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This paper aims to analyse the manner in which “objectivist” grounded theory methodology has progressively developed since 1967 and how it has been employed by management researchers.

The paper traces the methodological development of grounded theory with particular emphasis on the variations, contradictions and modifications to the methodology both between and within the Glaserian and Straussian Schools. Totally 32 empirical grounded theory studies published in the management literature since 2002 are analysed in order to gauge the impact of these variations on the manner in which researchers have employed the grounded theory methodology.

It is argued that grounded theory in management research is in danger of losing its integrity. The methodology has become so pliant that management researchers appear to have accepted it as a situation of “anything goes” “Grounded theory” is now loosely used as a generic term to refer to any qualitative approach in which an inductive analysis is grounded in data.

It could be argued that grounded theory cannot continue to be regarded as a moving target, or to be practised as a free‐for‐all methodology in management research, without risking serious danger of becoming irrelevant. Three suggestions are offered for restoring more discipline into grounded theory studies.

The paper's purpose is to explore a theoretical and methodological dilemma.

Commencing doctoral research, and committed to an orthodox grounded theory approach, a unique story was uncovered which, to do it and the research justice, required an alternative form of representation. Intuition decreed that this should be narrative. However, grounded theory and narrative entail epistemologically and ontologically incommensurate paradigms. The paper seeks to consider whether inclusion of the unique story would compromise, or subvert, the already emergent grounded theory. An exploration of the relationship between different epistemological and ontological traditions is also to be made, based on the assumption that method “slurring,” and a more eclectic approach to using incommensurate paradigms, may be valuable.

In transcribing and coding data using strictly orthodox grounded theory methods, the researcher runs the risk of “stripping” the research story of some critical dimension(s). However, combining a narrative approach with that of grounded theory, the paper allows for the representation of an atypical “Maverick” case, along‐side other more typical cases.

The paper points out, to the early career qualitative researcher in particular, that it is legitimate to combine seemingly incommensurate methodologies, notably where not to do so would result in the loss of enriching and powerful insights into basic social processes.

The purpose of this study is to conceptualize and analyse novice researchers experiences of the Glaserian grounded theory methodology.

The gorunded theory analytical procedures were applied.

The paper suggests that the creative freedom inherited in the Glaserian grounded theory approach empowers novice researchers, and many students reported positive emotions related to this freedom. At the same time, this freedom can represent a difficulty. Several students thought the tabula rasa instruction was something of a paradox, and the instructions within the methodology to “be without preconceptions”, “let the theory emerge”, and “find the social process” was difficult for most students to understand. However, some students found that they could counteract this difficulty via a systematic coding process and by working in pairs that enabled them to conduct an analytical dialogue.

This is the first study that investigates the way that novice researchers experience the Glaserian grounded theory methodology.

This paper aims to consider the realities and problematics of applying a grounded theory (GT) approach to research, as a novice, within a mixed methods study during post graduate research. Its intention is to provide the novice user with a framework of considerations and greater awareness of the issues that GT can expose during research activity.

Using empirical evidence and a comparative approach, the paper compares the efficacy of both the classic Glaserian and Straussian models. It observes the effects of a positivist academic environment upon the choice of approach and its application. This study was specific to design education; however, its reliance upon a social science epistemology results in findings beneficial to research novices across broader disciplines.

GT presents the novice researcher with several potential pitfalls. Most problematic were the immutable, positivist institutional requirements, researcher a priori knowledge, the reliance upon literature for the research proposal and structure of the proposal itself. These include suspension of the notion that the purist use of either model can be applied in the current academic environment, the need for a close relationship with the data and toleration of a non-linear process with unexpected results.

The practicalities of GT research are often reflected upon by the academy, but use by novice researchers is little considered. The findings from this study provide a novel set of guidelines for use by those embarking on GT research and particularly where the requirements of formal education may cause a conflict.

Background: The introduction of antiviral agents, most particularly ‘highly active antiretroviral therapy’ (HAART), has changed the very nature of the care for persons with HIV and/or AIDS, from preparing patients to die to assisting patients with living with a chronic illness. Despite this dramatic turnaround in prognosis, the limited literature available indicates that these individuals often do not have a high degree of hope for the future. Accordingly, this study seeks to explain how hope might be inspired and maintained in people living long‐term with HIV/AIDS (the so‐called ‘Lazarus Syndrome’). Design: The study used a modified Glaserian grounded theory method and was conducted in the United States of America. A total of 10 participants were selected by means of theoretical sampling. Methods: The study adhered to the principal features of Glaserian Grounded Theory, namely: (a) theory generation, not theory verification; (b) theoretical sampling; (c) the constant comparative method of data analysis; and (d) theoretical sensitivity (searching for/discovering the core variable, one which identifies the key psychosocial process and contains temporal dimensions or stages). Further, the authors ensured that the study was concerned with generating conceptual theory, not conceptual description. Findings/conclusion: The findings indicate that the key psychosocial problem (i.e. the maintenance of hope) is addressed through the core variable, ‘Turning from death to life: finding new meaning’. This parsimonious theory describes and explains a four‐stage process of hope maintenance consisting of the subcore variables: ‘Losing the Ontological Self’, ‘Turning from Death to Life’, ‘Finding Acceptance and Reconciliation’, and ‘Finding New Meaning’.

Grounded theory (GT) is an inductive paradigm-based research method that focuses more on data depth and quality than the generalizability of results to a broader population and is substantially different from conventional hypothetico-deductive research approaches. GT has become a popular research approach in several social science fields including tourism and hospitality. By reviewing the development of GT and its associated philosophical underpinning, this chapter compares three widely used GT approaches advocated by Glaser (Classical GT), Strauss and Corbin (Straussian GT), and Charmaz (Constructivist GT). Given the various interpretations and approaches to GT, this chapter therefore offers an overview of the key distinguishing characteristics of these approaches to GT so as to facilitate more thoughtful approach selection in keeping with philosophical positions, research questions, and research objectives. This chapter then proposes a step-by-step guideline of the application of this method through an illustrative example in tourism. The chapter concludes with a critical reflection on this widely used qualitative research method and considers possible future developments.

The purpose of this paper is to understand the phenomena of an employee “being valued” in the context of a manufacturing SME.

A qualitative study using rich data from in-depth interviews following a classical (Glaserian) grounded theory.

A three dimensional concept of authentic pride enablement, altruistically-orientated shared-purpose and servant leadership explained the reasons people felt valued.

The limitations were that this study was in one context

The implications are that if organisations consider a servant leadership approach, enabling of authentic pride and fostering of altruistically-orientated shared-purpose, this may help employees feel valued.

This has implications for how organisations can show their employees that they are valued.

“Being valued” is a concept/construct that is widely quoted as a driver for employee engagement and yet rarely unpacked.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a personal, reflective account of applying grounded theory, in particular Glaser's approach, in accounting research. It seeks to reduce barriers to adopting the grounded theory approach.

The approach taken is providing an overview of Glaser's grounded theory and discussing the authors' application of it, thus discussing their personal experiences.

The paper seeks to provide a greater insight into using the grounded theory approach, through illustrating the authors' personal experiences with its application. It seeks to highlight the merits and pitfalls, including any attempts to overcome these, as these are perceived from a subjective viewpoint.

The paper provides an individual account of how a grounded theory study was undertaken. The subjectivity of such undertaking has to be taken into consideration.

The application of the grounded theory approach is discussed retrospectively, in a bid to provide an insight to interpretive research projects in general and grounded theory in particular. It is still rarely used in accounting research, but has potential to contribute at all levels of accounting research. The paper provides an individual account of using this approach.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of social and business context of developing counties (in this paper Iran) on developing, forming and exhibiting entrepreneurial innovative behaviour leading to entrepreneurship. The developed model illustrates the most important factors in forming such behaviour.

In this paper, networked grounded theory was used to develop a path model for entrepreneurial innovative behaviour antecedents based on Iranian entrepreneurial context.

This paper shows that in Iranian entrepreneurship context, innovation is sensitive to local conditions and levels of technological capabilities. Also, Iran’s situation brings another aspect of innovation in mind, innovative behaviour of individuals in forms of entrepreneurships to compensate the lack of technology in the firms.

Due to the research approach and the quality of grounded theory, data gathering tool and sampling process, the generalizability of this paper is limited or may be context oriented; the results of this research must be interpreted within its limitation and scope.

This paper is the first study trying to develop a model on entrepreneurial innovative behaviour in Iran which develops a model based on the realities of Iran rather than model based on developed countries with different basis and context.

Focuses on large corporates’ expectations of service delivery from their bank(s). Identifies some of the constituent elements of quality operational service, and assesses their significance in the large corporate segment. First, the literature on marketing of financial services in business‐to‐business markets, service quality and relationship management is discussed. Glaserian orthodox grounded theory was used in a pilot study to identify the key elements of perceived service quality on behalf of the large corporates. This formed the basis of the research methodology. A number of elements of operational quality service are identified. They can be grouped as reliability, assurance, empathy, responsiveness and proactivity. Concludes that banks must monitor and manage functional elements of service delivery in relationship seeking accounts. They should also divide their products into relationship specific weightings.