References

Côté-Boileau, E., Gaboury, I., Breton, M., & Denis, J. (2020). Organizational ethnographic case studies: Toward a new generative in-depth qualitative methodology for health care research? International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406920926904 Links to an external site.

English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/ Links to an external site.

O’Reilly, K. (2011). Ethnographic Methods. Routledge.

Oreg, A., & Babis, D. (2023). Digital ethnography in third sector research. International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 34, 12-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-021-00397-9 Links to an external site.

Reply to Jacob:Your discussion concerning digital ethnography was especially interesting since an increasing number of human interactions are taking place in online environments. Likewise, digital ethnography provides social science researchers with significant potential for investigating the experiences and practices within organizations of all sizes and types (Jensen et al., 2020). In addition, the goals of digital ethnography are aligned with other types of ethnography research since it also provides a rigorous research approach that yields unique and contextually rich knowledge, exceeding the conventional limitations of digital research methods.

Further, you make a good point that while traditional ethnographies have contributed to the understanding of social, cultural, and motivational aspects of teaching and learning in offline settings, digital ethnography opens new avenues for exploring these dynamics within the digital space (Jensen et al., 2020). Finally, your selected biblical passages were highly relevant and inspiring. In sum, gaining fresh ethnographic insights into organizations is congruent with Proverbs 27:23 (NIV) which counsels, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.”ReferencesJensen, L. X., Bearman, M., Boud, D., & Konradsen, F. (2022). Digital ethnography in higher education teaching and learning—a methodological review. Higher Education, 84(5), 1143–1162.

Original post:In conducting fieldwork, researchers can learn about the organization's principles and norms by observing how people interact with one another and their surroundings. Fieldwork helps researchers better understand the dynamics of an organization, including its structure, hierarchy, and decision-making procedures. In organizational ethnography, fieldwork plays a crucial role. Fieldwork is crucial for gathering information and formulating hypotheses. In ethnography, data is collected by human observation and interaction in a local setting, using the researcher as the primary data collector. Ethnographic methods are diverse, and a range of approaches can be adopted, but it is the depth of fieldwork and the continuous process of engaging with participants and their natural environments that is central and adds strength to the findings of ethnographic studies (Jones & Smith, 2017). Participant observation requires the researcher to be an insider in the field of inquiry, often an experienced practitioner, and being reflexive and cognizant of pre-conceived perceptions about practice is essential to ensure the validity of the findings (Jones & Smith, 2017). Identifying the community and establishing a baseline profile covering a range of economic and sociocultural variables is the next step in collecting field data. Researchers observe and interview community members in their natural setting, which helps build knowledge of a community by observing its members and interacting with them. By filling gaps in our knowledge of a community whose beliefs and behavior affect federal programs, ethnography can improve federal programs and policies. After identifying the community and establishing a baseline profile that covers a range of economic and sociocultural variables, field data collection begins. By filling knowledge gaps about a community whose beliefs and behavior affect federal programs, ethnography contributes to improving federal programs and policies.

The fieldwork part of organizational ethnography involves conducting research in the natural environment of the organization being studied. Research allows researchers to see and interact with individuals and groups within an organization, gaining a deeper understanding of their behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. Researchers can also collect rich and detailed data through fieldwork methods such as participant observation, interviews, and document analysis. A comprehensive understanding of the organization's culture, practices, and dynamics can be developed using this data. During fieldwork, researchers can immerse themselves in the organization, observing, recording, and examining its culture. Fieldwork provides researchers with a better understanding of the organization's background, principles, and activities. By using this technique, researchers can uncover hidden meanings and widespread understandings that are not immediately apparent. An organization's rules and values might be revealed by observing how people interact with one another. Fieldwork allows researchers to gain insight into the organization's decisions and procedures. Conducting fieldwork allows researchers to examine how choices are formed and how people react to different situations. Additionally, they can gain insight into the company's management style and organizational design. Through fieldwork, researchers can learn more about the organization's external environment, including its competitors, clients, and suppliers. During fieldwork, researchers can observe how people interact with one another and their surroundings in order to build theories about how different variables may affect an organization's success. Last but not least, fieldwork is a crucial tool for involving stakeholders. Researchers can interact with stakeholders on the ground and learn about their viewpoints. This can aid researchers in gaining a new perspective on the organization and in identifying areas that could want improvement.

In conclusion, Fieldwork is an essential aspect of organizational ethnography as it involves the direct observation and participation of the researcher in the organizational setting (Akemu & Abdelnour, 2020). It allows the researcher to gain an in-depth understanding of the organizational culture, practices, and processes (Akemu & Abdelnour, 2020). The importance of fieldwork in organizational ethnography can be summarized as follows:Fieldwork enables the researcher to collect rich and detailed data about the organizational setting, which can be used to develop authentic accounts of organizational life.

It allows the researcher to observe and interact with research participants in their natural setting, which can provide insights into their behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs.

Fieldwork can help the researcher to identify and capture marginalized voices that may be overlooked in other research methods.

It allows the researcher to develop a rapport with research participants, which can facilitate access to sensitive information and improve the quality of data collected.

Fieldwork can help the researcher to identify and address ethical concerns that may arise during the research process.

Fieldwork is a crucial aspect of organizational ethnography that enables the researcher to develop a deep understanding of the organizational setting and the people who inhabit it (Akemu & Abdelnour, 2020). The above paragraphs affect public administration because a career in public administration. To understand the dynamics and the people that they represent, one should observe and interact. Developing a deep understanding of the organizational setting and the people who inhabit it can help public administrators to identify the unique organizational culture of the agency and how it affects organizational performance. Administrators can also use this understanding to develop effective strategies to change the organizational culture if necessary (Wilkins & Ouchi, 1983). Despite the fact that local organizational culture may not always contribute to organizational efficiency, it is important to understand its properties when they do. A public administrator who understands the organizational culture and the people who inhabit it is better able to manage it to improve performance (Wilkins & Ouchi, 1983).

God has established a community in which we are expected to participate in good times and bad, regardless of our preferences. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins”-1 Peter 4:8 (ESV).

References:Akemu, E. O., & Abdelnour, S. (2020). The physicality of the field: Exploring fieldwork in organizational ethnography. Human Studies, 43(3), 295-312.

Evans, M. J. (2009, January). Applied Ethnography and Park Management at Pipestone NationalMonument. In The George Wright Forum (Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 80-84). George Wright Society.

Jones, M., & Smith, J. (2017). The system approach in organizational ethnography. Journal of Organizational Ethnography, 6(2), 156-179.

Kashid, A., Bhattacharya, S., & Bhagwat, A. (2015). Ethnography: A tool to understand organizational culture. International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, 5(2), 86-91.

Rashid, S., Iqbal, S., & Masud, T. (2019). Ethnography in medical education: A systematic review. Medical Teacher, 41(12), 1446-1454.

Sandberg, J., & Copes, R. (2013). The use of fieldwork in organizational ethnography. Journal of Organizational Ethnography, 2(3), 323-343.

Wilkins, A. L., & Ouchi, W. G. (1983). Efficient cultures: Exploring the relationship between culture and organizational performance. Administrative science quarterly, 468-481.

Reply to Laura:Your post helps underscore the overarching goals of organizational ethnographers to provide a voice for marginalized individuals and to identify opportunities for improvement. Indeed, rather than just an interesting academic exercise, fieldwork enables researchers to gain insights into decision-making processes, organizational design, and external factors that may have a profound effect on the organization's success. In addition, the post recognizes the centrality of fieldwork in involving stakeholders and gaining their perspectives, which can provide valuable insights and identify additional areas for improvement. In fact, the Bible encourages people to “think outside the box” when searching for elusive answers. In this regard, Romans 12:2 (ESV) emphasizes that the faithful should “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” One minor issue that I felt needed highlighting was your observation that, “Despite the fact that local organizational culture may not always contribute to organizational efficiency, it is important to understand its properties when they do.” In reality, it is especially important to develop a comprehensive understanding of the properties of local organizational culture when it detracts from organizational performance (Kiaos, 2023).

ReferencesKiaos, T. (2023). An interpretative framework for analyzing managerial ideology, normative control, organizational culture and the self. Cogent Business & Management, 10(1), 1–17.