Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Group Assignment -Business Research Methods Qualitative- Workgroup 3 Team 18 Tutorial Teacher: Alexandros Papachristopoulos 2761974 Constanze Hödl Arzo Omar 2732385 Dania Toumi 2770742 Youssef Fawzy 2776178 Zinon Kouvas 2689253 Table of content Introduction....................................................................................................................................2 Research Design and Methods...................................................................................................... 3 Research Design...................................................................................................................3 Methods...........................................................................................................................................4 Participants...........................................................................................................................4 Data Collection.................................................................................................................... 4 Observations........................................................................................................................ 5 Interviews.............................................................................................................................5 Findings and Discussion................................................................................................................ 6 Data Quality......................................................................................................................... 6 Level of Detail in Coding and Codebook............................................................................ 7 Discussion....................................................................................................................................... 7 Organizational Behavior...................................................................................................... 7 Community building............................................................................................................ 8 Theory implications............................................................................................................. 8 Practical implications...........................................................................................................8 Enhancing Staff Training and Communication....................................................................8 Fostering inclusivity.............................................................................................................8 Conclusion and Reflection.............................................................................................................9 Appendix:..................................................................................................................................... 10 Observations:..................................................................................................................... 10 Observations/Interviews guide.........................................................................................20 References:....................................................................................................................................21 1 Introduction A common characteristic of every human being in the world is its belonging to a group that consists of other individuals. The fundamental human need has been to integrate into particular social categories since antiquity. These groups can include tribes, strategic alliances, or larger society institutions. Since, the creation of subgroups in the world is inevitable. A basic premise that influences the individual's smooth integration into the group, is the degree to which the person feels included. Many researchers have contributed in studying implications of this concept, how it affects the individual and in what way, with the most notable one being done by Allport in which he suggested the inclusion exclusion framework model. In addition and more specifically, a study about inclusivity and mental health found that in fact, inclusivity can be considered as a mental health treatment and that it positively influences the individual (Schneideret al. 2008). As a result, the feeling of inclusivity has proven to have a great impact on an individual's psychological and emotional needs. At this point, it should be mentioned that the topic of inclusivity holds contemporary relevance due to phenomena such as globalization. Moreover, it is also a common feature that is observed and should be taken into consideration in every organization. For instance, due to the fact that in every company there are different hierarchical subgroups in many forms, it should be one of the manager’s first priorities to promote inclusivity and make every team member feel welcome. Another example would be a specific department in a university that is composed of multiple international students from different cultural backgrounds and identities. In this case, inclusivity plays a major role in the student’s well being and integration into their environment. Therefore, the importance of that concept should by no means be overlooked. The main point that this paper aims to examine is how the feeling of inclusivity is perceived by customers in a specific company. More specifically the analysis pertained to a gym establishment known as Saints & Stars. This firm is located in the heart of Amsterdam. Built on an old church, this place has a different and rather mysterious aura that creates unique experiences to its customers. As mentioned in their website (Saints and Stars), a distinguishing factor of the gym is its approach to member treatment, setting it apart from other fitness facilities. In addition to the provision of high end premium services, the employees as well as the 2 trainees consider themselves to belong to an exclusive tribe. This is further enhanced by the fact that they call this place “sanctuary” and they consider themselves to be a part of a society that resembles Orwell's ideas and perspectives. Consequently, the research question that this paper aims at addressing is: How do Saints and Stars make their customers feel part of their tribe? In order to give an answer to the above mentioned question, the paper will include a qualitative style. To begin with, data for this study were collected by using interviews as and observations instead of surveys or questionnaires which might limit the amount of information received. Additionally, the sample size will consist of fewer participants which matches the fact that the selection of the participants will be specific purposeful for the study. Last but not least, the goal of this study is not purely to present some findings but to find deeper meaningful connections regarding relations among “tribe members”, how people can be a part of the tribe treat each other and what approach do they follow when treating outsiders, and overall if that ideology of the tribe is indeed an actual thing and not some idea that is constructed just to attract more people in the gym. Research Design and Methods Research Design In our case study, we have concluded that our best approach was to use Ethnography. Ethnography can be broken down into subsections; meaning our unit of analysis would be the group that shares the same culture, in our case the tribal aspect to be shared by gym clientele. Our main form of data collection would consist of four observations as day-to-day clients of the gym, and get a general overview of how the business runs and what techniques staff use in order to promote this sense of the tribal aspect to their customers. Along with two interviews conducted to staff members. Furthermore, any other sources during the time in the “field” would give us valuable insights as to how other people attending the gym view Saints and Stars. We believe this would be the best approach when it comes to conducting research as we can gain valuable insights as clients and additional information by the interviews in order to interpret what we have experienced during our visits at the gym. Throughout our study, we have noticed many theories that are closely related with our research question. Whilst we are mostly intrigued about how the tribal aspect can be promoted as a value of inclusivity, we have noticed that there are theories closely related to our research purpose. Theories such as Contact Theory (Pettigrew, 2023) states that people with shared goals, cooperation in the group, having the same status, and encouragement by “authorities” create an inclusive environment. We believe this theory closely relates with our research question as it’s how authorities, in this case staff members and the company as a whole, reinforce the environment of inclusivity. We believe another vital theory that has assisted us throughout our research was Tribal Theory (Greenacre et al., 2023) stating that each customer has a unique 3 preference and when shared with other people with the same preferences or values, relationships are built and “tribes” are formed. Tribal Theory would mean that Saints and Stars have considered how people visiting the gym can become much more than just clients, and could build relationships and rapports while visiting the gym. Lastly, since Saints and Stars promotes the tribal aspect, as well as workout regimes following religious names such as “The Holy Booty”, “Holy Ride”, “Holy Shred” and more of these “Holy” titled workouts (Saints & Stars website, 2024), we believe the theory of Religion should also be a part of our analysis and research. The Theory of Religion (Bataille, 1989) alleges a positive connection in certain aspects like economic growth, thus similarly there can be the same result regarding inclusivity. Methods Participants In our study we had multiple participants. For the observational part of our paper, this included four International Business Administration students, currently studying at the Vrije University in Amsterdam. The group consisted of an ethnic diverse background, which brought vital perspectives when analyzing data. The four students are; Arzo, a Dutch student, Alexandros, a Greek student, Dania, a French-Tunisian student, and Zinon, a student from Cyprus. For the field notes, we have a Dutch person with a pseudonym assigned as Peter. The identity of this person was chosen to be covered due to ethical concerns. We believed that a person's valuable insight would be crucial within our findings but if we directly quoted and named this person, then his privacy might be breached. By assigning our person a pseudonym we are able to seal their identity whilst using their wisdom within our research. Lastly, our last member of the team conducting the interviews is named Youssef, a student from Egypt, who was in charge of contacting members of staff and was unable to find any people who were willing to be interviewed with regards to our research proposal as we were considered outsiders. Eventually we managed to contact two members who were able to assist us further with our interviews. The two members of staff were chosen using convenience sampling, meaning we interviewed people who were available as soon as possible as our case was of a time sensitive manner. Data Collection When gathering data it was crucial for our team to gain the best insight available for the company we are analyzing, Saints and Stars. Whilst approaching the matter at hand and seeing how the tribal aspect was analyzed we believed our best opportunity to capture the most unbiased and direct data was to become a part of the research, therefore, we conducted four 4 observations by visiting the gym ourselves as the part of a client. Furthermore, we conducted a short field interview gaining insight on how other members of the gym perceive the setting and tribal aspect of the gym in order to be able to compare our observations with other customers. Lastly, the two interviews were conducted in order to gain insights on the guidelines members of staff are given in order to promote the tribal aspect of inclusivity, how clients should be treated and what mannerisms to be used whilst in the workplace. This would later on assist us in understanding the tactics used in order to promote the tribal aspect in this environment. Since we are students, we required further assistance when it came to conducting observations and interviews. We were able to improve on our skills by attending tutorials and lectures held at our university. Further, with the help of articles on interview guides and previous modules studied, we felt like we had a good amount of knowledge to attempt to gather data. Observations Initially, for our observations, we had grouped up in order to create a questionnaire we would consider whilst visiting the gym. The questionnaire consisted of first impressions, interaction between staff and visitors, how inviting staff was, the environment of the gym and other variables. We chose to become complete participants in our observer role to gain the most authentic data. Our focus was to gain first hand experience of what it meant to be a gym member of Saints and Stars, by becoming participants we expected to gain a deeper understanding of Saints and Stars concept and the way the promotion of the tribe is converted within the gym setting. Thus, Alex grouped up with Zinon, and Arzo grouped up with Dania and visited the gym on two different occasions. Alex and Zinon visited the gym on a Sunday morning around 8 a.m in order to complete their observations. Whereas Arzo and Dania visited the gym the next day during 12 p.m for their session. The gym we attended was Saints and Stars in Zuid-Oost, which is also known as the first gym this company has owned, and is mostly known for the fact that the building used to be an old church that has been purchased by the company and renovated in order to become a high-end gym whilst keeping some of the church features. Each member worked out separately from their colleague as we wanted to remain objective and not have any influence over the other person's experience and observation. Both groups took approximately 1 hour 45 minutes in order to complete their workouts whilst also doing observations and writing field notes on their mobile devices to keep data fresh and add as much description as possible. Once the workouts had concluded, everyone wrote a formal observation whilst everything was recent. Interviews For our interviews, we conducted them in person and the audio files were recorded using a mobile device. The layout of our interview would be considered semi-structured as we had key questions with sub questions, but were set up in a way that our interview attendants would be able to elaborate and talk freely about our topic to gain as much insight as possible. Questions such as “ In what ways would you incorporate a person that is more distant to be a member and 5 feel included” is one of the questions asked to see how Saints and Stars promotes the inclusivity aspect of the tribe as advertised. Or other questions such as “what do you think customers’ first thoughts are upon joining the gym” give valuable insight as to how members of staff are expected to be treated as they are placing themselves within the customers shoes and are able to see the way they can improve and adopt inclusivity further. We attempted to ensure our interviews gave us as much insight as possible by undergoing training. This included lectures at the university, along with online resources such as Ted talks, interviews on youtube and articles based on qualitative research have been crucial in enhancing our research skills. Findings and Discussion Data Quality The inclusiveness study at Saints and Stars has yielded a variety of qualitative data from which our investigation would conclude. We evaluated information on a number of parameters, such as in-depth interview transcripts, observations based on field work, and direct participant comments/quotes. This information is significant to our study topics, especially when it comes to how Saints and Stars fosters a feeling of community among their clientele, or "tribe." The inclusive attitude at the gym is reflected in observations such as "the staff seemed quite cold and unapproachable once we entered '' (Zinon's Formal Observation), which is useful information. Rich narratives were also supplied by the interviews, highlighting the dynamic and sense of membership from the employees point of view. One such narrative is that of the staff member that admitted not to be a member of the gym (Interview 1 Transcribed). The data gathering process is expanded to include a wide range of interactions and positions within the Saints and Stars ecosystem, which enhances the findings' impartiality and balance. The interview transcriptions include extensive descriptions of staff duties and captures client experiences and answers, resulting in a more comprehensive picture of the culture of the gym. This variety is encapsulated in a quote from an interview which states that they have experience in the field due to the many years of the experience they have (Interview 2 Transcribed), illustrating the range of positions from which information was gathered. In addition to that, observational data, such as "I felt a little intimidated by the gym's luxurious appearance," (Arzo Observation), accurately depicts the environment without implying anything about the attitudes or sentiments of the participants. By adding to the complex dataset supporting the research, such information guarantees that the analysis is firmly based on a range of objective observations and testimonies. 6 Level of Detail in Coding and Codebook In order to improve the qualitative analysis, our codebook outlines a coding system where each code is linked to detailed definitions and examples. Of those would be, 'Music', (MSC). MSC is associated with the atmosphere of the gym and goes beyond aural background: "Music seemed to be 'popular r&b or internationally recognised artists such as Taylor Swift'" (Zinon's Observation). "Staff" (STF) includes interactions between employees; notes such as "employees working at Saints and Stars" are included with specific descriptions of staff behavior. The observation "COMPLETE silence between them" (Zinon's Observation) serves as an example of the 'Social Disconnection' (SDC) code, which effectively conveys the absence of social interaction. Meanwhile, the evidence supporting the 'Luxury' (LUX) code is "luxury/influencer type of place" (Zinon's Observation), which depicts the lavish environment of the gym. Staff member adds that analytical codes such as 'Image' (IMG) interpret the public image of the gym, saying, "It felt like they formed an exclusive group" (Dania's Observation). Comparatively, "ambiance" (ATM), which is supported by statements like "an ambiance that resembled one of a nightclub with a sense of mystery" (Dania's Observation), denotes the general tone and mood of the gym. We can deduct larger themes from individual cases thanks to these analytical codes, which guarantees a thorough, interpretative study. Discussion The findings presented in this qualitative research shed light on the intricate dynamics of the Saints and Stars community. In fact, it can be argued that the findings related to the gym’s community and culture align with several key themes commonly used in scholarly reviewed literature. These include theories related to community building in recreational settings, organizational behavior, and social dynamics. Organizational Behavior The findings from the study at Saints and Stars gym affirm how social dynamics and organizational behavior play a crucial role in shaping Saints and Stars culture. Observations of staff interactions and client experiences provides deeper insights on the influence of social connections and communication patterns on the gym's overall atmosphere. In fact, this aligns with a research conducted by Sharma et al., in 2019, highlighting the significance of positive staff interactions and a supportive work environment in fostering employee engagement and performance. The study's findings support the idea that pleasant staff interactions and a supportive work environment promote a sense of belonging and community within organizations. Additionally, it features the significance for building a sense of belonging and community within organizations through positive social interactions and organizational culture. 7 Community building The study's questioning of the sense of membership and community within the gym environment aligns with a large scope of literature on community building in recreational spaces.Through the analysis of observations and interviews, the study emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, belonging, and shared experiences in a sense of community among gym members. In fact, this aligns with the research conducted by Kim et al. (2020) which investigates factors influencing community engagement and inclusivity or unity in fitness settings. Their findings suggest that fostering social interactions, establishing inclusive environments, and facilitating meaningful connections among members are vital for incorporating a strong sense of community within gym environments. Theory implications The study's findings make significant contributions to advancing theories related to social dynamics, organizational behavior, and community building within recreational spaces. By offering empirical insights into the community and culture of the gym, the study enhances existing theoretical frameworks in these areas. These insights pave the way for further exploration of concepts such as social identity theory ( Hogg, M. A., 2016 ) organizational culture (Davies et al., 2000) and community engagement within fitness facilities, which expands the understanding of how these factors influence the dynamics of recreational spaces. Practical implications Enhancing Staff Training and Communication To improve staff interactions and enhance Saint’s and Stars culture, it's recommended to implement comprehensive training programs covering interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and diversity awareness.Additionally, putting in place a positive work environment can be achieved through regular team-building activities and communication workshops. Providing ongoing support and feedback mechanisms for staff encourages openness and collaboration, contributing to an inclusive team dynamic. Fostering inclusivity To create inclusive community spaces within the gym environment, practical recommendations include organizing social events, and community challenges to encourage interactions and foster a sense of belonging among members. Implementing inclusive policies and initiatives that accommodate diverse backgrounds, abilities, and interests is also crucial. Furthermore, soliciting feedback from new members and involving them in decision-making 8 processes ensures their needs and preferences are in fact being considered, thus shaping Saint’s and Stars culture and programming into an inclusive environment. In summary, by implementing these recommendations, Saints and Stars can work towards creating a more supportive and inclusive environment at the gym, in which both staff and members feel a part of a “tribe”. Conclusion and Reflection Throughout our research journey focused on understanding how Saints and Stars gym fosters a sense of inclusivity and community among its clientele, we engaged in a qualitative research process utilizing ethnography as our primary research approach. This involved a conscientious selection of methods, including observations and interviews, aimed at capturing the nuanced dynamics within the gym environment. We also integrated relevant theories such as Contact Theory, Tribal Theory, and the Theory of Religion to enrich our understanding and analysis. Our research findings revealed a multifaceted picture of Saints and Stars' community, shedding light on the complex interplay between staff interactions, organizational culture, and the experiences of gym members. Through careful data collection and analysis, we were able to detect patterns that emphasized the significance of positive social connections, shared experiences, and a supportive atmosphere in cultivating a sense of belonging among individuals. Importantly, our research contributes to both theoretical and practical perspectives. Theoretical implications extend to enriching existing theories in organizational behavior, social dynamics, and community building within recreational spaces. By grounding our findings in empirical evidence, we offer valuable insights that pave the way for further exploration and clarification of these theoretical constructs. From a practical standpoint, our research offers actionable recommendations for enhancing staff training, communication strategies, and the implementation of inclusive policies within Saints and Stars. These recommendations aim to foster a more supportive and inclusive environment where both staff and members feel valued and connected. Reflecting on our research process, we acknowledge the strengths and limitations existing in our approach. The research may have been constrained by temporal limitations, such as the duration of data collection and the specific timeframes during which observations and interviews were conducted. A more longitudinal approach could provide insights into how inclusivity and community dynamics evolve over time within the gym. 9 In conclusion, our research emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and community-building efforts within organizational settings such as Saints and Stars gym. By leveraging qualitative methodologies and integrating relevant theoretical frameworks, we have uncovered valuable insights that can inform both academics and practical interventions aimed at fostering a sense of belonging and connection among individuals. As we conclude this research, we recognize the ongoing importance of exploring and promoting inclusivity in diverse social contexts. Appendix: Codebook: Abbreviation Mode Code Definition Examples MSC Music refers to melody we hear while being at Music seemed to be the gym “popular r&b or internationally recognized artists such as taylor swift” STF Staff employees working at Saints and Stars FIRST LEVEL DESCRIPTIVE “noticed the staff's shirts wrote “ambassador” or “experienced ambassador”” “at the front desk they gave short answers to our questions” “they did not smile” 10 Abbreviation SDC Mode Code Definition Examples Social Disconne ction Social disconnectedness can be characterized as a scarcity of contact with others “ Before leaving the restrooms, one of the private workouts had also finished and a group of around 10 men entered the restrooms, and there was COMPLETE silence between them” LUX Luxury A state of great “In the bathrooms, they comfort or offered many assortments elegance, especially when involving of products ranging from great expense mouth wash to hair spray to shaving cream for customers to use.” PERKS ENV Perks Environm ent Refers to the advantages and benefits that a company offers to its clients or staff; these are frequently unique or exceptional and improve the overall experience or value of doing business with the company. The surroundings or conditions in which a person operates "I'm not a member but I can work out there for free. I would say that I'm kind of a member but not really." “The bathrooms, just like the rest of the gym, seemed very high end/ 11 Abbreviation Mode Code Definition Examples hotel looking, and just overall more of a luxury/influencer type of place to be” W/L/B Work Life Professional balance obligations, usually by utilising flexible scheduling or being aware of company policies. TRB Tribe A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader “you get shifts. And I just put in whenever I have class and they always take that into account." "So sometimes it's very balanced and sometimes it's difficult." "I usually plan my day around my shifts, so I don't miss it or overwork myself." “The rationale behind this is that the gym members plus the personnel form a special bond resembling a tribe. Sadly , no special indication of the so-called “tribe” was observed as well as no special bond between members or staff was evident.” SECONDARY LEVEL (ANALYTICAL) Mode 12 Abbreviation IMG Mode Code Definition Examples Image the general impression that a person, organization, or product presents to the public “As a newcomer to the gym, I couldn't help but notice the evident contrast between the image of myself and the regular members. It felt as though they formed an exclusive group, interacting solely amongst themselves. This sense of exclusivity gave off an aura of elitism, making me feel like an outsider potentially looking in.” ATM Atmosphe The pervading tone re or mood of a place, situation, or creative work “The atmosphere felt rather impersonal, with minimal effort made to greet or engage with arriving guests” RTOWLB Ratioalisi n Trade Offs /Work Life Balance This code appears to cover two areas: the rationale for deciding to work for or patronize the company, as well as the ways in which this choice influences or is impacted by work-life balance. "So I would say that's a big reason but I also did a couple of workouts there and I really like the vibe and the people and how you're treated there and that's why I decided to start working there." "They, a lot of them live in South, 13 Abbreviation Mode Code Definition Examples mostly in depijp. So it's not because Saints is located ouid zuid. But a lot of urban professionals and people with a good income live there." "We get a team outing when we hit a smoothie goal every month, which is really nice and rewarding." "Sometimes there's a cultural barrier between us." DEM Demeanor Outward behavior or bearing (Staff+Environment) “the staff seemed quite cold and unapproachable once I entered with Alex” AUR (MSC+ENV) Aura The distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place “Upon my arrival at the gym, I was striked by the very loud music and rather darkened lights, creating an ambiance that resembled one of a nightclub with a sense of mystery.” “An imposing place with a unique and different 14 Abbreviation Mode Code Definition Examples atmosphere but in an eerie sense” ARTR ATD Architect ure Attitude This refers to the practical and aesthetic arrangements and layouts of the buildings, as well as the general ambiance that the physical surroundings produce. Also, as a symbol to the general energy and vibe at Saints and Stars. "First of all the Refers to the general manner and style of workers, highlighting amiability, optimism, and a team-oriented mentality that support a friendly and collaborative atmosphere. "Yeah, 100%, especially architecture itself, like the design and the design, the entrance." "It started with one location in South of Amsterdam. And it was a gym and then everything went really well. with how welcoming and kind and polite the employees are." "The trainers all have a certain vibe to them and they're of course taught to talk in a certain way to customers." ELT (LUX+IMG) Elitism The dominance of a “She was in the middle of society or system her workout and looked by an elite (in this case by luxury and over her shoulder, “I can the image) not hear you” she said, and did not attempt to remove her headphones, and she 15 Abbreviation Mode Code Definition Examples proceeded her workout as if nothing had happened.” Observations/Interviews guide 1. Observer’s role: Complete participants (become members but don't disclose the purpose of the research) 2. - Questions for data extraction How are we being welcomed by the staff? What is our experience in the gym ? Are the employees helpful? Do customers feel connected to each other? In what ways is the concept of “tribe” promoted? 3. The main focus will be what are the relations among “tribe” members as well as by the means new members can be integrated and how 4. Data collected are expected to illustrate whether such a “tribe’ truly exists as well as how it can affect participants behavior towards outsiders 16 References: Schneider J, Bramley CJ. Towards social inclusion in mental health? Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 2008;14(2):131-138. doi:10.1192/apt.bp.106.003350 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/towards-socia l-inclusion-in-mental-health/1E468B4BD2792A816BA44F6CD490A5B4 Greenacre, L., Freeman, L., & Donald, M. (2023, May 19). ,. , - YouTube. Retrieved February, 13, 2024, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014829631100422X Pettigrew, T. F. (2023, May 19). INTERGROUP CONTACT THEORY. annualreviews.org. Retrieved, February 13, 2024, https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.psych.49.1.65 Bataille, G. (1989). Theory of Religion. Debates on Work. Retrieved February 13, 2024 https://onwork.edu.au/bibitem/1989-Bataille,Georges-Theory+of+Religion-excerpt+p.41/ Saints & Stars, Retrieved March, 25, 2024, https://www.saints-stars.com/en/about Sharma, N., Chaudhary, N., & Singh, V. K. (2019). Management techniques for employee engagement in contemporary organizations. IGI Global. Kim, M., Do Kim, Y., & Lee, H. W. (2020). It is time to consider athletes’ well-being and performance satisfaction: The roles of authentic leadership and psychological capital. Sport Management Review, 23(5), 964-977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2019.12.008 17 Davies, H. T., Nutley, S. M., & Mannion, R. (2000). Organizational culture and quality of health care. BMJ Quality & Safety, 9(2), 111-119. https://doi.org/10.1136/qhc.9.2.111 Hogg, M. A. (2016). Social identity theory (pp. 3-17). Springer International Pub 18 19
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