Knowledge Claims Philosophical Perspectives

The researcher in the early stage defines his philosophical perspectives, therefore an assumption regarding the research outcome is issued and the mean of reaching this outcome should be identified as well. Creswell (2003) points out that “The researcher makes a claim

about what is knowledge, how to know it, what values go into, how to write about it and the process of studying it”. With reference to the information systems researches and their

classification of knowledge claim, a summary of these categories will be discussed in the next section to indicate which one is most suited to addressing the problem statement.

Clarke (2000) classified research traditions in information systems in general, and e-commerce in particular, into three main categories: 1) conventional scientific research (or positivist). This is where a researcher starts using a theory then proposes a hypothesis that should be tested to provide feedback for the proposed theory. 2) Interpretivist research, assuming that reality can be interpreted in a variety of ways depending on a number of factors in addition to the researcher’s perspective. 3) Engineering research, where research focusing on electronic commerce has an engineering rather than a scientific orientation while it is more concerned with technology. Clarke extended the Orlikowski and Baroudi (1991) classification where they proposed three categories of research epistemology based on examining large amounts of information systems research. These categories are: positivist, interpretive and finally critical in which the role of social critique arises. An examination of the above classification with regards to the research objective indicates different epistemologies in the research. The Exploration of the reality using a qualitative approach such as a case study is necessary in the early stage of this research. This imposes an interpretive epistemology for the research programme (Falconer and Mackay, 1999). Test hypotheses for generalisation purposes and for propose solution is required at a later stage of the study which interpretive could not provide. Employing a quantitative method for conformity and generalisation imposes positivistic epistemology. The above classification did not pay enough attention to mixed methods research design. The reason behind this fact might be the small sample of IS mixed methods research, which represent 3.2 % of investigated studies. In contrast, Creswell (2003) paid considerable attention to the adoption of mixed methods as a method of data triangulation between quantitative and qualitative approaches. The mixed method would ensure that

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research findings do not suffer the limitation of participatory study added to the fact that it is not based on theoretical assumption.

The inductive logic of a qualitative study has been criticised by Popper (2008). According to this logic, the researcher starts with an empirical study to collect a real dataset and ends by generalising the research findings. Popper points out that an inductive study cannot be considered as justified since it is developed on experience. Popper (2008) states the there is a need to define certain “principles of induction” since that statement is “logically justified by another statement”. The research will include a combination of empirical and mathematical approaches to avoid the subjectivity related to the qualitative approach. The quantitative approach will be used in my research for conformity and validation purposes in accordance with Creswell classification.

According to Creswell, knowledge claimed is an assumption related to reaching the outcome of such a study and the knowledge acquired through it. Different alternatives are indicated as knowledge claim according to Creswell (2003). The classification of knowledge claims will be discussed in the following section to conclude which type of knowledge assumption is adopted in the research:

1. Postpositivism is defined as “science” or “scientific” research. It is the deterministic philosophy of investigating causes that determine an outcome. The Postpositivist cautiously measures the reality in the real world cautiously. A researcher initiates the study with a theory and then uses the data collected to accept or reject the theory. 2. Constructivism is based on the subjective involvement of researchers; researchers are

believed to have a holistic perspective, which represents the complexity of reality instead of assuming a small set of ideas. They place themselves in the research and employ their backgrounds to interpret the situation. A participant’s perspective has an obvious role to help define the implications.

3. Participatory approaches assume that the investigation should propose an action agenda to address the change needed and argue a constructivism approach for this purpose. The cooperation of participants is based on this approach and such participation extends to involve data collection and data analysis phases. A visual

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illustration of the addressed issue coupled with participants and actions needed are developed.

4. Pragmatic approaches where knowledge is captured based on the situation, actions and effects rather than the theoretical assumptions applied in postpositivism. A mixed method which is a combination of closed and open ended measures is commonly employed to understand the problem statement pragmatically.

With regards to the above discussion, it is believed that exploring issues associated with the problem statement and adopting an alternative method for conformity is more appropriate to providing a consolidated and validated outcome. The mixed method was proposed by Creswell (2003) and Sekaran (2003) as a more reliable method. While there is lack of research of the investigated environment, proposed absolute theoretical assumptions (Postpositivism approach) could not simulate reality or provide a proper solution. Brannen (2005) indicated that mixed methods provide an advantage in the exploration of issues that may not be illustrated in theoretical work and encourage thinking ‘outside the box’. Duncan and Harrop (2006) point out that the research should use at least “two languages”, a technical language should be used alongside more comprehensive one to simplify the messages. Therefore, the authors indicate that the adoption of mixed methods could ensure the investigation of research enquiry with by different means. Mixed method has proven its strength in the following (Johnson and Onwuegbuzie, 2004):

• The use of multiple methods could help the researcher with interrelated research questions.

• The result of the first method can be employed to design the second methods.

• The Mixed methods approach provides corroboration and convergence for the conducted study.

• A mixture of quantitative and qualitative approaches provides the research with both theory and practices regarding the developed theory.

Sekaran (2003) indicates the need to conduct an exploratory study as there is little information or a lack of research. “What” and “How” to investigate the research is based on its intended consequences (Creswell, 2003). Since the investigated research question is important in this

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research, a pragmatic approach is the best method to be employ. The exploratory nature of this research imposes the use of multiple methods to explore and confirm findings and outcome. Employing the mixed method approach could ensures that the research conducts an in-depth investigation of issues experienced by industrial organisations in Egypt, which require the participant’s vital involvement and explanation. Decision makers in the investigated case studies and a number of participants related to supply chain activities have been interviewed in order to explore the difficulties they face. The external factors related to business climate and governmental policies are examined as well so as to demonstrate how way they reflect on the organisational performance. A Survey is conducted as a conformity tool for the purpose of generalisation. Investigating such issues and reaching consolidated findings is not enough unless the proposed solutions are being tested. The research will rely on quantitative methods to propose solutions according to empirical study findings and test their impact on supply chain performance. Since culture and resistance to change are important issues to be considered especially in developing countries as indicated from literature (Salman, 2004), the research could not rely only on a participatory approach, which may misinform its findings and lead to concluding with subjective results. Therefore, techniques of cause and effect are deployed to indicate the consequences of the proposed solution. Deploying both qualitative and quantitative methods provides a comprehensive investigation of the addressed issue.