
A qualitative method of enquiry was chosen in Phase II because of the exploratory nature of this research and for the information input it provides.
Due to the small nature of the sampled population, this research method is often labelled elite interviewing, due to the difficulty of accessing the referenced population, who are in important, high prestige positions. It is also referred to as expert sampling, a subcategory of purposive or judgmental sampling. This type of sampling is used when, as in this case, the researcher desires to identify particular issues for a more in-depth investigation, and gain the views of same selected stakeholders in difficult to reach, highly specialised positions (Neuman, 2003). Although the sample size for this phase of the research might appear to be overly small (n = 9), the specific knowledge, expertise and power of these stakeholders on key issues that affect the very foundation of national economic structure obliges us to obtain their opinions prior to formulating a more detailed research questionnaire. In short, the sampled population frame consists of those high-level experts in the private sector and government officials who; know what to do, who can do, and who will be critical players in directing Kuwait away from oil dependence.
Semi-structured interviews with knowledgeable, high ranking officials are essential to address the major research questions identified for the purpose of this study. While it was not an intention to determine whether these officials were innovative, their views are important since many of them have
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custody over some of the innovation initiatives that take place within the country. Additionally, these interviews provide input to the next phase (Phase III) where a wider range of respondents are selected, and the questions asked are more highly structured. The questions asked in these semi-structured interviews were based on a desire to obtain information on two major research issues:
Which industry sectors are likely to deliver the greatest amount of technological growth and innovation in the Kuwaiti economy?
How can government intervention facilitate such innovation?
Answers to these questions provide many solutions as to how Kuwait can maintain revenues and expenditure so as to survive during the period after oil reserves are depleted. Interviews were based on asking each respondent ten initial questions, plus the open-ended question, ―What else should we have asked you?‖ Each interview was restricted to these questions due to time constraints. Meeting these respondents for 30 minutes should be considered an achievement as these stakeholders are extremely busy. The only exception to the ten-question policy was in the case of the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA). In this instance (for the one individual interviewed) four additional questions were asked dealing specifically with the operations of the KIA. This was necessary in order to carry out the full research agenda. In selecting specific individuals to interview, the main criteria are: that they be decision makers and must be major players in Kuwait. Individuals both from the governmental and the private sector were included. Each of the individuals was considered to be knowledgeable and highly experienced and was aware of the challenges that face Kuwait. As well as having a thorough understanding of its history, these individuals also have a major input into society, with their advice often sought by policy makers on initiatives resulting from Kuwait‘s resources.
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The questions asked of each of the individuals interviewed, with the exception of the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), are shown in Table 5.1.
Interviews were conducted exclusively by the researcher in the month of March 2008. The meetings were held at the convenience of the decision makers.
All interviews were conducted in the private office of the interviewee, with only the interviewer and the interviewee present. The researcher was the sole individual conducting the interviews in order to provide reliability and validity in reporting and thereby remove the possibility of interviewer bias.
The discussions were conducted in the interviewee‘s native language - Arabic. The interviews were then translated into English immediately. Each interview was of approximately 30-to-45 minutes in duration, with the exception of one which lasted one hour.
In each instance, the interviewees were contacted well in advance of the interview. The importance of the information provided by this research was stressed, and a time for the interview was agreed and established to suit the convenience of both parties. For every appointment, the interviewee was punctual and courteous and accorded the professional respect one would expect of the position held. While a professional tone was established for each interview, the interviewer initially took time to put the interviewee at ease and feel comfortable about sharing ideas. The interviewer kept to schedule, except in those instances in which the interviewee desired to talk longer. Each was given a list of the questions to be asked in advance of the interview, and the interview consisted of soliciting responses.
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TABLE 5.1
SEMI-STRUCTURED QUESTIONS ASKED OF ALL RESPONDENTS WITH THE