ABSTRACT
It is essential to verify whether one has been granted “consent” from the participants and to comprehend the ramifications of this consent. This position is known as “epistemologically privileged” because not all specifics can be articulated, recounted, and reconstructed. The goal is not to establish this claim but to illustrate that one can embody a combination of spy, observer, enthusiast, and participant. A qualitative research study was conducted to gain insight into the actions of employees at the Port Authority of Douala, keeping the principle of saturation in focus, which is a crucial element when considering sample size (a posteriori). The inquirer and the “object” of inquiry interacted to influence one another, given that knower and known are inextricably linked. After 8 months of observation, the results captured nine significant themes and the major areas of conflict were: tribalism, management style, and the organigram. Acknowledging the Hawthorne effect, all participants described their relationship with others as cordial and highlighted the role of leadership during stressful periods.