Using an actual design method for the design of research methodologies: Case of the dichotomy exploration and exploitation in context of innovation management

Dekkers, Rob; Zhou, Qijun

Abstract

Whereas scholarly studies often elaborate on the design of the method for empirical data collection and analysis, surprisingly, the actual use of design principles taken from the domain of design and engineering of products has not come into the picture, yet; the stance of this paper is that the use of design principles taken from this domain may be beneficial for making choices and detailing research design. The application is demonstrated through showcasing the research design process of a doctoral study. The topic explored in this doctoral study concerns the theoretical concepts of exploration and exploitation, especially focused on their implication in managerial practices of managing innovation. In addition, both theoretical and empirical validity of view exploration and exploitation as a dichotomy was questioned; this was done through challenging the domain assumptions sustaining these notions. In order to tackle this rather complex research problem, the study adopted Pugh’s ‘controlled convergence method’ to have a more systematic approach in setting the final research methods.

• Presentation Conference Type: Edited Proceedings
• Acceptance Date: Feb 3, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Feb 2, 2023
• Publication Date: Feb 3, 2023
• Deposit Date: May 11, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 3, 2025
• Publisher: Springer
• Pages: 767-777
• Series Title: Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Production Engineering (LNPE)
• Series ISSN: 2194-0533; 2194-0525
• Book Title: Intelligent and Transformative Production in Pandemic Times. Lecture Notes in Production Engineering
• Chapter Number: 71
• ISBN: 9783031186400
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18641-7_71
• Keywords: Controlled convergence method; Design and engineering; Research methodology
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10778632
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-18641-7_71