Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

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Chapter XI: Conclusions
The final presented chapter of this thesis is to follow on from Chapter X: Discussions, in which the results
culminating from the presented thesis were discussed, including how these results compare to previous studies.
The presented chapter will explore whether the methodologies used, and the outcomes gained, were successful in
use or not. Also a demonstration as to how the work has added to the knowledge of the literature is given as well
as the original contribution required of any PhD process. Lastly a reflection on the three-year doctoral research
process is given.
1) A Successful Methodology
As critically discussed throughout Chapter VI (Methodology) the presented research took a mixedmethods,
pragmatic approach within the work, which proved successful and useful. The work began and ended
with a quantitative survey, with the first survey adding the objectivity which is associated with positivist
approaches to knowledge about the organisation. The AI approach comprised three distinct and iterative phases,
beginning with a daily log phase which was designed to be completed over a very short period of time either online
or by hard copy at the end of a work day. The schedule of the next phase (individual semi-structured interviewing),
a number of one-on-one semi-structured interviews, was designed with the results of the survey and logs in mind.
Also the use of a semi-structured interview approach allowed the conversation between researcher and participant
to flow and deviate away from the questions inherent in the interview agenda. The final AI phase was made up of
two focus groups, in which the focal point was the development of an action plan for change. The focus group
schedule was therefore based on the results of each of the previous stages, with action plans implemented by