Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

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Secondly was the task of a researcher and PhD student at Anglia Ruskin University - a role that was made clear to
all in the PAO and participating employees.
Hurley et al. (2002) describe a number of advantages and disadvantages to being an outsider to an
organisation within research such as that presented here. Outsiders can bring fresh new approaches and ideas to
an organisation as they are not limited by an organisational view of the problems faced. This point is certainly
pertinent within the presented research, with the only pre-determined remit of the work being that an emphasis
would be placed upon the improvement of employee stress in the workplace. Secondly it is through the veil of
anonymity (where possible, and attached confidentiality) that an outsider can bring, open and honest feedback is
encouraged. This was a point that was assumed to be particularly important to employees, and was constantly
reiterated explained to participants throughout the process; Indeed the log and survey phases were designed to
ensure complete anonymity of answering for participants. Similarly outsider researchers have the potential to
raise sensitive issues to management. This was highlighted in that some of the interventions brought to senior
Service 6 management clearly meant changing the way that this management worked and potentially criticised
these individuals. Whether this would have been possible for an internal researcher is questionable, since one of
the findings of the study was that employees did not feel that their thoughts and opinions were taken on board.
This illustrates that a complete insider, paid by and working for the PAO, would be likely to be reluctant to take the
lead researcher within the presented work.
There are also disadvantages to working as an outsider however. These researchers need to spend more
time developing links with appropriate insiders within the organisation, and in particular those individuals with the
ability to make a project move and progress. Indeed within the presented work this identifying of- and utilising -