Journey of Doing Quasi-ethnographic Study in Organizations

Abstract

The current article provides a detailed description of conducting qualitative research process and lived-in experience of a researcher when undertaking doctoral research. The article is written in ‘auto-ethnographic’ way. I studied the kinds of practices MNCs adopt and how these practices were experienced and perceived by Indian employees working in those MNCs. Organizational practices in MNCs is very relevant topic of study and there is dearth of literature in this area, especially in Indian context. This called for an exploratory study and appropriate methodology suitable to study domain which is un-researched and complex. They may require following certain interpretive methods. In particular, Yin’s multiple case study has been used to provide a structure to the research design involving four in-depth case study of an organization. The article presents the factors that convinced me to the appropriateness of a qualitative approach, to a consideration of the outcomes generated. In so doing, it demonstrates the value of using such an approach when undertaking MNCs research.