This paper is an account based upon the author's ethnographic study involving two major companies within the chemical industry sector. Using examples from personal research experience, and drawing upon organizational ethnographies in the management domain, the processes of impression management which enable research access are explored. Through analysis of narrative voice within predominantly realist accounts, it is argued that 'confessional' declaration of fieldwork experience provides a more reflexive textual account. Using culture as a theory within which to locate organizational ethnography, the implications of insider/outsider distinctions in fieldwork are considered. It is suggested that, particularly in management research, consultancy type 'working roles' are generated by researchers in order to gain credibility. Male-dominated research settings present particular issues for the female researcher, whose access to certain backstage regions and masculine discourse will almost certainly be limited. It is argued that gender, as a methodological issue which defines narrator perspective, needs to be taken into account by both men and women in the field and made more explicit. Gender dynamics within fieldwork can be modelled according to the dominant composition of the cultural setting. The paper argues for increased diversity in management research in order to appreciate the gender-situated nature of our understanding of organizational culture.
Reprints and Corporate Permissions
Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?
To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:
Academic Permissions
Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?
Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:
If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.
Related research
People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.
Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.
Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.