Earlier today I was able to conduct my final one to one interview for my dissertation.
This was the 6th(??) interviewee. All have had some involvement in the decision making processes that resulted in Emerald's new presence in Dubai.
It's been a learning experience. I'm not sure the first interview was a good one. I think I spent too much time trying to stick to a script, I didn't introduce the thing as well as I could have and I didn't listen as actively as I should have.
That being said, and after only a brief review of the interviews and my notes, there is a lot of consistency in the topics covered and the overall stories that emerge. I think I have to be happy with how it's gone so far.
The documentary evidence that I need to corrobarate and triangulate these interviews is a little more difficult. I believe this mostly due to the fact that there is not much evidence there in the first place; much of the process and conversations and final decisions don't seem to be auditable in the form of meeting agendas, minutes, emails or much else. I don't know how much of a problem this is yet.
The very act of going through the interviews has been enormously useful though, and very enlightening. There have been some side tracks that I'll follow through that I think will really add some depth, texture and balance to the research.
The shape and structure of the dissertation is a little clearer to me now.
Overall pleased with how things have proceeded in May. My plan calls for data and evidence and interviews to have concluded by the end of May so we're ok there. June is analysis/interpretation. Don't have a clue how that might pan out - check back in a month.
