Research Method Part one

CHAPTER THREE MPB

The broad problem area: the origin of most research stems from the desire to get a grip on issues, concerns and conflicts within the company or in its environment. In other words, research typically begins with a problem. A problem does not necessarily mean that something is seriously wrong with a current situation that needs to be rectified immediately, it could also indicate an interest in an issue where finding the right answers might help to improve an existing situation. Once we have identified the management problem, it needs to be narrowed down to a researchable topic for study. Very often much work is needed to do that. Note that the symptoms of problems are not defined as the real problem. A feasible topic for research is specific and focused. You need to transform the broad problem into a feasible topic for research by setting clear boundaries and selecting a perspective (e.g. academic). Preliminary information gathering will help to make the necessary transformations.

 Preliminary information gathering

o Nature of information to be gathered: preliminary information gathering via introspection, unstructured interviews, structured interviews and / or a review through existing sources of information such as news articles, textbooks, conference proceedings and the Internet, will help the researcher to narrow down the broad problem area and to define a specific problem statement. The exact nature of it can be classified under two headings: background information on the organization and its environment (the contextual factors) and literature (the body of knowledge available to you or what is already known and written down that is relevant to your research project. Secondary data are data that already exist and do not have to be collected by the researcher. Primary data refers to information that the researcher gathers first hand through instruments such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or observation.

o Background information on the organization: this might include contextual factors which may be obtained from various published sources, e.g. the origin and history of the company, size, charter (purpose and ideology), location, resources, interdependent relationships with other institutions and the external environment, financial position, information on structural factors (role and positions etc.) and information on the management philosophy. An understanding of these factors might be helpful in arriving at a precise problem formulation.

o Literature – the body of knowledge available to you: it may also help to think about and / or better understand the problem. A careful review of published and unpublished materials ensures that you have a thorough awareness and understanding of current work and viewpoints on the subject area. This helps you to structure your research on work already done, or in other words to build on the foundation of existing knowledge and to develop the problem statement with precision and clarity. A first review of the literature also helps you to make an informed decision about your research approach. Familiarity with the literature is beneficial in both an academic (fundamental) and a nonacademic (applied) context.

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