Research Design
This chapter discusses the research design of the overarching study.
3.1. Introduction
The overarching research design for this thesis addresses the problem of low Lean implementation success rate in South Africa due to a lack of culture-specific Lean implementation frameworks adapted for the diverse culture of South Africa. Ergo, the aim of this research is to develop a culture-specific, Lean implementation framework for South Africa utilising the Ubuntu management philosophy.
The research paradigm of this study is design science research (DSR) (section 2.5.1), which was selected due to its problem-solving nature with the intention of developing innovative artefacts(Coetzee, 2018, Hevner et al., 2004, Mangaroo-Pillay, 2020). Moreover, inside this DSR paradigm, the action design research (ADR) methodology was utilised (section 2.5.2), allowing for two challenges to be addressed (Sein et al., 2011, Coetzee, 2018):
1. Addressing the problem circumstances encountered in the organisational context 2. Constructing and evaluating the artefact that addresses the problem
Considering that ADR focuses on pre-existing frameworks and that this research aims to design a new framework, it is evident that the ADR will fall short. Therefore, the elaborated action design research (eADR) (section 2.5.3) method will be employed within ADR as it is created for research with no pre-existing frameworks (Coetzee, 2018, Mullarkey and Hevner, 2019). The relationship between the DSR paradigm and the eADR methodology within this study is illustrated with figure 14. Akin to nesting dolls, eADR exists within the ADR methodology, which is within the DSR paradigm.
Figure 14: Relationship between eADR, ADR and DSR (nesting doll analogy)
The design of eADR allows a researcher to enter and exit at various stages in the research range (Mullarkey and Hevner, 2019). Based on the aim of this thesis, the research enters at the diagnosing stage as there is a need to explore the research problem before designing an artefact to address it (figure 15).
From figure 15, the overarching research design can be seen, encompassing 4 cycles within eADR. The two stages of eADR that are utilised are diagnosing and design, both of which are indicated with dashed block outlines. Only one cycle was conducted during the diagnosing stage and three cycles were performed in the design stage. The detail of each of these cycles are explained in sections 3.2 to 3.5 that follow.
3.2. Diagnosing phase – SLR on South African Lean implementation frameworks The intent of this stage was to explore the pre-existing Lean frameworks in South Africa and confirm the lack of culture-specific Lean implementation frameworks (thus, proving the research problem). The following points discuss the cycle steps of the diagnosing phase:
1. Problem formulation – There is a lack of culture-specific Lean implementation frameworks in South Africa (the research problem from chapter 1).
2. Artefact creation – An empirical investigation was conducted via a systematic literature review to analyse existing South African Lean frameworks. An artefact was created in the form of a list of South African frameworks and their focus areas. Therefore, proving a valid research problem as there were no culture-specific Lean implementation frameworks for South Africa.
3. Evaluation – The SLR process and results were verified by a fellow researcher.
4. Reflection and Learning – The reflection and learning of the diagnosing phase was documented in a research paper (available in Chapter 4).
3.3. Design phase 1 - Interviews with Ubuntu experts
The goal of design phase 1 was to explore established Ubuntu common practices and derive Ubuntu management principles that would correlate with the Lean principles that did not have correlating Ubuntu principles from the previous study (Mangaroo-Pillay and Coetzee, 2021). The following points discuss the cycle steps of the design phase 1:
1. Problem formulation – There were no correlating Ubuntu principles for the five Lean principles within the process tier of the “4P model of the Toyota way”.
2. Artefact creation – Interviews were conducted with Ubuntu experts to explore established common practices and derive Ubuntu management principles from these to correlate with the unmatched Lean principles. This resulted in the naming of five Ubuntu principles that correspond to the process-themed Lean principles.
3. Evaluation – Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Thereafter, the data was triangulated from field notes, reflections and transcripts to ensure data richness and accuracy.
4. Reflection and Learning – The reflection and learning of design phase 1 was documented in a research paper (available in Chapter 5)
3.4. Design phase 2 – SLR on aspects of Lean frameworks
The intention of this phase was the exploration and analysis of available Lean frameworks to determine common design methods and elements amongst them. The following points discuss the cycle steps of the design phase 2:
1. Problem formulation – Common factors or requirements for the design of a Lean framework are unknown.
2. Artefact creation – An SLR was conducted to explore and analyse existing frameworks.
This led to the development of the “House of guidance for designing a Lean framework”, which included the following: 1) guidelines to the applicable literature to consider, 2) design element to include, 3) design methods to consider and 4) methods to test a Lean framework with.
3. Evaluation – The SLR process and results were verified by a fellow researcher.
4. Reflection and Learning – The reflection and learning of design phase 2 was documented in a research paper (available in Chapter 6)
3.5. Design phase 3 – Design of the Lean-Ubuntu implementation framework The purpose of the last design phase was to create a culture-specific Lean implementation framework for South Africa that utilised the Ubuntu management philosophy. The following points discuss the cycle steps of the design phase 3:
1. Problem formulation – Current South African Lean implementation frameworks do not have a culture-specific focus.
2. Artefact creation – “The Lean-Ubuntu implementation framework” was designed by utilising the “House of guidance for designing a Lean framework” and incorporated the matching Lean and Ubuntu principles.
3. Evaluation – The framework was evaluated by South African Lean experts
4. Reflection and Learning - The reflection and learning of design phase 3 was documented in chapter (available in Chapter 7-9)
3.7. Chapter summary
This chapter allowed for the breakdown of the relationship of DSR, ADR and eADR to be explored in terms of this study. Furthermore, it showcased the breakdown on the research design.