Primary Data Analysis

The data collected from the interviews was carried out using a thematic analysis strategy. A thematic analysis strategy offers the researcher the means by which to access and analyse the articulated perspectives of the participants; the strategy looks beyond the number of concepts to a deeper understanding of the meaning and relationships between the categories that are derived from the data through a process of inductive reasoning (Braun and Clarke, 2006). This was supported by a Computer

131

Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) package called NVivo 10 developed by the software vendor, QSR International. NVivo 10 enables qualitative researchers to manage qualitative data through the computerisation of the physical tasks of cutting, pasting, segmenting that would prove tedious if done though a manual “pen and paper” method. The software package facilitates efficient data management and supports analysis through the exploration of relationship and models (Bazeley and Richards, 2000).

First of all, the interviews were transcribed (discussed in sub-section 4.75) and then imported into the software to allow the researcher to proceed with the data analysis using the thematic analysis strategy. It should be noted that the software is used as a tool for efficiency and not as a tool which in and of itself conducts the analysis or draws out the conclusion (Braun and Clarke, 2006). The use of NVivo 10 employs a coding strategy (Bazeley and Richards, 2000), that involves the breaking down of relevant data collected into distinct units of meaning which are labelled to create key themes and further processes. The concepts that emerged from the 1st cycle of coding were later categorised into various categories and thereafter sub-categories in the 2nd and 3rd _{cycle of coding.}

Following Braun and Clarke (2006), six step stages to conducting thematic analysis (outlined in table 6, below), which involves breaking down the data into discrete units and then coding them into categories. The categories that arise from this method generally take two forms: the categories that are derived from the participants’ behaviours and language, and those that the researcher identifies as significant to the research’s focus-of-inquiry. The process stimulates thoughts and processes that lead to both descriptive and explanatory categories. The creation of memos was used to clarify ideas and to identify the relationships with other concepts. The researcher employed continuous concept comparison and iterative reflection techniques on what was being coded. Based on the key categories that emerged from the interview transcripts and from other sources from the case study research, a series of cross-case narrative analysis are developed.

132

Table 6: Six stages of analysis using NVivo 10

Thematic Analytical Process (Braun and Clarke, 2006)

Braun and Clarke

Practical Application in NVivo

Strategic Objective Iterative process throughout analysis 1. Familiarizing yourself with the data

Transcribing data (if necessary), reading and re- reading the data, noting down initial ideas. Import data into the NVivo data management tool Data Management (Open and hierarchal coding through NVIVO) Descriptive Accounts (Reordering, ‘coding on’ and annotating through NVIVO) Explanatory Accounts (Extrapolating deeper meaning, drafting summary statements and analytical memos through NVIVO) Assigning data to refined concepts to portray meaning

Refining and distilling more abstract concepts

Assigning data to themes/concepts to portray meaning

Assigning meaning

Generating themes and concepts

2. Generating initial codes:

Phase 1 – Open Coding- Coding interesting features of the data in a systematic fashion across the entire data set, collecting data relevant to each code

3. Searching for themes:

Phase 2 - Categorisation of Codes – Collating codes into potential themes, gathering all data relevant to each potential theme

4. Reviewing themes:

Phase 3 – Coding on - Checking if the themes work in relation to the coded extracts (level 1) and the entire data set (level 2), generating a thematic ‘map’ of the analysis

5. Defining and naming themes:

Phase 4 - Data Reduction - On- going analysis to refine the specifics of each theme, and the overall story [storylines] the analysis tells, generating clear definitions and names for each theme

6. Producing the report

Phase 5 –Generating Analytical Memos - Phase 6 – Testing and - Validating and Phase 7 Synthesising Analytical Memos. The final opportunity for analysis. Selection of vivid, compelling extract examples, final analysis of selected extracts, relating back of the analysis to the research aim and literature, producing a scholarly report of the analysis

133

a.) Concept creation and management through NVivo 10

As discussed in section 4.10, the data analysis was supported by the qualitative software package NVivo 10. This software served mainly as a support tool in managing the transcribed interviews in terms of reflecting the emerging themes and in the interpretation of the evidence. As outlined in (figure 6, below) the initial step involved the researcher importing the transcripts from Microsoft Word into the software and then categorised according to the individual cases and participants’ type. This enabled the researcher to examine the different variables. The individual transcripts were examined to identify key ideas, words and points raised by the participants. At the start of the coding process, the concepts appeared unrelated and they were coded into NVivo’s free node structure. The free node is used to hold nodes early in the coding process, when the new concepts do not appear to have a clear relationship with other nodes (Bazeley and Richards, 2000).

z

Figure 6: Qualitative data analysis process for the research Interview transcripts Project Policy documents documents Organisational Independent websites reports Newspaper articles The Narrative Theoretical conjecture Interpretive Analysis Identification of key words/ ideas from interview transcripts

NVivo coding

Comparison Concept creation

and reflection Memo creation Higher order

134

This stage led to synthesising, organising and grouping of the open codes into broader codes called concepts. The concepts that emerged were coded in two ways; using in- vivo codes; specifically, by coding concepts that emerged directly from the participants interview transcripts and in-vitro codes are concepts which the researcher created to capture a concept as discussed by a participant. As the coding progressed, there was evidence of relationship between many of the concepts. This enabled the researcher to reclassify them into a series of categories and subcategories in NVivo’s hierarchical tree structure. This assisted in grouping related concepts into themes from the entire analysis to facilitate a better understanding of the evidence through the examination of these key themes.

Memos were also created during the data analysis by the researcher to clarify and give meaning to emerging concepts being analysed when not certain about the meaning of data right away. These are individual documents created through NVivo’s doc-link and node-link. The use of such links helped the research build up a web of evidence across each case and a growing understanding about the data analysed and also to allow the researcher return to these parts of the data (Bazeley and Richards, 2000).

b.) From Nvivo to development of a primary narrative

Remenyi et al., (1998, p.124) defines a primary narrative as “a detailed textual description of the phenomenon being studied, based either on the literature or on a combination of the literature and other evidence collected”. Through NVivo coding the main concepts and categories were identified, the categories formed at this stage were entirely researcher led. In other words, the primary narrative at this stage of the analysis begins to present a more holistic view and insights into the practices of partnership and the issues of collaboration in Nigeria local regeneration partnerships. Following carefully the procedures of identifying and coding key concepts ensured that the narrative produced were as close to the actual events as opined by the participants. The narrative was supported through triangulation of documentary evidence (contract and policy documents, newspaper articles, independent reports and online databases of partner organisations). This increased the potential for the research findings having direct theoretical implications.

135 c.) Progression to a higher order narrative

Higher order narrative involved descriptions and explanations that captured the important themes of the primary narratives and provided a framework of ideas, concepts and relationships from the data collected. Progression to a higher order narrative involved substantial reflection on the empirical data and on the primary narrative and considers three pertinent questions; (a) what did the text say? (b) why does the text say what it does? (c) what is the researcher’s understanding of what is taking place? This process involved creativity and flexibility that reduced the primary narrative to the key themes and the nature of the relationships between the initial themes were then interpreted. From this process, the basis of the theoretical findings was then developed, explained and are presented in chapters 5 to 9.

4.11 Chapter Summary

This chapter presented the considerations and decisions made with regards to the methodological approach to addressing the research aim “how collaboration processes shape and impact upon Nigerian local regeneration partnerships. Interpretations and lessons learnt”. This chapter also presented a detailed discussion of the overall research process and particularly addresses the research philosophy, research approach and quality of the research. Constructivist interpretative paradigm was the underlying research philosophy deemed appropriate for this research since it emphasises human social participation in the construction of knowledge in which people and organisations create a reality; more specifically, the five Nigerian local regeneration partnerships investigated each had different experiences in implementing partnership agreements and these experiences constantly change as the partnerships go through the different collaborative stages, thereby making the findings from these Nigerian local regeneration partnerships unique for each partnership.

Therefore, a qualitative case study was considered the most appropriate methodology employed for this research, as it uses multiple sources of evidence. In-depth semi- structured interviews were used as the data collection method to strengthen the conceptual framework. Likewise, independent reports, policy documents, newspaper articles and organisation databases were also multiple sources of evidence used in investigating the collaboration practices and strategies in the five Nigerian local

136

regeneration partnerships and for enhancing the validity of this research. A case study protocol was implemented for data collection to ensure credibility, dependability transferability and conformity of the research findings and it also served as a guide for the researcher during the data collection period.

A pilot study was carried out to help the researcher understand the local context in which Nigerian local regeneration partnerships are implemented and to shape the final interview protocol. There were a few sub-themes that emerged at the pilot stage that were incorporated into the final interview protocol. The advantage of conducting the pilot study was such that the researcher was able to identify potential participants for the main data collection as well as potential sources of secondary data. This led to data being collected from a total of 42 key participants that included; directors, managers, team leaders, project consultants and financial advisers involved in the five local regeneration partnerships investigated.

The research data collected was analysed using a thematic analysis strategy; this strategy offered the researcher the means by which to access and analyse the articulated perspectives of the participants. This was with the aid of the NVivo 10 software to adequately store, organise, manage the data, and to triangulate the various sources of evidence. NVivo 10 also allowed the researcher to analyse the data by following several stages of coding. The emphasises on the appropriateness of a qualitative, interpretive and inductive case study approach in meeting the research aim and objectives provided the detailed research findings discussed and implications presented in chapters 5 to 9.

137 CHAPTER FIVE

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT FACTORS AND IMPLICATIONS ON NIGERIAN LOCAL REGENERATION PARTNERSHIPS

5.1 Introduction

In addressing the research aim, “how collaboration processes shape and impact upon Nigerian local regeneration partnerships. Interpretations and lessons learnt”; this chapter and the subsequent four chapters will present and discuss the findings from the empirical data collected. The discussions in these five chapters involve the researcher’s interpretation of the findings from the empirical data and they are enriched with extensive quotations from the participants interviewed as well as from documentary evidence. The discussions also engage with the overall research aim and objectives through theoretical arguments and main points from the findings. More specifically, it is the aim that the chapters capture the experiences of the participants in terms of how collaboration processes worked in the five partnerships, the challenges faced during the partnership working and the implications from these that might have led to successful partnerships or not.

The primary focus of this chapter is to investigate and explain the implications of the institutional context factors on Nigeria local regeneration partnership working. The chapter begins by providing the context for adopting PPPs for each of the local regeneration projects and then presents the external factors that challenge the implementation of the partnerships. Empirical findings presented in this chapter suggested that the following antecedents have influenced the PPP policy area in Nigeria (a) budgetary restraints (b) economic reforms favouring the PPP policy (c) commitment of Federal and State Governments to PPP initiatives and (d) the quest to improve public sector efficiency. These antecedents within the Nigerian context have encouraged the adoption and implementation of PPPs for local regeneration as infrastructure and public services need to be available and delivered efficiently to the citizenry.

138

5.2 Institutional Context Factors and Implications on Nigerian Local