RMT

Topic 3

The Research Process

Steps 1 to 3
The broad problem area,
Preliminary data gathering
and Problem definition
 Broad Problem Area
Broad problem area refers to the entire situation
where one sees a possible need for research
and problem solving.
Such as:
1. Problems currently existing in an
organizational setting that need to be solved.
2. Areas that a manager believes need to be
improved in the organization.
3. A conceptual or theoretical issue that needs to
be tightened up for basic researcher to
understand certain phenomena.
 Preliminary Data Collection
1. Background information of the
organization-----the contextual factors
Sources?????
2. Managerial philosophies company
policies and other structural aspects
Sources?????
3. Perceptions, attitudes and other
behavioral responces of
organizational members
Sources?????
 Preliminary Data Collection
Background information of the
organization-----the contextual factors
More important of problems is to be
researched by some external consultants
May include:
1. Origin and history
2. Size in terms of employees, assets etc
3. Charter—purpose and ideology
4. Location—regional, national other
5. Resources—human and other
6. Relationships with external environment
7. Financial position during the last 5-10 years
 Preliminary Data Collection
Information on structural factors and
managerial philosophy
1. Roles and positions in the organization and
number of employees at each job level
2. Extent of specialization
3. Communication channels
4. Control systems
5. Reward systems
6. Other internal mechanisms of the organization
 Preliminary Data Collection
Perceptions, attitudes and behavioral
responses

1. Nature of work
2. Workflow interdependencies
3. Participation in decision making
4. Co-workers
5. Rewards provided by the organization, such
as pay rises and fringe benefits
6. Opportunities of advancement in the
organization
7. Organization’s response towards employees’
family responsibilities
Preliminary Data Collection
Behavioral factors include:

Actual work habits of employees

Extent of absenteeism
Performance on the job
Values, Perception, Attitudes and
Behavior of employees
MOST DIFFICULT TO JUDGE
 Literature Review
A literature review discusses published information
in a particular subject area, and sometimes
information in a particular subject area within a
certain time period.
• A literature review can be just a simple summary
of the sources, but it usually has an organizational
pattern and combines both summary and
synthesis.
• A summary is a recap of the important information
of the source, but a synthesis is a re-organization,
or a reshuffling, of that information. It might give a
new interpretation of old material or combine new
with old interpretations.
 Literature Review
What to do before writing the literature review?

• If your assignment is not very specific, seek clarification

from your instructor.
• Roughly how many sources should you include?
• What types of sources (books, journal articles, websites)?
• Should you summarize, synthesize, or critique your
sources by discussing a common theme or issue?
• Should you provide subheadings and other background
information, such as definitions and/or a history?
 Literature Review
Consider whether your sources are current
• Some disciplines require that you use information that
is as current as possible. In the sciences, for instance,
treatments for medical problems are constantly
changing according to the latest studies. Information
even two years old could be obsolete.
• However, if you are writing a review in the humanities,
history, or social sciences, a survey of the history of
the literature may be what is needed, because what is
important is how perspectives have changed through
the years or within a certain time period.
 Harvard Referencing Style
• This style of referencing requires that you
acknowledge the source of your information
or ideas in two ways:
• in the text of your work, when you refer to
ideas or information you have collected
during your research. Each reference is
indicated by including the author and date
of the publication referred to, or cited.
• in a reference list at the end of your text,
which gives the full details of the works you
have referred to, or cited
 Harvard Referencing Style
In text Referencing
• Jones (2001) concludes that, 'The cost to
the nation's health of working out of
phase with our biological clocks is
probably incalculable at present.'
• 'The cost to the nation's health of
working out of phase with our biological
clocks is probably incalculable at
present' (Jones 2001).
 Harvard Referencing Style

Books:
• Surname, Initial(s). Date. Title. Edition. Place of
Publication: Publisher. (Series.)

Example 1: Book with a single author:

• Comfort, A. 1997. A good age. 2nd Edition. London:
Mitchell Beazley.
Example 2: Book with 2 to 6 authors:
• Wit, J. S., Poneman, D. B. & Gallucci, R. L. 2004. Going
critical : the first North Korean nuclear crisis.
Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press
Example 3: Book with more than 6 authors:
• Roeder, K., Howdeshell, J., Fulton, L., Lochhead, M.,
Craig, K., Peterson, R., et.al. 1967. Nerve cells and
insect behavior. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press.
 Harvard Referencing Style

Journal Articles:
• Surname, Initial(s). Date. Title of
article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue
number): page numbers. 

Example:
• Wharton, N. 1996. Health and safety in
outdoor activity centres. Journal of
Adventure Education and Outdoor
Leadership, 12(4): 8-9.
 Harvard Referencing Style

Website:
Intext Reference:
The main name of the website should be written
at the end of each paragraph
e.g. (www.careersonline.org)

The bibliographic entry

Searching for literature on career management
in Pakistan
Available at:
www.careeronline.com/career/pak.link1.shtml 
Accessed on: [June 25, 2008]
 Problem Definition
A problem does not necessarily mean
that something is seriously wrong with
the current situation that needs to be
rectified immediately.
A problem could simply indicate an
interest in an issue where finding the
right answers might help to improve an
existing situation
 Problem Definition
EXAMPLES
1. To what extent do the structure of the
organization effects the perceived
effectiveness of managerial decision
making?
2. How has the new packaging effected the
sales of the product?
3. What are the components of quality of
life?

EXAMPLES ON P. NO. 70-71