national/ethnic culture, and gender). Such a study should give insights into the workings of
SMTs, an organisational form that is rapidly gaining in popularity and acceptance. Also, the
study will test the usefulness of a perspective (the situational approach) that is
underdeveloped in the leadership literature.
[Expand on the topic/question by describing what you hope to accomplish, and the desired
outcomes (especially the practical or theoretical benefits to be gained)]
Background: I will conduct my study in a team that is within the Roadworks Division within
the Hamilton City Council. Roadworks has 12 SMTs, each of which is responsible for
maintenance of roads within one geographical section of Hamilton. This particular team
includes four men and a woman. Three of the men are in their thirties and one in his early
50s; the woman is in her thirties. They are assigned to an area around Chartwell. They start
each day with a brief (15-45 minute meeting) on an agreed upon site, often just gathering
around the back of a truck for their meeting. I will attend these three mornings a week for
four weeks, and will stay on to observe their work for approximately 20 hours during the
four week period. My primary focus will be on their interaction in meetings, although I will
also observe (and perhaps enquires about) interactions during their other work.
[Describe the context of the proposed research, making it clear how this context will allow
you to accomplish your stated purposes]
Scope: I will engage in participant-observation over a six-week period, from 8 April to 22
May for approximately four hours per week. I will typically observe the morning meetings
and stay for an hour or so to observe their other work. On some days I may come at other
times of the day for comparison. I will not schedule structured interviews, but will interview
team members informally, as needed to clarify and provide insight into specific
conversations. [Describe such things as the time you will invest, when the field work will
take place, the number of participants, and the number of interviews you will conduct]
Theoretical framework: I will be guided most generally by the interpretive perspective, and
more specifically by Alvesson’s (1996) situational approach. The interpretive perspective
places the focus on interpreting the meanings and perspectives of cultural members, and
how these meanings are negotiated (Trujillo, 1992). I am exploring the meanings the sales
staff and customers have for themselves as individuals and for their relationships, as well as
the meanings sales staff have for the organisation, group, and profession of which they are
members. The situational approach directs me to choose one or a few specific interactions
to explore in depth. Thus, an appropriate means of investigating the topic from this
perspective is observation of conversation, plus interviewing the interactants to understand
the meanings they have for their symbolic interactions. [Briefly identify and explain the
theoretical framework you will use to guide your investigation, how it fits your purpose and
its implications for the research methods]
Method: