Interviews

The main research method used in this project is oral history interviews. ”Oral history” implies long interviews with a biographical focus and open-ended questions which leave space for the interviewees to formulate their memories on their own terms. The interviewer should ideally be very well prepared so as to be able to ask follow-up question and support the interviewee in the process. The interviews are recorded and transcribed, more or less verbatim.

We will conduct some 20 interviews with entrepreneurs and creators in those agencies which have won the largest number of international awards, and with individuals from firms who have been important subcontractors to award-winning firms. The choice of main method is conditioned by the lack of written sources as well as the particular qualities of oral history. Oral history is inherently subjective, and while this means that the ”facts” provided need to be treated with some caution, it also means that oral history is excellent when it comes to communicating the interviewees identity, worldview, and discourses.