After 40 years exploration of reform and opening up, Chinese enterprises have accumulated a large number of management experiences. This process provides a large number of excellent materials to management research, but need to be refined and induced by academics. So, contemporary management scholars should shoulder the important mission to construct new theories from those practices with Chinese characteristics to promote the development of management.
There are two things need to be done. Firstly, if Chinese industry′s management innovation practice can be turned into certain universal theory, more enterprises all over the world can learn from it. Secondly, it will make a dialogue between these theories and western management theories, make contributions to the development of management research. These theories should conform to Chinese conditions, contain Chinese characteristics, and show Chinese style. Therefore, how to construct theories that not only conform to academic norms but also originated from practice is become a hot topic in academic circle and industry.
Grounded Theory is an important methodology for constructing theories in the field of sociology. And, it has been increasingly recognized and accepted by the academic circle. Therefore, it is extremely urgent and necessary to comprehensively sort out the formation and mechanism of various schools and look into the distance of Grounded Theory, it will provide directions for the future Grounded Theory research and promote the development of the Grounded Theory itself.
In abroad, Grounded Theory is mainly composed of three schools, including Classical Grounded Theory represented by Glaser, Proceduralised Grounded Theory represented by Strauss, and The Constructivist′s Approach to Grounded Theory represented by Charmaz. In China, since the end of 20th century, Grounded Theory was introduced into the sociology research field, Chinese scholars has paid more and more attention to Grounded Theory. Some scholars pointed out that the Zhagen Spirit (Zhagen is a transliteration from a Chinese word, means that research should take root in the real world) is the core spirit of all the Grounded Theory schools. Some scholars adhere to the Zhagen Spirit, follow the thought of The Constructivist′s Approach to Grounded Theory, give priority to the data processing 〖JP3〗framework of Classical Grounded Theory, assisted with Proceduralised Grounded Theory′s〖JP〗 causation stylized structure, combine with cognitive map tool, and finally exploratory put forward the "Grounded Research Paradigm of Chinese Management". Grounded Theory′s "jungle" is formed on the basis of the development of domestic and foreign schools.
The differences of the epistemology of the three main schools of Grounded Theory are reflected in the differences of their methodology. The different methodology leads to the differences of their methods, which are mainly reflected in the coding process. In Classical Grounded Theory, the coding process is divided into open coding, selective coding and theoretical coding. Glaser emphasizes to form the final theoretical model based on 18 kinds of coding families. Proceduralised Grounded Theory divides the coding process into open coding, axial coding, selective coding and other steps. Strauss emphasizes that it will be done with the help of the "6C" model, it is easier to present the process of category aggregation into concepts. The coding process of The Constructivist′s Approach to Grounded Theory can be divided into initial coding, focused coding, axial coding, and theoretical coding. Charmaz is open to coding principles which neither excludes the 18 basic coding families proposed by Glaser, nor excludes Strauss′s theoretical expression form the "6C" causal relationship.
Through qualitative and quantitative research perspective, it can be found that qualitative and quantitative research fusion in the Grounded Theory "jungle". There is a process of three times of combining of qualitative and quantitative research. At first, the born of Grounded Theory is a result of the combination from Strauss′s qualitative research background and Glaser′s quantitative research background, this is the first fusion of the qualitative and quantitative research. Based on the advantages of Classical Grounded Theory and Proceduralised Grounded Theory, Charmaz formed The Constructivist′s Approach to Grounded Theory, this is the second fusion of the qualitative and quantitative research. Grounded Research Paradigm of Chinese Management is the result of combining the thought of The Constructivist′s Approach to Grounded Theory, the data processing program of Classical Grounded Theory, and the causal relationship of Proceduralised Grounded Theory, it is the third fusion of the qualitative and quantitative research.
Based on the review of the history andthe analysis of the current situation of Grounded Theory, we can see that if Grounded Theory intent to get a long-term sustainable development, it must not continue to deepen the division between different schools. The future of Grounded Theory relies on the communication and integration of different schools. In fact, the schools of Grounded Theory have begun to learn from each other′s strengths and integrate with each other. If Grounded Theory schools are still repel each other based on their own ideas and methods, can′t exchange and cooperate with the spirit of seeking common ground while putting aside differences, it will bring more misunderstandings and arguments and let more scholars dare not to try and use. It is a serious impediment to the development of the excellent research methodology, it will also affect the progress of social science research.
The author adhered to the Zhagen Spirit, followed the thought of The Constructivist′s Approach to Grounded Theory, gave priority to the framework of Classical Grounded Theory′s data processing, assisted with Proceduralised Grounded Theory of causation stylized structure, combined with cognitive mapping tool, integrated qualitative and quantitative research, finally exploratory put forward the "Grounded Research Paradigm of Chinese Management". The qualitative research part of this paradigm has realized the integration of the existing three Grounded Theory schools′ methods and thoughts. But it has not completely separated from the basic framework and thoughts of traditional Grounded Theory. Based on our previous improvements of Grounded Theory methods and other qualitative research techniques, we are building a new qualitative research methodology by take advantages of various qualitative research methods during the process of problem generation, sample election, field investigation, data processing and theory construction. This article temporarily named the new qualitative research methodology as "Zhagen Methodology". The born of "Zhagen Methodology" based on our digestion, absorption of Grounded Theory and innovation, development which generated from Chinese practice context, we expect that it can give contribution to the promotion of Chinese management research.