Data Collection Process

The data collection process consists of three main components, namely, preliminary preparation processes, interview process and post interview process.

3.7.1. Preliminary Preparation Processes

A number of preliminary processes were carried out prior to the actual interviews. First, the confidentiality agreement form (Appendix C) and consent form (Appendix D) were prepared in accordance with AUT formats and guidelines. Second, the participant information sheet (Appendix B) was created in which a comprehensive list of questions and answers were posed. Some of the questions in the information sheet are: ‘What will happen in this research?’ ‘What are the discomforts and risks?’ ‘How will my privacy be protected?’ and

‘What are the costs of participating in this research?’ Third, semi-structured interview questions were prepared and pilot interview participants were recruited. Three IT Managers volunteered to participate in pilot interviews and provide feedback to the researcher. The prepared interview questions were tested in pilot interviews prior to the actual interviews.

Based on participants’ responses in the pilot interviews, the questions were then refined and prepared for actual interviews (Appendix F). Fourth, the relevant ethics application form was completed and approval was obtained from AUTEC. Then, the recruitment selection criteria were established as follows:

• Types of participants sought are Information Technology (IT)/Information Systems (IS) Managers, ICT Directors (CIOs), and IT Project Managers, Coordinators and Sponsors.

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• Participants must be (or must have been) directly or indirectly involved in decision making in the early stages of IT Project Management.

• Approximately 40 to 50 participants should be invited with an assumption that approximately 30% of invitations would be accepted.

• Email addresses of potential participants were obtained from previous and existing work colleagues and associates. Potential participants received an invitation email message (Appendix E). If they accepted the invitation, the researcher replied with a ‘Thank you’

message together with a request for available dates, times and preferred meeting place.

The venue was chosen at the participants’ convenience.

Detailed demographic information regarding participant recruitment, types of organisations involved and participants’ roles are described in next chapter, Findings and Discussions.

3.7.2. Interview Process

After introductions, all the forms listed in the previous section were provided to the participant at the beginning of the interview. Then, permission to audio-record the entire conversation was sought, while also advising that the recording process was non-obligatory.

The interviewer then introduced the research topic and explained the research objectives and the employment of the repertory grid method. After providing this high-level information, the ethics considerations were covered and the participant was given detailed information regarding the data collection and interview process. The participant was also given an opportunity to indicate whether they wanted to receive the research report upon its completion. During the interview, the researcher strictly adhered to ethics guidelines prescribed by AUTEC and maintained the ethics considerations described in the previous section. The researcher also informed the participant that a one-hour alarm was set up to make sure the interview did not go beyond the agreed timeframe. After the interview, a

‘Thank you’ message was sent and the participant was advised that a second interview would not take place; however, email communication would be used afterward as needed.

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To begin with, a document for each participant’s interview notes was created. The researcher then listened to the recordings, transcribed them and transformed them into bullet point notes. The notes were then structured into factors relevant to the research focus, and were categorised into four groups namely ‘why’, ‘how’, ‘what’ and ‘who’. That is, why was the project initiated, how was the project (to be) moved forward, what was the selected technical solution for the project, who was (to be) involved in the project. Three of these classifications were then subdivided into granular components: ‘how-why’, ‘what-why’ and ‘who-‘what-why’. This represented the researcher’s intent to capture every decision the participants had made along with the underlying reasons. For example, adopting a SaaS solution (what) is supported by a reason(s) (what-why) that encouraged the decision maker.

The researcher then developed a draft grid based on the classifications and elicited factors.

Next, all elements and constructs for each participant were allocated to relevant classifications in the grid. Later, all elements and constructs were aggregated and were placed into the final repertory grid. The contrast constructs were also allocated into the poles. Finally, the aggregated elements and constructs collected from multiple stakeholders were placed into a domicile repertory grid. An example of aggregated elements and constructs is shown in Figure 3-6.

The aggregated repertory grid was then customised and pre-filled for each individual participant. The individually customised grids were then sent back to each participant (Appendix G) for confirmation, to ensure that the conversation had been interpreted correctly and transformed into elements and constructs with integrity. Participants were also asked to rate the influencing factors during the decision making stage. The returned repertory grids with ratings were then re-aggregated and consolidated in each category. An example of a consolidated grid is shown in Figure 3-7.

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Figure 3-6 An example of consolidated elements and constructs

Figure 3-7 An example of consolidated results

The consolidated results were then analysed qualitatively and using frequencies of occurrence. The detailed findings are presented and discussed in the ‘Findings and Discussions’ chapter in detail.

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3.8. Summary

To summarise, in this chapter the adopted research method (comprising interviews supported by the repertory grid method) has been described and the reasons for selecting the method have also been explained. To re-iterate, the repertory grid technique is selected in this research to enable us to elicit and then understand how individuals (in this case IT Managers) made decisions regarding project initiation and their perspectives towards the circumstances they experienced in doing so. A brief theoretical background of the repertory grid method has been presented and the employment of the method in prior research has also been explored. A specific customisation of the research method has been described and the advantages of applying the customised method have been discussed along with the ethical considerations relevant to this research. Finally, a detailed description of the data collection process from the initial planning stage to the preparation for data analysis process has been reported.

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