This paper offers an auto-ethnographic account of the evolution of methodology as I struggled with conventional research approaches during my doctoral journey. Rather than offering a step-by-step methodological guide, this paper narrates my encounters and clashes with philosophies, theories, methods, and research objects. Highlighting how I challenged my own methodological assumptions to adopt a post-qualitative approach to inquiry, the paper begins by exploring the philosophical assumptions of my study to critically reflect on their transformation as they impacted on my methodological perspectives. It then discusses post-qualitative inquiry and its core tenets and how these informed my analytical strategy. The last sections of the paper describe how I crafted a research approach by privileging a creative but rigorous use of theory, rather than relying on established templates. This work contributes to the ongoing conversation around innovation in qualitative research and the predominance of conventional methods in the field of management and organisation studies. By sharing my experience, I encourage other researchers to embrace creativity in their own methodological endeavours, stressing the value of critically reflexive practices in shaping the future of critical management research.
