Abstract:
This paper presents the findings of process-oriented research into the experience of 18
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) when deciding to participate with new
apprenticeships for the first time. The focus of this work is to explain how and why
contextual conditions and processual elements interacted to influence owner-managers
to adopt or reject new apprenticeships. The paper also describes in detail methodological
issues encountered when analysing interview data and how these issues were resolved
by application of grounded-theory techniques allied with other qualitative techniques.
The findings provide insights for policy and practice, detailing the organisational
decision-making associated with new apprenticeships under certain circumstances, and
how these might be assessed and managed.
