get set go!

After a long wait when things actually start moving...they just sprint! When the call comes its time to be on the field and then there is no looking back. So, always be fully prepared for fieldwork.

database tool

Identify people within the organization who's perspective/opinion could be important for your project. Prepare a database with name,contact number, mail id.
One could add a photo, sometimes it is nice to know whom you are going to interview – helps in preparation if you know the person by face.

specialised questionnaire

While preparing for the field, think about your participants' background.
Prepare a unique / specialised questionnaire for participants with diverse backgrounds. Have common themes and subject area, but personalise the questionnaire.

commonality in diversity

The interviews to be conducted are going to be with distinct people – specialists in their field. They are all going to be very different from each other.

Ethnography is not about numbers, but it definitely is based on audience having some commonality. The challenge here is to find what is that all these very distinct people have in common?

expert opinion

Interviewing an expert in anything closely related to your project, adds a new dimension to the project. An expert’s perspective is a must have – it opens up avenues!

win-win situation

Sometimes a phone call works better than an email.

When you have spent a lot of time waiting for someone to respond to your email, they are aware that they have kept you waiting and are feeling bad about it. When you approach them with a possibility of having a telephonic conversation, you give them a chance to rectify their mistake and respond to you.

The client wants you to work and as consultants you want to work; but a small nudge on the wrong side would mean the death of a project that could have shaped beautifully! Turn everything into a win-win situation.

email etiquette

Start the email with a positive note and end it with a positive note.

Paragraph your emails properly. Busy people do not want to look at huge chunks of paragraphs.

As an ethnographer you want to give people a reason to talk to you.

Depending on the hierarchy within an organization, as a consultant you need to set different levels of expectations from an individual. Eg: Give the boss 5 days to respond to an email whereas give the PA 3 days to respond. If they still have not responded, maybe call the PA or send a very polite reminder email.

Remember: You are dealing with very busy people and you are not on top of their priority list.

protocol call

Dealing with a client is not easy. Getting permissions as an ethnographer has too many protocols. Being a part of this awkward situation is learning as well.

bottom of the tree trunk

Ethnographers come at the bottom of the tree trunk. You have to know to fend your way to the top. This is how the industry works.

timeline

It is the nature of our work to be dependent many a times on the clients timescale. This can be frustrating, but planning is the key. Iterate, re-iterate the timeline everyday.

process driven

The results are important, but how you get there is important as well. The process is equally important.

live projects

Live industry projects get developed in a huge mess! It is vague in the beginning and as a consultant you need to find a way to make sense and develop a brief...there lies an opportunity!