Title: Role of phenomenology in management research

Authors: Ignatius Odongo; Caroline Ntara

Addresses: Entrepreneurship Journey PTY Ltd., P.O. Box 808, Wendywood, Johannesburg, 2144, South Africa ' School of Business, KCA University, P.O. Box 56808 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: This paper examines phenomenology as a research methodology and posits that management research could benefit from its focus on human action and experience. The paper is conceived as a reflective literature review on phenomenology augmented by case studies on its application. It is shown that management is intertwined in a web of competing and reciprocal human experiences and actions, making it challenging to understand without grasping the human element. This complexity pressures management researchers and practitioners to reconcile theory with practice. Consequently, management research requires a worldview that invites scrutiny of how individuals assign significance to their everyday management responsibilities and encounters in their natural as opposed to contrived settings. While phenomenological research has been applied extensively in understanding human-related experiences, its application in management research is limited. Accordingly, the paper adds to scholarly discourse by providing insights into the application of phenomenology in management research.

Keywords: phenomenology; management research; qualitative research; management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2024.142324

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2024 Vol.17 No.4, pp.427 - 441

Received: 03 Jan 2023
Accepted: 05 Jan 2023
Published online: 21 Oct 2024 *

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