Conduct an Interview
Volunteer interviewers and writers are a critical part of the World Inquiry! If you choose to conduct an interview and share your story, you will link with people from all over the world who are searching for extraordinary examples of business in society. You will help to spotlight golden innovations and best practices in corporate social responsibility. You can make a difference by highlighting good business practices that contribute to a healthier society and development of a more sustainable world.
Take Action through the Steps Below:
1: Understand Authorship Responsibilities
2: Develop Your Interview Protocol
3: Choose a Business Leader to Interview
4: Make Arrangements for the Interview
5: Do your Interview
1: Understand Authorship Responsibilities
Think of yourself as a responsible journalist, searching for a good story. You should inform each person that the information they provide will be included in the story that you write. Though not legally required, we suggest that you secure written permission from the interviewee to quote them and use their name and information for your write-up. You are accountable for the accuracy of the story, so you may also want to allow them to review your story and obtain their approval before submitting it.
Academic interviewers who may have special concerns about human subjects issues should contact David Bright.
2: Develop Your Interview Protocol
You will need to develop a set of questions that suits your unique objectives and circumstances. To help, The World Inquiry editorial team has developed a sample interview guide to steer you through this process. Adjust the questions as needed to fit your own interests as well as the point-of-view of the person you are interviewing.
 Example Interview Guide.doc.
If you have created your own guide for a particular group or topic, or if you have an idea for a great question and would like to share it with others in the World Inquiry, please send it to us at: bawb@worldinquiry.org.
3: Choose a Business Leader to Interview
Businesses and people all over the world are working in ways that reshape the capacity for benefit in society. Find someone, preferably a leader, whom you think has an interesting, innovative story to tell. Good stories are personally meaningful, illustrate innovative thinking, and demonstrate clear impact. Use the questions below to help brainstorm a potential list of people you might wish to:
Who do you know in your personal network of acquaintances?
Think about individuals you know within your local community or region who you believe have been a part of an initiative that was innovative or significant to society in some way. While it is always easier to access individuals you already know don't be afraid to "think big." Business leaders usually welcome the chance to share their stories.
What companies impress you or appear to be acting innovatively to promote a healthier society?
Find companies who seem to be innovative in their methods of social responsibility. Contact a leader at one of them. You might look here to view a list of possible innovative businesses.
Possible_innovative_businesses.doc.
4: Make Arrangements for the Interview
Once you have identified an individual you want to interview, contact them and arrange for a time to meet with him or her. In-person interviews lead to the best experience, but sometimes a phone interview is necessary. Explain who you are and what the World Inquiry is about. You may want to give them the project's website (www.worldinquiry.org) so that they can read more about the World Inquiry and its purpose.
We have created an email template that you may find useful for your initial contact with potential interviewees. Sample Email Template.doc.
5: Do your Interview
If you are genuinely interested in the person who you are interviewing and in their story, they will be excited to share their knowledge and experience with you. As an interviewer, your role is to guide the interviewee in conversation using your interview guide questions. The guide should be just that - a guide! Feel free to let the dialogue between the two of you flow naturally and ask additional questions that come up during the interview that seem important and relevant. Listen closely to what the person is telling you. Encourage them to use specific details and examples.
In addition, audio- or video-taping the interview will free you from having to take notes and allow you to concentrate on what you are hearing. It also guarantees that you will have a rich record of the conversation that will come in handy when you write the story. You might want to consider including these materials when you submit your story, to provide a more in-depth, dimensional view of the story and experience.
Read this  Interview Training Presentation for more information.
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