The magical “we”: Enhancing collaboration transparency in grounded theory method in information systems research

Abstract

Grounded theory method (GTM) has become popular in the information systems (IS) field despite multiple interpretations and disputes about its use and usefulness. This paper analyzes how IS researchers collaborate during the GTM process and how they report on the research process. We analyze a sample of papers from the AIS Senior Scholars’ basket of eight that use GTM as their research method to understand how researchers report collaboration in GTM research. We then draw from the previous literature and our own GTM research experiences to illustrate different alternatives of performing collaboration in GTM tasks and their pros and cons in order to help other GTM researchers. We highlight potential issues that arise from different epistemological and ontological stances and provide guidance and examples of how to avoid these issues and how to document the research process.