Introduction
Research Topic
It is apparent that most of the public sector firms are faced with a hard time where demand for their services is high as well as the expectation of the quality of these services associated with the accountability of their results. Consequentially, succession planning is used to improve and enhance the performance of these firms (Pandey and Sharma, 2014). Succession planning is effective in facilitating this process by ensuring that the organization has potential employees who will meet the public demand and increase the quality of their services and products (Durst and Wilhelm 2012). According to Pandey and Sharma (2014), succession planning is crucial to the development of a talented workforce that increase the competitiveness of a firm. However, the effectiveness of the organizational decision depends on its knowledge base. Integrating knowledge management to the succession planning facilitates better and informed decisions towards establishing a competitive workforce that meets the organization’s objects. Therefore, the goal of this part of the study is to assess the contribution of the knowledge management in facilitating the succession planning in the public sector. This assessment is focused on assessing the Abu Dhabi institutions.
Devising Research Questions
The researcher formulates research questions (see Appendix 1) that will ease in the achievement of the study goal. This will be achieved by developing specific questions that will be in line with the study objectives. In the attempt of accomplishing the study goals, the interview methodology will be used to collect the study data.
Significance of Interview
The interview was appropriate for the study since the interviewee described their perspective and experience concerning the phenomenon of the study. The study exploited face-to-face interview, which has a synchronous communication allowing the researcher to determine the time and place of interview. The interviewee for the study included the public employees and workers who have insights into the operation of the public organizations in Abu Dhabi. The importance of interview in this study was the way the interviewer utilized the social cues such as body language, voice, and intonation to extract more information. Moreover, the interview provided extra information when the interviewee reacted to the interview questions by providing more description of the interview questions.
Developing Interview Schedule
Taking into account the goals of the study, the interviewer scheduled the interview to enhance the effectiveness of the interview. In this case, the interview designed the interview into three groups: opening, body, and closing. The opening involved the establishment of a relationship between the interviewer and interviewee. At this instance, the interviewer introduced the study and its objectives and the essence of the interviewee in the interview. The body of the interview contained the interview questions grouped into topics that will ease in the answering of the study questions. Lastly, the closing part of the interview was brief where in summarizing the major ideas discussed in the interview and appreciate the participation of the interviewees.
Attempts Made by the Research Questions
The researcher designed the study questions in reference to the prime goal of the study as well as the specific objectives of the study. The first study questions aimed at assessing the purpose of succession planning in facilitating the performance of the public sectors in Abu Dhabi. The research at this question will aim at understanding how well the succession planning is used to facilitate the performance of these organizations. Likewise, the second question aims at evaluating the purpose of knowledge management in the organizations. The aspects of knowledge management right from knowledge creation to distribution in the public sectors will be examined at this question. The last question will scrutinize where public organizations in Abu Dhabi integrate succession planning and knowledge management. This question will collect data on how well the two aspects are joined to promote the performance of these organizations.
Discussion
How Interview Data Answered the Research Questions
The researcher designed the interview questions based on the research questions. This was an important strategy of ensuring that the research questions have been exclusively covered; thus easing the attainment of the study goals and therefore, the purpose of the study. Consequentially, the interview data was sufficient in answering the study questions. Administering the interview questions to the interviewee allowed the interviewer to assess the experience of the interviewee in relation to the succession planning and knowledge management practice. Therefore, the interviewee followed the interview schedule to ask the interviewee the questions related to the research questions. The answers to the interview questions were used to answer the research questions.
Answering interview questions number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 provided data on the succession planning practices in the public sector. These questions aimed at assessing whether the interviewees were aware of the succession planning in their organizations. The interviewee’s experience on the use of the succession planning was the one to enable them to attend to these questions. Question 4 and 5 will inform the study on the current succession planning practices used in most of the public organization in Abu Dhabi. This was achieved by evaluating the human resource management (HRM) practices that promote succession planning in the public organizations. Moreover, these questions enabled the researcher to deduce the advantages of using succession planning; thus justifying the reason why it is an important practice in the public organizations in Abu Dhabi. The data on benefits and challenges of succession planning was important in evaluating the viability of this practice in the public organizations. This, therefore, enabled the researcher to understand why some organizations use the practice and why other do not. Thus, the researcher understood the rate of succession planning in the public organizations.
The answers to interview questions number 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 provided data on the knowledge management. The interviews listed the knowledge management practices or systems available in the public sectors and how they are used in knowledge creation, storage, and dissemination. This was facilitated by collecting data on the HRM practices that are important in promoting creation, storage, and sharing of knowledge. The information was used to evaluate the significance of HRM practices in the management of knowledge in the organization and the efficiency of these practices. Moreover, the interviewee will provide data on the benefits of using knowledge management in the organizations. This will reveal the significance of the knowledge management in an organization and justify why organizations should make use of these practices. Conversely, the interview data provided insight on the use of the technology in promoting knowledge management such as knowledge creation and dissemination. However, the interview will provide data on the challenges facing knowledge management practices in public organizations. This data will be effective in assessing the significance of this practice by proving its viability in the public organizations.
Besides, the interview questions number 14 and 15 established a link between succession planning and knowledge management. Question 11 provides data on the impact of knowledge management on succession planning. The interviewee at this point of the interview will enrich the study of the knowledge management practices used to enhance the succession planning. This question collects data on whether knowledge management has a positive or negative impact; thus proving the essence of integrating the succession planning with knowledge management practices. Upon the determination that knowledge management influences succession planning, it is important to assess whether it is possible to enhance this influence. Therefore, question 12 obtains data on how the effectiveness of this impact can be improved to promote the operations and performance of the public sector in Abu Dhabi.
Relationship of the Interview Data with the Literature Review
The collected data from the interview has a close relation to the findings of the literature review. The succession planning data from the interview adheres to the reviewed literature by assessing the succession planning practices used in the public sectors in Abu Dhabi. At this instance, the interview intends to find out the HRM practices used to predict future vacancies of the current workforce. In this case, the interview will aim at evaluating practices such as job assessment and analysis used by the HRM to reveal the progress of the current workforce.
In addition, the interview questions aimed at assessing the HRM practices that are important in increasing the retention rate of the employees. The assessment at this stage took into account the HRM practices that are important in reducing the turnover rate among the employees and are important in enhancing the retention of the employees in the public sector. This is important as revealed in the reviewed studies, as the aim of the succession planning is to reduce the number of employees leaving the organization. Moreover, the interview question targeting the benefits of the succession planning was in line with the importance of succession planning in an organization as discussed in the literature review section.
Knowledge management, on the other hand, is linked to the literature review where the researcher assesses the knowledge management practices used in the public sectors. The data obtained from this interview question aims at evaluating the knowledge conversion from tacit to explicit following the SECI framework by Nonaka and Tekuchi. Moreover, this question will assess the practices used by the organization to encourage the knowledge creation, storage, and dissemination methods in the two types of knowledge. Moreover, the researcher will collect research data on the way information technology is used to facilitate the knowledge management practices. As the reviewed literature revealed, combination and externalization in the SECI model rely on the ICT tools used to facilitate knowledge transition in the forms of documents and presentations. This is especially important in transferring the tacit knowledge, which is embedded in one’s experience or brain to others.
Moreover, the interview will collect data on the practices used to facilitate knowledge creation, storage, and sharing. At this instance, the researcher will evaluate the HRM that enhance knowledge creation and sharing. Some of the practices include training and development, compensation benefits, and performance appraisal. The fact that knowledge in the form of tacit is embodied in the employee’s brain, experience, or belief, it is important to assess how government institutions engage their employees and allow them to create and share their knowledge with others.
The interview questions on the impact of knowledge management on succession planning also provided data relating to the reviewed studies. The HRM practices meant to improve knowledge creation and sharing will as well facilitate in enhancing the loyalty of the employees, which in turn will promote their stay in the organization. Moreover, practices used in an organization to motivate the employees in sharing knowledge such as employee engagement are important practices that stimulate the participation of the employees in the organizational practices; thus trusting and being loyal to the organization. Therefore, the data provided on the effective approaches to improving the effects of knowledge management on the succession planning will promote the efforts used by the Abu Dhabi government to develop a knowledge-based economy. This is important in informing the Abu Dhabi government on effective strategies to customize their succession planning to the current era since they use traditional administration practices.
Critical Reflection
Conducting the Interview
The interviewer and interviewee agreed on the common place and time for carrying the interview. The interview was to take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to ensure that all the interview questions have been covered and the interviewee has taken his or her time to answer the questions. During the first day, the interviewer first introduced himself to the interviewee by shaking hands and saying his name (Tuckman and Harper, 2012). This was an important practice of establishing a rapport with the interviewee and making them feel welcomed and comfortable to participate in the study (Jacob and Furgerson, 2012). From this point, the interviewer introduced the topic of the study and its objectives. By doing so, the interviewer ensured that the interviewee was informed of the importance of their participation and how the relevant information needed to achieve the research objectives (Jacob and Furgerson, 2012). Moreover, the researcher motivated the respondents to participate in the study by informing them the importance of the study in enhancing the performance of the government organizations.
Having had established this relationship and motivation, the researcher went ahead to ask the research questions depending on the research schedule used for the study. The interview questions were grouped into topics with the right word choice to ensure that the interviewee will not struggle when answering (Jacob and Furgerson, 2012). Each question was read slowly to the interviewee and allowed to think over and provide the best answer. Further, the interviewee recorded the answers on each paper sheet. Beyond paper and pen recording, the researcher used the digital recording to facilitate in data recording for further analysis. The researcher also took keen observation of social intonation from the interviewee by observing tone or language or language variation when attending answering the interview questions. The researcher also encouraged the interviewee to ask any question or clarification in case they do not comprehend the question (Jacob and Furgerson, 2012). Once the interviewee has answered all the questions, the researcher offered brief remarks summarizing the major issues discussed and later thank the respondent for taking part in the study.
Ethical Consideration
When carrying the interview, the researcher made important ethical considerations. First, the researcher has to take into consideration the rapport and intimacy established during the interview. The researcher has to establish an open and honest relationship with the interviewee (Kapp, 2006). However, the researcher has to respect the privacy of the interviewee by avoiding getting into personal information despite the establishment of such a good relationship. Kapp (2006) adds that the researcher has to ensure that the interviewee voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. This is the informed consent of the interviewee where he is informed in advance of the study and the essence of their participation in the study. This accounted for the needs of the interviewee where they could freely decline from participating from the study (Kapp, 2006). Moreover, incentives were to be used to appreciate the participation of the respondents in the study and not as a way of enticing them when the condition does not favor their participation.
What Worked and What Did Not
The researcher and the interviewer were all available at the designated place and time. The introduction part of the interview went on well where there was a promising relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee. All of the interviewees expressed that they were okay in participating in the study. Most of the interview method worked for the participants since they were familiar with the research topics. However, some of the interview questions did not work for the interviewee, as they barely knew what to answer. This forced the researcher to provide the interviewees with options to make it easy for them to answer the questions. Most of the respondents claimed that they were conversant with the both succession planning and knowledge management practices in their respective organizations. Nevertheless, some of the respondents failed to differentiate the HRM practices in facilitating succession planning and knowledge management. The respondents were familiar with the HRM practices, but they could hardly relate these practices to the succession planning practices. Apart from this confusion, the rest of the questions were attended as expected with the interviewee providing very resourceful insights.
Strengths and Limitations of Interview
Interview method in this study has proved itself worth in a qualitative study due to the following advantages. First, it facilitates the development of a relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee. From the opening practices of the researcher, he ensures that there is a mutual relationship with the interviewee; thus increasing the cooperation between the parties (Hofisi, Hofisi, and Mago, 2014). Besides, it is easy to correct or clarify the interview questions to the interviewer. This is possible since the interviewer and interviewee have a physical contact during the interview; thus, the interviewer can clarify or correct any mistake to enhance the response rate (Hofisi, Hofisi, and Mago, 2014). Conversely, interview method provides the study with sufficient information. This is especially when the interviewer asks the interviewee more questions. Nevertheless, interview method has a number of limitations. For instance, interview method is time-consuming with more time spent in the preparation for the interview, time taken to carry the interview, and the interpretation of the responses. In addition, interview method is costly to conduct. Moreover, there is increased chances of biases from the interviewer who might ask questions that are in his favor or experience (Choy, 2014). Lastly, interview method is not suitable for personal matters.
Doing the Research Differently
The use of questionnaires is another appropriate alternative for the interview method. The use of questionnaires would be suitable for the study where the researcher should develop questionnaires and distribute them to the appropriate respondents. The respondents should take adequate time with the research questions and submit them at the agreed place and time (Harris, and Brown, 2010). The appropriateness of this method is because it is cheap where the researcher needs to distribute the questionnaires to the suitable respondents. Moreover, questionnaire method is appropriate for a wide population, which is the case with this study (Harris, and Brown, 2010). This makes it easy to collect large amounts of data from a wide population. Moreover, questionnaire eliminates chances of the researcher biases in the study.
Different Methods
As aforementioned, questionnaire method is another effective method of carrying this study. Correspondingly, the survey method is another effective method for this study where questionnaires are administered to a large group of people. In this case, the respondents fill in the questionnaires and hand them back to the researcher for further analysis. A case study is also suitable for this study with the researcher concentrating on one group of people who will be studied to provide the insights for the phenomenon under the evaluation.
Different Approaches of Interview
There are different approaches that can be taken to conduct an interview depending on the type of data collected. There are two different approaches of interview structured and unstructured interview. A structured interview is a formal interview where a set of questions is used to carry the interview. This implies that it is easy to conduct an interview using a set of questions (Harris, and Brown, 2010). The unstructured interview is referred as an informal interview where it does not follow any structure. The interview questions in this approach are structured without following an interview schedule, unlike structured interview. Besides, unstructured interview uses open questions while allowing the researcher to probe for a deeper understanding of the research topic (Robinson, 2013). In addition, an interview can either be a group interview or a personal interview. Group interview involves a dozen or more respondents interviewed together while personal interview involves a single person interviewed at a respective time.
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