African Journal of
Business Management

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Bus. Manage.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1993-8233
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJBM
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 4191

Full Length Research Paper

Facilitating qualitative research in business studies: Using the business narrative to model value creation

Manuel Au-Yong Oliveira1,2* and João José Pinto Ferreira2
  1Department of Economics, Management and Industrial Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. 2INESC Porto, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 20 October 2010
  •  Published: 04 January 2011

Abstract

 

This is a conceptual paper supported by empirical research giving details of a new Business Narrative Modelling Language (BNML). The need for BNML arose given a growing dissatisfaction with qualitative research approaches and also due to the need to bring entrepreneurs, especially those with little training in management theory, closer to the academic (as well as practitioner) discussion of innovation and strategy for value creation. We aim primarily for an improved communication process of events which can be described using the narrative, in the discussion of the value creation process. Our findings, illustrated through a case study, should be of interest to both researchers and practitioners alike.

 

Key words: Empirical research, qualitative research approaches, dissatisfaction, entrepreneurs, improved communication, Business Narrative Modelling Language (BNML).