Data sources and use
| Type of data | Sources | Use in the analysis (e.g. gathering, triangulating) |
|---|---|---|
| Archival sources | Automotive industry documents: industry reports [2], history books [3], online (archival) newspaper and journal articles and webpages [15], documentaries [1], books and publications about industry [2]. Total pages: 1,100 Various public libraries archives, specifically relevant national and local newspapers: La Repubblica, 2005–2015; Corriere della Sera, 2005–2015; La Stampa, 2005–2015. Total pages: 40 Corporate internal documents: reports [6], technical memos [2], and corporate presentations [5]: Total pages: 150 | Familiarize with the history and evolution of TQM practices, in particular with the WCM standards and practices. Frame the plant in the global context of car making Put together the reorganization of the plant and its role in the introduction of quality practices. Clarify event timelines |
| Interviews | Preliminary interviews with top managers company headquarter. Recorded time: 2.5 h (43 pages of transcribed text) | Integrate and cross-check archival sources related to TQM introduction. Familiarize with strategic, managerial, and operating issues connected with the reorganization occurred in the plant |
| Semi-structured interviews with factory managers and workforce in the plant: functional managers and various workforce positions (team leaders, supervisors) interviewed. Recorded time: 3.5 h (65 pages of transcribed text) | Investigate the mechanisms by which the emergence of TQM elements has been triggered in the plant. Understand how tools, practices and other TQM elements are used and managed through production | |
| Observations | Corporate visits to the plant: on-site visit through shops and lines, with direct observation of operations and managerial processes (assembly, logistics, metrology, etc.). Duration: 4 h x 2 visits | Integrate archival and interview evidence with informants' accounts and practices, to improve the understanding of workers' and plant's dynamics, and to support emerging interpretations. Discuss insights from observation, clarify uncertainties regarding tools and practices for quality |
| Type of data | Sources | Use in the analysis (e.g. gathering, triangulating) |
|---|---|---|
| Familiarize with the history and evolution of TQM practices, in particular with the WCM standards and practices. Frame the plant in the global context of car making | ||
| Integrate and cross-check archival sources related to TQM introduction. Familiarize with strategic, managerial, and operating issues connected with the reorganization occurred in the plant | ||
| Investigate the mechanisms by which the emergence of TQM elements has been triggered in the plant. Understand how tools, practices and other TQM elements are used and managed through production | ||
| Integrate archival and interview evidence with informants' accounts and practices, to improve the understanding of workers' and plant's dynamics, and to support emerging interpretations. Discuss insights from observation, clarify uncertainties regarding tools and practices for quality |
Sharing content requires targeting cookies to be enabled. Please update your cookie preferences to use this feature.