Research Method

Kazuhito Isomura ()
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Kazuhito Isomura: Chuo University

Chapter Chapter 6 in Chester I. Barnard: Innovator of Organization Theory, 2023, pp 79-92 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter aims to clarify Barnard’s research methods. Barnard was a practitioner, not a professional researcher; Barnard repeatedly stated that he created his theory of organization and management from his experience and observation. However, he was able to publish The Functions of the Executive, which is sufficiently logical, systematic, and scientific. This is because Barnard constructed his theory on the basis of his own research methods. First, Barnard adopted participant observation as his research method; he played the dual role of an actor and an observer. It is essential to observe the reality as a participant because the reality is always changing through an actor’s action and reaction from the situation. Second, Barnard accumulated his experience and observation; he then classified them into three different types of knowledge: behavioral, personal, and formal. Third, Barnard shared the Hippocrates method with Henderson, composed of intuitive familiarity, knowledge, and theory. Barnard created and combined concepts from accumulated knowledge; he called a set of concepts a “conceptual scheme,” which is regarded as being equivalent to a theory.

Keywords: Experience; Participation observation; Action and reaction; Level of discourse; Hippocrates method; Conceptual scheme (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-99-7039-1_6

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-7039-1_6

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