Qualitative Methods: Deeper Insight

Introduction

This course focuses on the qualitative research process aimed at creating new insights, knowledge, and value in the business world.

The background and context for the course stem from criticism of business schools as conservative rather than challenging institutions in light of the demand for more sustainable and ethical business practices.

The course will enhance understanding of qualitative methods as a critique of and complement to quantitative methods. It challenges tomorrow's workers, key personnel, and leaders to think innovatively about the relationship between science, knowledge, and value creation in the economy. Therefore, the connection between society, research, and knowledge development will be emphasized. By the end of the course, students should be able to design their own qualitative project.

Course content

• Prologue: Business Schools as Institutions

  • Change agents or conservative?
  • An outdated knowledge base and a narrow view of knowledge?

• Part 1: Qualitative Methods and Business Education

  • The difference between qualitative and quantitative methods
  • The relevance of qualitative methods in business schools
  • Applying qualitative knowledge: The concept of expertise

• Part 2: The Qualitative Research Process

  • Scientific viewpoints: Paradigms and logic
  • Qualitative research strategies
  • Data collection, sampling, and preparation for data analysis
  • Research ethics
  • Analysis techniques
  • Quality criteria for data collection and analysis

• Part 3: Thinking, Writing, Communicating

  • Report structure
  • Writing a qualitative project outline

• Epilogue: A Qualitative Perspective on Knowledge to Make Business Schools Relevant and Current