Data and Methods

For the case studies, the research obtained both primary and secondary data. Primary data was sought from senior managers in SSA firms through interviews, while secondary data on firms was obtained from company records, annual reports, meeting minutes, financial data, regulatory records, strategic plans, archives, and media articles. The research used a variety of methods to conduct the study, which will be considered next.

3.4.1

Case Selection Method

The case selection method is important to case studies as it determines the proper understanding of the phenomenon being studied (Denzin & Lincoln, 2003). While this research uses multiple cases studies, Eisenhardt (1989) argues that there is no ideal number of cases and that between four and ten cases should suffice. Using fewer than four cases makes it challenging to substantiate empirical foundations and theory, whereas using more than ten cases would make the complexity and amount of data difficult to assimilate. In this regard, a number of firms were selected for the multiple case studies based on their relevance to the SSA internationalisation phenomenon and the potential to obtain good primary data. It is necessary to note that the number of homegrown companies internationalising from SSA is rather limited and therefore direct access to the firms therefore played a role in the choice. Nonetheless, it is also important to choose cases methodically, and, to ensure this, a purposive sampling procedure was used; in this sense, cases were selected not just for convenience but also because they are relevant to the phenomenon and provide the necessary information to help answer the research questions (Robson, 1993; Lee & Lings, 2008). Further reasons for the selection of the cases was geographic relevance and industry spread across SSA and its business sectors.

3.4.2

Interviews Method

Interviews are the most widely used method in qualitative research and are important in case studies as they enhance methodological rigour (Gillham, 2000; Bryman & Bell, 2003). The organisation of the questions used in interviews is important to data collection, as they allow for the detailed probing and exploration of live participants

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(Smith & Dainty, 1991), and the organisation of questions can be enhanced by using pre- prepared interview question guides (Riley et al., 2000). Semi-structured interviews, best used in explanatory studies (Saunders et al., 2009), involve a pre-prepared format of questions decided in advance while also allowing for general and free-flowing discussions. Semi-structured interviews also provide for in-depth probing of salient issues and allow for unstructured discussions and comments to be made by key actors, which enables studies to obtain more in-depth data than may arise from a free-flowing unstructured interview. For this study, therefore, interviews were conducted using the semi-structured format and in line with the classification of this research as exploratory and analytical/explanatory.

3.4.3

Template Analysis Method

To analyse and interpret primary data from the cases, the template technique of data analysis was used (King, 1998). This coding method requires the categorisation of data and involves a template that is developed through the production of themed codes. The codes are applied to the data and used to identify meaningful units of information, behaviour, or phrases. These themed codes are derived from theory, frameworks, pre- existing knowledge, or from an initial reading of the text data (Crabtree & Miller, 1992). Template analysis is also a flexible procedure that allows for the use of either tightly- defined codes, which are all predetermined and empirically interpreted, or of some predetermined and defined codes that are iteratively adjusted based on the data and then interpreted qualitatively (King, 1998). The development of an initial template model made up of some preliminary codes based on conceptual findings is necessary. A draft of the initial template for this study can be seen in Table 3.1, which shows a hierarchy ranging from first-order to third-order codes.

During the research, other codes were added to the initial template on an ongoing basis until a final template (see Appendix 6.2) was achieved, which was used for all the case data analysis. The final template contained the themed codes used for identifying patterns in the primary data and to interpret the multiple case study information.

61 Table 3.1: Coding Template Model

Source: Adapted from Template Analysis Template (Crabtree & Miller, 1992)

3.4.4

Interview Guide and Pilot Study

For the interviews, a comprehensive interview guide was developed and designed based on open-ended questions. It was issue-oriented and in a semi-structured format that was adjustable based on the context of the interview session (Robson, 1993; Stake, 1995). The semi-structured interview format was used because it is arguably one of the most important and potentially richest sources of primary data (Gillham, 2000). The questions focused on key research areas of interest but also allowed room for respondents to offer their own opinions and add new information related to the various research issues as required.

Refining interview questions is usually carried out through a pilot study, as this helps to test relevant lines of questioning alongside data collection procedures (Yin, 2009). To test the interview guide and the template of this research, a pilot study was conducted, which

TEMPLATE

COUNTRY COUNTRY COUNTRY COUNTRY

1. 1st Order Codes FIRM FIRM FIRM FIRM

1.1 2nd Order Codes

1.1.1 3rd Order Codes Case Data Case Data Case Data Case Data 1.1.2 3rd Order Codes Case Data Case Data Case Data Case Data

1.2 2nd Order Codes

1.2.1 3rd Order Codes Case Data Case Data Case Data Case Data 1.2.2 3rd Order Codes Case Data Case Data Case Data Case Data

2. 1st Order Codes

2.1 2nd Order Codes

2.1.1 3rd Order Codes Case Data Case Data Case Data Case Data 2.1.2 3rd Order Codes Case Data Case Data Case Data Case Data 2.2 2nd Order Codes

2.2.1 3rd Order Codes Case Data Case Data Case Data Case Data 2.2.2 3rd Order Codes Case Data Case Data Case Data Case Data

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served as preparation for the main interviews. The pilot study was in the form of a 60- minute interview with a senior executive from an SSA firm. Although the pilot study provided some useful information, it did not form part of the data analysed for the research, due to the need to make the pilot study exclusive of the subsequent case data so as to limit bias. However, the pilot study helped to highlight areas of the interview guide that required clarity, and adjustments were made to arrive at the final interview guide (see Appendix 6.1) used for the main interviews. The pilot study also helped to test the interview set-up arrangements, recording equipment, techniques, and time management. It was therefore a necessary and important part of the case study process, and the time spent also helped the researcher to prepare for interviewing senior officials of leading SSA firms. In addition, the exercise was also useful in preparing for identifying richer and more useful case data in the main interviews and for establishing rigour in the process of conducting the case studies.