Siham Al Kafafi
University of Waikato
New Zealand

Date: 25 October 2001
Time: 12.00-12.30

This paper describes the use of mixed methods to address issues relevant to managers of a system that has both commercial and biophysical elements.  The researcher resorts to the use of both data triangulation (i.e. the use of variety of data sources in the study) and methodological triangulation (i.e. the use of multiple methods to study a single problem) in order to reveal the different aspects of empirical reality and at same time help validate the research findings.  Strategies for ensuring validity and reliability of the research is further discussed in relation to the case study design.  This research is part of the researcher's Ph.D.  study focussing on the employment of mixed methods i.e. qualitative and quantitative methods in answering the main research question of the whole study.  It aims at exploring and investigating the adoption of TQM and its Models in the water supply organization in New Zealand.  This is done by examining nine case studies from the Waikato Region in the central North Island, an area well known for its rich diversity of natural resources.