This module provides an introduction to qualitative research, focusing on rigorous design and analysis. The first part explores the differences between qualitative and quantitative methods, covering inductive reasoning, grounded theory, and case study strategies. Participants will also create an interview script in a practical session.

The second part focuses on the Gioia Methodology, a structured approach to qualitative data analysis that integrates informants' perspectives with theoretical insights. Hands-on exercises in coding and analysis prepare participants to apply these techniques in their research.

The course is taught by Dr Ruggero Colombari:

Dr. Ruggero Colombari is Assistant Professor at UIC Barcelona. He graduated with a double master’s degree in Industrial Production and Technological Innovation Engineering (Politecnico di Torino) and Business Administration (UIC) while attending Alta Scuola Politecnica, an honor program between PoliTo and Politecnico di Milano. After short working experiences in manufacturing and finance, and earning an MBA from Collège des Ingénieurs, he got his Ph.D. Cum Laude from Politecnico di Torino in 2022. In line with his academic and professional background, his research interests are at the intersection between digital technologies, management, and education. He has been investigating Industry 4.0 with a focus on the impact of digitalization on organizational behavior, decision-making, and competency development through challenge-based learning, online learning, and now generative AI. Within the QISE (Quality and Innovation for Service Excellence) research group, he is actively involved in research about the use of Generative AI at University (students’ perception and satisfaction about the use of ChatGPT) and in the workplace (employee wellbeing and satisfaction with generative AI tools).