Towards a mixed method approach for the multidisciplinary investigation of management processes

Mackay, David and Maguire, Catherine and Bititci, Umit S. and Ackermann, Fran and Gibb, Stephen and Davies, John B. and Van der Meer, Robert and MacBryde, Jillian C. and Ates, Aylin and Shafti, Farhad (2008) Towards a mixed method approach for the multidisciplinary investigation of management processes. In: EURAM Annual Conference, 2008-05-14 - 2008-05-17, Ljubljana & Slovenia.

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Abstract

This paper presents the development of a mixed methods approach by a multidisciplinary group of academics to understand and so model management processes with a view to enabling informed management decision making. Considering management processes as one of three categories of business processes (CIMOSA Standards Committee, 1989), the literature in this area is reviewed to identify current management modelling techniques. The researchers conclude that these do not adequately address both the 'hard' and 'soft' characteristics of management processes as well as the methodological viewpoints of the group. The development of a mixed method approach designed to address these issues is presented, along with an explanation of its application in practice. The paper concludes with a critical evaluation of the method and outlines future developmental work planned by the research group. The value in this approach is that it informs both academia and the business community by proposing a transparent and repeatable method of understanding the subjective topics of management practices and processes that is grounded in both a priori theory and practical data.

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