Participant observation in logistics research: Experiences from an RFID implementation study
Author
Editor
- Ben Hazen
Summary, in English
Abstract in Undetermined
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the advantages, challenges and uncertainties of
collecting and analyzing data using participant observation in logistics research.
Design/methodology/approach – Experiences from a participant observation study of an
interorganizational radio frequency identification (RFID) implementation in an international
environment are presented and reflected on. The RFID implementation included complex
interactions between three leading companies.
Findings – The results appear to support an increased use of participant observation in qualitative
logistics research, particularly when investigating interorganizational aspects. The analysis
highlights values, general limitations and challenges of using participant observation in logistics.
The paper illustrates that using participant observation results in significant and detailed findings,
which would be difficult to achieve with other methods. Suggestions on how to take advantage of the
method’s benefits and overcome methodological challenges are provided.
Research limitations/implications – Future research may address experiences from other studies
regarding how to analyze and report data from a participant observation study. It may also clarify the
role the method is given in case studies and extend the analysis of epistemological aspects conducted
in this paper.
Practical implications – This paper may inspire logistics researchers to consider participant
observation, either as sole method or as part of a multi-methodical case study, in order to make use of
its benefits and thus broaden the dimensions of logistics research.
Originality/value – A broad literature review indicates that participant observation studies are
rather uncommon in logistics research. This paper thus highlights the potential of using this method in
logistics research, particularly when investigating the overlooked, but essential, interorganizational
aspects of logistics and SCM.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the advantages, challenges and uncertainties of
collecting and analyzing data using participant observation in logistics research.
Design/methodology/approach – Experiences from a participant observation study of an
interorganizational radio frequency identification (RFID) implementation in an international
environment are presented and reflected on. The RFID implementation included complex
interactions between three leading companies.
Findings – The results appear to support an increased use of participant observation in qualitative
logistics research, particularly when investigating interorganizational aspects. The analysis
highlights values, general limitations and challenges of using participant observation in logistics.
The paper illustrates that using participant observation results in significant and detailed findings,
which would be difficult to achieve with other methods. Suggestions on how to take advantage of the
method’s benefits and overcome methodological challenges are provided.
Research limitations/implications – Future research may address experiences from other studies
regarding how to analyze and report data from a participant observation study. It may also clarify the
role the method is given in case studies and extend the analysis of epistemological aspects conducted
in this paper.
Practical implications – This paper may inspire logistics researchers to consider participant
observation, either as sole method or as part of a multi-methodical case study, in order to make use of
its benefits and thus broaden the dimensions of logistics research.
Originality/value – A broad literature review indicates that participant observation studies are
rather uncommon in logistics research. This paper thus highlights the potential of using this method in
logistics research, particularly when investigating the overlooked, but essential, interorganizational
aspects of logistics and SCM.
Department/s
Publishing year
2006
Language
English
Pages
1-16
Publication/Series
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
Volume
37
Issue
2
Document type
Conference paper
Publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Topic
- Other Mechanical Engineering
Keywords
- Logistics research
- Interorganizational
- Participant observation
- RFID implementation
- Qualitative research
- Packaging logistics
Conference name
18th Annual NOFOMA Conference, 2006
Conference date
2006-06-08 - 2006-06-09
Conference place
Oslo, Norway
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0960-0035