The insider's perspective -auto-ethnography in the construction industry

In construction management research ethnographic studies have gained popularity throughout recent years. However, auto-ethnographies are rare. This methodological work seeks to highlight how auto-ethnographic research might contribute to the wider ethnographic research in construction management. Auto-ethnographers study their own personal environment. Apart from being readily able to conduct their research without facing entrance barriers auto-ethnographers may profit from emotional involvement and background knowledge of the setting. Moreover, while researching the auto-ethnographer goes through a personal transformation process, which offers additional insight.These sources of knowledge can only develop their full potential when use in reflexive manner. Providing an example of his own research practice the author highlights how he enhanced his reflexive thinking employing perspective-taking and self-questioning in his field-notes.The author draws on experiences of doing auto-ethnography in his business researching on trust and negotiations. The researcher explored his experiences regarding emotionality, background knowledge of the field, and the personal transformation of the researcher.The provided example initially shows how emotional reactions drew the researcher’s attention to a special event and how he explored these emotions. The author’s background knowledge assisted him then to understand and appreciate other’s perspective. By self-questioning the auto-ethnographer could learn about underlying assumptions of his thoughts and reasons for his feelings. Hence, he could develop a more critical understanding of his own actions and emotions. Subsequently, the researcher’s thinking about the event changed into more humble and self-critical stance. Therefore, this work might help others to develop their own reflexive skills.The product is a confessional piece of work written form researcher/subject point of view. This insider’s perspective is not meant to be dispassionate; rather it provides passionate insights to one practitioner’s view. Thus, it will contrast outsider’s perspectives and offers further material for reflection.