An online web platform was initially considered for obtaining focus group opinion on the revised IMM (the second model iteration), but this approach was abandoned due to technical design limitations and data confidentiality constraints associated with an expensive out-sourced web design and hosting process. It was then decided to conduct a focus group using individual email and paper-based communication.
Ten public sector PPP experts (selected from interviewees in Phase 1 of the research) were contacted in June 2013 by email (template appended as Attachment I) to elicit their interest in taking part in this second phase. Of the 10 contacts, seven respondents agreed to participate in the focus group exercise. This was considered sufficient for the task. Private sector focus group participation is not required, since the model is intended for public partner use, and private partner views on the intrinsic content of the model have already been garnered.
Prior to proceeding with focus group activity, a Senior Stakeholder Engagement Advisor from the Victorian Government provided feedback on the adequacy of the proposed materials before they were distributed. Each focus group participant was then sent a paper-based document pack consisting of:
- A covering letter (see Attachment J for the template used);
- An assessment / feedback matrix (see Attachment K);
- A summary of the IMM design features (see Attachment L);
- A copy of a peer-reviewed conference paper describing the background and context to this research (see McCann, S., Aranda-Mena, G., Edwards, P.J., 2013); and
- The second iteration of the IMM (see Chapter 8: '8.9 Integrated Management Model: Second Iteration').
No changes were made to the focus group materials following the pilot test feedback given by the Senior Stakeholder Engagement Advisor.
Participants were asked to examine the second IMM; then reflect and offer their perceptions / suggestions relating to the relevance and accuracy of the model in terms of: VfM contributors; VfM evidence-base factors; relationships identified between issues and sub-issues; and possible treatment actions. They were requested to undertake this separately for each centrally-positioned management discipline shown in the second IMM and then subsequently for combinations between the different disciplines. The intention of using this iterative method was to induce better participant focus through repeated opportunities to engage with the IMM, leading to more considered and comprehensive feedback.
The focus group members were known only to the researcher, and not to one another. Their individual feedback data were collected as single submissions between July and October 2013. The submissions were then analysed.