Interviews are powerful exercises that make it easier for learners in different fields to acquire new ideas from experts. The completed exercise was intended to gather additional insights about gender equality and communication in the workplace. In this exercise, I interviewed Professor Kamarul, a professional in the College of Business Administration, University of Dubai. His primary area of focus is the person-environment fit.
This is a concept or topic in the fields of HR management and Organizational Behavior. His other key areas of research have included personality, organizational commitment, organizational citizenship behavior, empowerment, and leadership. He has a Ph.D. in management psychology from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in law.
In some of his works, this professional has investigated gender differences and how they tend to impact workplaces. Some of his outstanding articles include “Gender Differences and Work-Related Communication in the UAE”, “An Empirical Test of the Propositions by Gray and Tannen Relating to Gender Communication in Malaysia”, and “Mars Venus and Gray: Gender Communication”. The reason for interviewing him was because he was interested in investigating gender differences in the UAE. The cultural attributes of this country are similar to those in Saud Arabia, where I am planning to do my research shortly.
Before undertaking the exercise, I prepared the relevant interview questions that could be analyzed within the stipulated thirty minutes. The primary considerations included the issues of gender equality and communication in different workplaces (Ayega & Muathe, 2018). I analyzed the questions carefully to ensure that they were capable of capturing the intended information. I then emailed them to the expert before setting the date for the interview. Such an approach was effective and capable of delivering the intended goals. The acquired responses would guide me to complete studies in the area more professionally and differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research designs.
The activity was informative since it equipped me with numerous lessons that can support my future goals as a researcher. First, I gained new ideas about the differences between the quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection and methodology (Tracy, 2020). I realized that investigators and scholars could combine both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine gender issues and differences in various work environments. The bias of the investigator and the intended aims were capable of dictating the use of these diverse approaches.
I asked the respondent about the process of methodology. I explained how I wanted to record business meetings and analyze the collected information to pinpoint the differences in communication. However, the professor explained why there was a need to get the relevant permission for the specific institution to make such recordings. He went further to encourage me to consider the use of interviewees with different workers to acquire additional insights. The contacted companies in Saudi Arabia indicated that their meetings entailed sensitive information.
Kamarul encouraged me to consider new ways of applying my research skills to transform my company. For instance, I could provide a rough guide for individuals who want to do business in Saudi Arabia from the aspect of gender-related communication. I could also provide resources for empowering workers to promote proper communication skills to Holmes (2011). The application of linguistics research can help address real-world problems.
The completed interview was inspirational since it equipped me with numerous concepts and ideas that can support my future goals as a manager and researcher. I enjoyed talking to the selected expert because he was willing to share new concepts and procedures for completing data collection and methodology sections in any given study (Tracy, 2020). The expert was involved and ready to provide evidence-based guidelines that are applicable in different fields and settings. The professional was also keen to explain how researchers could consider their specific cases or situations and redesign their studies to achieve the intended aims.
Within the 30 minutes, I enjoyed talking to the respondent because we discussed critical issues in my research, including methodology and data collection. He was involved and nice to talk to. He shared with me his experience in the UAE. He was willing to learn more about my opportunities and gains as a foreign learner in the United States. I did not encounter any problem communicating with him. He managed to respond to the prepared questions in a professional manner. During the session, I chose not to interrupt the professional. Instead, I remained attentive and involved, thereby acquiring numerous insights that will take me closer to my professional and personal goals.
The above discussion has identified the process of interviewing professionals as essential and capable of meeting the demands of many students. Although it took some time to locate the right respondent, the entire exercise was successful and informative. I acquired numerous concepts for supporting my future goals and completing numerous research studies. I will, therefore, read widely and improve my knowledge in different areas, such as leadership practices, communication, and gender issues in various workplaces across Saudi Arabia.
References
Ayega, E. N., & Muathe, S. (2018). Critical review of literature on cultural diversity in the work place and organizational performance: A research agenda. Journal of Human Resource Management, 6(1), 9-17. Web.
Tracy, S. J. (2020). Qualitative research methods: Collecting evidence, crafting analysis, communicating impact (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.