The uses of observation: combining problem structuring methods and ethnography

Abstract

In this paper, we examine conceptual and practical aspects of carrying out cross-disciplinary, multi-method, interventions that bring together methods from operational research (OR) with ethnographic tools drawn from sociology and anthropology. We note that such methodological hybridization is not a new development, although historically, the role of ethnography in OR has not always been explicit in written accounts. We illustrate such usage by means of a number of concrete examples. We then describe recent work in which we have successfully combined problem structuring methods with ethnographic investigations in order to address disparate problem issues.

Keywords:

• problem structuring methods
• ethnographic methods
• operational research
• social science
• cross-disciplinarity
• multi-methodology

Acknowledgements

This paper draws on work supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (awards L211252044 and L211272006) and the BP/CARR Complex Risk programme. Subsequent support was provided in part by the Leverhulme Trust via the Understanding Risk programme. We are also pleased to acknowledge the collaborative working arrangements agreed with the Metropolitan Police, the Notting Hill Carnival Trust, and the Greater London Authority (GLA), numerous organizations contributing to the GLA's Notting Hill Carnival Review (2001-4), and Railtrack plc (now part of Network Rail plc); all of which provided invaluable research access. During the course of these projects, we received the support and advice of a great many ‘risk professionals’ and other specialists, and we wish to thank in particular: Sally Brearley, Nick Chown, Rosemary Emodi, Gilbert Fraser, Claire Holder, Lee Jasper, Lawrie Hall, Sue Merchant, John Platts, Andrew Sharpe, Alan Symons, Peter Richardson, Bill Robinson, John Roome, Richard Ryder and Andy Weyman. Our colleagues Mike Cushman and Diane Plamping provided insightful suggestions and able practical assistance at pivotal moments, for which we are most grateful. We also greatly benefited from conversations and collaborative work with a number of other colleagues, in particular: Katie Begg, Mick Bloor, Peter Checkland, Colin Eden, Ion Georgiou, Ragnar Löfstedt, Jerry Ravetz, David Silverman, the late Jonathan Sime, Joyce Tait and John Walls. We are indebted to Hylton Boothroyd and John Friend who helpfully provided important insights into some interesting historical examples of the role of systematic observation in OR. Finally, we thank the referees for their helpful comments.