3. Procedure and Research Period

The data collection process of my study followed an action research spiral that involved four phases.  During each phase a theory and questions were first diagnosed then followed by planned projects and initiatives.  Each project or initiative was then evaluated. These evaluations then served as the basis for more specific exploration in the next spiral.

Each phase of research adopted a different strategy in order to observe and analyse creative industry policy in action.  The case study was pursued in a multi-method approach encompassing; archival research, grounded theory and practitioner researcher strategies.

During the first three months of my six month case study an in-depth review of the London Design Festival archives was carried out.  This review allowed for an initial theory to be established through observation and participation within the organisation. It involved a strategic review of the existing website of the organisation, past press articles and my participation during the festival. The theory that emerged from this first experience was then formulated and documented into a preliminary exploratory case study.

The outcomes of the exploratory case were then tested further for three months.  During this phase of research a post Festival evaluation was carried out including interviews with board members and attendance at industry round table discussions and internal meetings.  The insights and advice that emerged from those discussions then fed into drafting the business plan, strategic plan and web site strategy of the organisation.
My findings, analyses, conclusions and recommendations sections are the outcomes of a six month ‘participant as observer’ study within the London Design Festival.  This method permitted an in-depth analysis of a real world situation and gave rise to recommendations that provided new insights into the effect of creative industry policy on individual enterprises.

Research Period 2007

Literature Review : January, February, March, April, May
Secondary research : June, July, August and September
Primary research: August, September and October and November
Writing: November, December

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