4. Methods and Introduction to Findings

A full description of all ‘the contextual factors impinging on the inquiry’, as recommended by Lincoln and Guba (1985, p. 290), is described in this chapter. This chapter describes the organisation taking part in the study and where is it based, the type of people who contributed data, the number of participants involved in the fieldwork, the data collection methods that were employed, the number and length of the data collection sessions, and the time period over which the data was collected. Furthermore, this chapter describes the iterative process of collecting and analysing data. This is followed by details on the development of a research design that underpins the study. An introduction to the analysis of the factors influencing OL, KM, and innovation practices are established on innovation concepts which are presented in this chapter. The categorizations of findings from the participants’ sensemaking of terms and discussions are introduced. Furthermore, this chapter discusses how this study meets the requirements for credibility. This chapter lays out the concepts, categories and properties which are used in the development of a new theory of innovation. The integrated model constructed from the findings is discussed and this model integrating Social, Architectural and Cultural Innovation Factors, Characteristics and Mechanisms Facilitating OL, KM, and Innovation Experiences Among Members of a Geographically Dispersed Team is presented.