Data collection

Incase studies it is recommended to collect data by multiple data collection methods (Eisenhardt 1989b), or triangulation (Yin 2003), in order to provide stronger substantiation of constructs and hypotheses. Triangulation is, in this respect, both a way tocollect data and to check the fmdings (Miles and Huberman 1994). Triangulation reduces the risk of the conclusions being biased or the limits of one specific method. It also makes it possible to increase the validity of the study (Yin 2003). A usual recommendation is to combine qualitative and quantitative data because the terms qualitative data and the case study are often used interchangeably (Eisenhardt 1989b). However, this distinction pinpoints the fact that triangulation is used primarily to check rather than complement the data. Dubois and Gadde (2002) argue that direction and redirection in case studies is a method to both check data and add understanding, and includes both different sources of data and different methods of data collection. Eisenhardt (1989b) points to the fact that frequent overlap of data analysis and data collection is a striking feature of case studies. Inthe process of doing field research, the making of field notes, along with 'whatever impressions occur' notes, the researcher is allowed totake advantage of the flexible data collection methods (Eisenhardt 1989b). The key feature is that researchers have the freedom to make adjustments during the data collection process (Eisenhardt 1989b). However, Eisenhardt (1989b) warns the case study researcher that this "flexibility is not a license to be unsystematic" (p. 539).

Inour study we have utilized a flexible data collection process. We have performed field interviews following protocols (see appendix D), site visits, attended meetings and seminars, and investigated printed sources of information. We present this process in further detail in the next two sections on primary and secondary data. First, however it is necessary to reflect specifically about what constitutes a system and how this has influenced the data collection.

Our goal has been to understand "a whole system" and we have investigated the system in the context of collection of EE-products at end-of-life. We have identified that our system consists of three main types of actors - namely, the stakeholders, the waste management companies and the actors in the collection system. As a consequence, our data has been collected from all of these categories of actors.

Inthe context chapter, we identify the types of stakeholders and the waste management companies. In the case studies, we identify the types of actors that are involved in the collection systems. Thus, the latter aspect has been discovered during the data collection and in dialog with the waste management companies. The collection, transport, reprocessing and secondary market are included in a collection system. Insummary, the "system" in our cases is made up of the components shown in the figure below:

Stakeholders:

• Industry organizations

• EE-companies

• End consumers

• Authorities

Waste management

company

Figure 5.4:The components o/the systems

While working with the case studies, we have focused on gaining a thorough 'understanding' of our three cases. We have not concentrated on interviewing the same number of actors in each case because the cases are not identical. The case studies reveal how their focal systems are structured. However, we have strived to get an interview with each type of actor in our data material, which represents eachtype of'functionin the system.

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The functions include collection, transport and reprocessing. We do not consider the secondary market to be part of the system we study because it is not within the waste management companies' direct responsibility. However, the waste management companies do pay attention to the secondary market in order to secure preferable choices for the natural environment. Therefore, it is included briefly in the description.

Collection includes delivery from the end consumers to the collection sites, as well as operation of the collection sites. Reprocessing includes the dismantling, sorting and registration of products and materials. Transport includes the handling and transport from collection sites to reprocessing units. The secondary market includes the sale and disposal of products and materials. Transport from reprocessing to secondary markets is not within the waste management companies' responsibility range.

5.2.1

Our primary data covers waste management companies, stakeholders and actors in the collection system. The data comprise interviews, site visits and seminars.

Interviews with the waste management companies were the starting point of the data collection, as we considered these companies to be the 'centres' of the systems. There were been several interactions with the waste management companies (1-4 interviews with each of the five companies). The waste management companies are administrative units and therefore the interviews took place at their offices. In addition to being interviewees, the waste management companies were an important reference to identify other actors to interview in the systems.

Data collection from the stakeholders included interviews with member companies and the authorities. Data on the other stakeholders were gathered from the secondary data (see next section). Contact with members was undertaken randomly from lists acquired from the waste management companies. The number of interviews was decided upon using the exhaustive principle, i.e. we stopped doing interviews when the information began to be repeated and we believed we had an understanding of their point of view. This resulted in six member interviews. The waste management companies have in many respects taken over what the members in the reverse distribution system used to do when they disposed of EE-waste.

Therefore, these member interviews were not used explicitly in the study but provided useful

background information in understanding the role of the waste management companies. One interview was undertaken with the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) and the understanding was supported by extensive sources of secondary material (refnext section).

Data collection on the collection system involved interviews and site visits. Interviews were conducted with more than one person, often including the general manager and operations manager. The site visits were very useful in understanding the operation of the companies.

We visited collection sites, the premises of transport operators and the sites of the reprocessing units. By doing so, we achieved a thorough understanding of, amongst other things, sorting, handling, cages, accumulation ofvolume, transport capacity, dismantling, and reporting.

The table below gives an overview of the actors that were interviewed and the sites that were visited (indicated with I and SV respectively). Some of the actors were involved in more than one of the systems. This means that the collection, transport or reprocessing companies had a contract with more than one waste management company. In these cases, the interviews and site visits were applicable to more than one case. This is indicated in the table with an X.

RENAS also held seminars for each of the type of actors in the collection systems (indicated with an Sl. That is, they had collection seminars, reprocessing seminars and member seminars. We attended these seminars and were able to follow the presentations and discussions with the participants. A number indicates where interviews, visits or seminars were held or attended morethanonce. The data were collected over time in 2002 and 2003. A few interviews were conducted in 2004 in order to clarify some issues in the cases. The table gives an overview of the data, which needs to be viewed in light of the cases that are presented in the next three chapters:

Table5.1:Overview o/the data o/the study

x

Hermod Teigen C Ilsv

RoafBøler C Ilsv ^X

Follo Truck Utleie C Ilsv ^X

Seminar in Oslo 2003, 2004 C Sx2

Haukedal Transport T Il SV X

Norsk Gjenvinning Skien T Il SV X

Norsk Gjenvinning Oslo T X

StenaMiljø CIRV Il SV X X X X

Seminar at Hamar RV S X

RENAS WMC Ix3 X

Hvitevareretur AS WMC I X

Elektronikkretur AS WMC Ix2 X

RagnSells WMC/RU Il SV X

Eurovironment WMC I x 2 X

Miljøfabrikken RV SVx2 X

Seminar in Oslo 2002 2003 M Sx2 X

The Norwegian Pollution A I X X X X

ControlAuiliorizy(SFT)

*Type of actor: C=Collection site/collector, T=Transporter, RV=Reprocessmg umt, WMC=Waste Management Company, M=Member, A=Auiliorizy.

**Type of data: I=Interview, SV=Site Visit, S=Seminar

The interviews were documented with notes, tapes and pictures. The choice of technique was decided at the time of the interview, both in dialog with the person being interviewed (e.g. if they were willing to be taped or not) and what was possible at the site (e.g. at some of the site visits the noise made it impossible to use tape). We were not, in other words, consistent in the use of technique but as a means of compensating for this, we worked through our notes immediately after the interview while it was still fresh in the mind. The interviews and visits were conducted and written in Norwegian.

We utilized an interview protocol for each meeting but it had to be adapted to the type of actor (i.e. whether it was a collection site, transport operator, reprocessing unit, stakeholder or waste management company). The protocol is included in appendix D.

5.2.2 Use of secondary data

In addition to the interviews, visits and seminars, we also used secondary data in our study.

Anoverview of the secondary data can be found in appendix F. The secondary data included legal documents, which related to the Eli-Regulations, and the tenders that were issued for the contract periods. The data also included brochure material, volume reports and presentations

used to inform the different stakeholders. Information was also gathered from related research projects (Flygansvær 2001, Jahre and Flygansvær 1996, Baklien and Flygansvær 1996).

The secondary data were studied in depth to gain background information and further understanding of the cases.Itformed important reference literature for the interviews, plus it was used to understand the context of the reverse distribution systems.