Learning by doing: six dimensions of complexity in researching SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to present practical methodological insights into doing research with the owner-managers of small and medium enterprises. Design/methodology/approach – Practical methodological lessons are reported from a project involving interviews with owner-managers of a set of 50 firms recruited from a random sample of 500 New Zealand “manufacturing” or “service” firms employing 5-50 full-time staff. Findings – The experiences of the project team were reflected on, refined, and presented as six practical “lessons” to be considered by others contemplating engaging with SMEs to achieve a research objective. Research limitations/implications – The findings are subjective (in that, they are the opinions and experiences of the researchers involved) and are derived from a specific context (the SME sector in New Zealand). Originality/value – The paper contributes to the small, but growing, body of literature that specifically deals with “good practice” research methodology in relation to small firms.