Using manifest content analysis in purchasing and supply management research

Much of the data relevant to study modern organizations is textual and qualitative in nature. With advances in computerized text analysis that enable researchers to collect and analyze large amounts of textual data, there are opportunities to address new research questions or old questions in new ways. This essay describes the use of manifest or computerized content analysis to study research questions in purchasing and supply management. The essay explores why manifest content analysis is needed to study current problems in purchasing and supply management, and discusses issues of methodological rigor, especially in the context of large data sets.