Conducting multi-perspective management research: Fusion or confusion? (Part I and Part II)

In our most recent project on managerial work, we are considering ways of bringing together the findings derived from quantitative and qualitative evidence. Since 1997 we have carried out extensive longitudinal surveys of a panel of 5000 managers, which we have sought to enrich with a series of some 50 intensive interviews conducted in 2003-2004. The purpose of this two-part paper is to share with colleagues our approach to reconciling the differing paradigms of values, attitudes, needs and expectations, which some continue to argue may be incommensurable.