Selection of research methodology for phd researchers working with an organization

The issue of management research methodology is a highly debated one. Different perspectives and thought processes are available, both from the scientific and the sociological fields of research. This paper is prepared in context of a full time PhD research, which has to be finished within a specific time limit (with minimal flexibility), in most cases with limited resources, and has to attain an acceptable quality. The paper first discusses the range of methodologies that are available to a full time PhD researcher, giving particular attention to working with an organization. The paper argues that the research methodology, for a PhD researcher working in management related areas in construction, is significantly influenced by several factors, including the desire and skills of the researcher, the influence of the supervisor, the influence of the collaborating organization, the state of development of the research area and a comprehensive risk assessment. These factors collectively decide the context and the content of the research thus guiding the methodological choices. These factors are explored in brief to highlight their importance while examining a research methodology. Given the unlimited range of potential diversity achievable for these factors, the paper demonstrates the necessity of considering feasibility and risk as well as academic acceptability while examining methodological choices.