Interviewing Global Elites

Abstract

There has been a sparse literature on interviewing global elites within the field of business and management studies, which is surprising for two reasons. First, there is growing engagement between academics and practitioners in research and teaching. Second, the large volume of researchers who are conducting empirical research on senior managers within a global context. This chapter argues that as a community of scholars we need to provide greater guidance, training and reflection on the practices of interviewing elites. Given the growing importance of engagement and impact for higher education institutions, understanding how to interview elites in a global context will only become more salient over time. This chapter provides an overview of the literature on interviewing elites from across different social science disciplines. Finally, some personal reflections on interviewing elites across various intercultural contexts is provided, with an emphasis on preparing, conducting and concluding elite interviews.