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industry, it would be expected e-Tender to be well positioned in the literature and organised post re-intermediation from paper to electronic: that is, well-studied. This appears not the case with little coverage in the literature on e-Tender at a theoretical and methodological level providing an opportunity for the exploratory nature of this research project. This is what Stubb, Pyhalto & Lonka (2014, p.255) referred as moving from the product to the process for doctorate research.

A qualitative study is a classifying statement for this research project. This may be

sufficient as a label, however it floats into insignificance as a distinguishing or philosophical assumption to guide the research. The most pertinent philosophical assumptions are

11 _{Methodology in this dissertation refers to the theory of how the research project will proceed and} methods are the tools employed to investigate the research phenomenon, in other words, what is going on (Bazeley 2013 p.8-10)

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those that relate to the epistemology which directs this research project: the knowledge and how it is obtained, especially regarding methods, validity and scope. To facilitate an understanding of the knowledge and sequential nature of the steps of this research project leading to the construction of the conceptual framework, a Big Picture: Paradigm of Research Design (PRD) was developed (Figure 9). This is a step by step flow of the philosophical and methods development of the research project. The framework includes both theory and applied data in individual and integrated contexts as two parts.

Figure 9 - The Big Picture: Paradigm of Research Design (PRD)

The PRD is a visual conceptual map designed to present the methodological and intellectual rigor, an illustration, or what Ravitch & Riggan (2012, 2017) call the

researchers mode of thinking. Paradigm is used in a metaphorical sense to link all the elements of this research project: the researcher’s goals and interests, the context and setting. The development was not a series of steps or progressive box ticking, but rather a confusing, debilitating and anxiously slow emergent process, with one overriding anxiety remaining being the examiner’s position.

Realisation of qualitative knowledge limitations catapulted the researcher into

undertaking extensive qualitative research training programs conducted by the university. Satisfaction turned to despair through introduction to social research process. The first reaction was to return to the e-Procurement literature (Chicksand et al. 2012; Flynn &

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Davis 2014; Shook, Ketchen & Adams 2009; Spina et al. 2016) for guidance on theoretical social research perspectives. The result was to clarify a problem being the researcher’s knowledge of the conceptual step in the development of a conceptual framework (Ravitch & Riggan 2012, 2017). This review provided no guidance and is summed up by Chicksand et al (2012, p.467) who argued epistemological approaches are valuable and concluded PSM lacks the necessary reflection to progress.

The researcher was floundering in a linear process resulting from the literature. The introduction to abduction provided a pragmatic purpose (Eriksson 2015; Jayanti 2011; Kovacs & Spens 2005). The process of back-and-forth between both deduction and induction provided the freedom for the researcher to find meaning of direction for the conceptual framework. This is what Miles, Huberman & Saldana (2014, p.20) refer to as needing both approaches (inductive and deductive) to develop a coherent set of

directions. The term abduction was not inclusive in their approach.

Abduction appeared sufficient validity for the back-and-forth process leading into the pilot study. The first attempts at coding the pilot study research data created the realisation of an inferior data analysis position. The researcher plunged back-and-forth into the

literature and systematic combining was discovered (Dubois & Gadde 2002, 2014). This was the legitimacy to be a floater: having an own agenda (Chicksand et al. 2012, p.455). Systematic combining was added, the journey towards the PRD was taking shape (Figure 10).

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There is a richness of scholarly discussion on the constitution of a conceptual framework, the creation, the selection and construction of a research design as a philosophical base; generating a daunting and confusing array of literature. Therefore as a guide, Ravitch, S, M & Riggan (2012, 2017), Eriksson (2015), Dubois & Gadde (2002; 2014, and later 2017), Jayanti (2011) and later Bazeley (2013) were adopted as principal antecedents for sense making of the conceptual framework development.

The perception was the missing element being a conversation to anchor case study to e- Tender through a TMP research. Analysis was yet to rise to prominence. The goal was to understand epistemological aspects of abduction and pragmatism as the lens to view the research data. This is not discarding the influence on public authority e-Procurement or the other sub-sets e-Auction, e-Catalogue and e-Market; it is expanding e-Tender to a position of at least methodological equality.

The adoption of Ravitch & Rigan’s (2017) philosophy on construction of a conceptual framework provided the clarity of direction becoming a driving influence. The conceptual framework elements are inclusive of systematic combing, epistemology of e-Tender, abduction and pragmatism, all elements unique to this research project. On the point of uniqueness, guidance is provided by Patton (2002, p.135) who sees researchers need to make their own decisions on any perspective and without any universal framework, then diversity is itself a good indicator of human complexity. More recently Dubois & Salmi (2016, p.247) on PSM case based articles called for more diversified approaches including a suggestion of more reflection as a method of advancing research.

4.2.1 The Problem

Tender is a function of the buyer (in this research project being a council) publishing a specification as a requirement and the seller (potential supplier) responding with a once only sealed bid with supporting documentation including a price to meet the published specification. For the seller, the problem is not just awareness of the tender through some form of notification; the problem extends to tender relevance of the sellers specific

domain and their organisational ability, resources and capabilities to participate in a competitive environment. For the buyer, the problem exists in how to attract the relevant

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or qualified seller/s, noting multiple sellers able to meet the published specification is the principal of tender competition. The problem is extended into seller differentiation, evaluation/selection criteria and eventual awarding the tender to a successful bidder. At a council level, tender is governed by statute to ensure probity and fairness to all

participants.

Although tender, the sealed bid process, is a critical economic mechanism of council, other public authorities and industry, there is no common structure for e-Tender through a TMP, even though a variety of commercial and state owned TMPs are available and widely used. The differences exist due to the wide range of domains of the buyers operating within their own structures, thereby placing onus on the sellers for compliance without any form of commonality, forcing the sellers into multiple compliance requirements on a council by council basis.

The relevant literature exposed the unexplored areas of e-Tender through a TMP. Now a partial divorce from parent e-Procurement leads to positioning e-Tender through a TMP as a subject of importance.

4.2.2 Epistemology of Council e-Tender

From an e-Tender perspective, it is important to understand and develop an unambiguous position about what constitutes e-Tender knowledge. This will allow researchers to dedicate their efforts to research design according to a more precise representation of the fundamental assumptions of this research topic.

In an endeavour to clear some of the misconceptions about the perceptions of council e- Tender through a TMP, this research project is pursuing two main epistemological aims. The first is a reflective process of the researcher’s journey and the trials and tribulations experienced for the benefit of researchers following in this field. The second is to present a knowledge creation methodology in a wider spectrum according to a systematic

combining, abductive and pragmatic epistemology and directed to the practice of Australian council e-Tender through a TMP.

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Abduction and pragmatism were impacting as an informing progression on the research project and the researcher. The researcher’s reflexivity, developed through many years of industry interaction with public authority tender, was impacting on the conceptualisation of council e-Tender and influencing the boundary. Was this rational, or analytical, or was there another influence? A reflective struggle within the researcher was taking place to recognise the impact pragmatism was having on the emergence of council e-Tender epistemology. The balance was between what is known, how tentative this may be and how to test this knowledge against the researcher’s world.

4.2.3 Pragmatism & Practice: e-Tender

Pragmatists are not driven by principal, idealisation or nit-picking argument, but rather their desire to achieve goals. These are distinguishing factors of pragmatists to the philosophical mould of seeking the truth. Truth itself is a debatable paradigm: the researcher as a past industry practitioner considers truth through pragmatic lens as viewing the practices of council e-Tender to enable what and why questions. This is the pragmatist perspective on practice, new ways of seeing and new ways of asking questions (Simpson 2009, p.1330). E-Tender is in a position of pragmatic flux (Farjoun, Ansell & Boin 2015; Rubleske & Berente 2017), a work in progress, an opportunity or an engagement as a drive towards sustainability and effectiveness, rather than being an end product. E- Tender is viewed as an opportunity, or more succinctly emergent in pragmatic terms, undergoing evolutionary change. This is what Goldkuhl (2012, p.136) describes as pragmatism being concerned with action and change, the interplay between knowledge and action, intervening in the world rather than merely observing the world.