Sample

The research team established sampling frame parameters in order to determine which firms could participate in the project as cases. Firms had to be comprised of mostly software-related IT occupations, be in operation for at least one year, and have four or more staff members in order to be eligible.13 Small enterprises were targeted because little research on IT work considered them, despite their prevalence in the industry. The data for this study were collected between 2004 and 2006. In 2001, 96 percent of

computer systems design and related services (or IT) businesses in Canada employed less than 10 people (Da Pont, 2003); one percent of IT businesses employed at least 100 people and businesses that employed between 10 and 99 people made up the remaining three percent (Da Pont, 2003). Comparable data for the present time were available only for the information and communications technologies (ICT) sector in which the IT

industry is categorized. In 2008, 82 percent of ICT companies had less than 10 employees and about 14 percent of ICT companies had between 10 and 49 employees (Industry Canada, 2009). Due to the large presence of IT firms in this sector (79 percent of companies) (Industry Canada, 2009), we can infer that small firms continue to be widespread in IT.

The sampling frame was further defined in each locale and chosen based on project researchers’ location. The Canadian sample was drawn from Ottawa, London, and Calgary. London and Calgary were chosen because of their geographic proximity to the postsecondary institutions (the University of Western Ontario and the University of

13

Our interest in software-related IT occupations corresponds to specific industry codes. e.g., North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 54151– Computer Systems Design and Related Services; Australia ANZSIC code 783 - Computer Services Industry.

Calgary) where Canadian research investigators were located. Ottawa was chosen because it had a high concentration of IT companies.

Online local business directories and key informants were used to find and contact potential firms or case studies. These directories include the London Economic

Development Corporation (LEDC), Ottawa Software Directory, Carleton Start-ups (Ottawa), and Calgary InfoPort. Researchers contacted firms (n=100) from these

directories for a short telephone survey that took approximately 10 minutes. Researchers spoke with an owner or a senior manager. The purpose of this survey was to learn about the regional IT landscape of the chosen cities and determine whether firms met the eligibility criteria to participate. The survey included general questions about the small firm’s business (e.g., product or service, years of operation), its workforce (e.g., number of employees), and the IT field (e.g., subcontractors, skilled worker shortages), as well as if the firm or participant would participate as either a case or a key informant. Of the 100 firms surveyed, 42 firms were asked to participate in the study as a case. Seventeen firms agreed to participate. An additional case was sought through a key informant and selected during the interview process for comparison reasons; it was an IT personnel agency or “body shop.” Key informants were also used to sample contractors and employees who were employed in larger firms that did not participate as case studies and hence are excluded here. Selection bias may have occurred, whereby the firms that agreed to participate differ in kind to the firms that refused to participate in the study.

Owners received formal invitations via email to participate in the study. A follow- up telephone call took place to negotiate the firm’s participation. These negotiations continued during a scheduled meeting between an owner and the research team leader at

the firm site. If the owner agreed to participate, a case study agreement was signed by both parties. Firms agreed to provide research team members with a list of employee contact information and access to HR documents, as well as allow employees time off to participate in the study. In return, the research team agreed to supply the firm with a research report, consult on the research findings, and provide access to international reports. Firms were also invited to a conference held in Ottawa where results were to be presented at a conference. Fieldwork in Canada took place between September, 2004 and October, 2005.

Firm owners were the gatekeepers to each potential case study and its employees. Sometimes certain staff members were excluded from the employee contact list because they held a non-IT position (e.g., administration) or were contractors. It is possible that an employee with whom an owner had a contentious relationship was purposely omitted from the contact list, but such an employment relation issue would likely come up during the interviews with other participants from the same firm. No incidence of this nature occurred.

Potential respondents for the in-depth interviews at each firm were to be selected depending on the number of employees and occupational groups at a particular firm. Typically, however, all staff members in the Canadian firms were invited to participate. They were handed invitations to the study by a research member after the case agreement meeting or by an owner at a later date. If they agreed to participate, a date and time for an interview were negotiated. If they declined, no further contact was made. After the interviews, participants were given a web-survey invitation. Employees who were not interviewed were emailed web-survey invitations.