initially one might assume that qualitative research is simply defined as research that does not use numbers or statistical procedures; however defining qualitative research is not as straight forward as it might seem. the main reason for this concerns the range of different approaches that are subsumed under the heading "qualitative" ,indeed this diversity is exacerbated in management research precisely because of its multi-disciplinary, and interdisciplinary nature. there is also considerable variety and rang in the forms and uses of qualitative research in different parts of the world. for example, knoblauch out line the considerable diversity that exists within qualitative research in europe. they suggest that