Defining

& Refining Prepared By:

the Problem Ali Soltani

 The Broad Problem Area
• The broad problem area refers to the entire situation where, one
sees a possible need for research and problem solving.

Such issues might pertain to: 

Problems currently existing in an organizational setting that need to
be solved.
Areas that a manager believes needs to be improved 
A conceptual or theoretical issue that needs to be researched  to
understand certain phenomena
Some research questions that a basic researcher wants to
answer empirically
 EXAMPLES OF BROAD
PROBLEM AREAS

• Staff turnover is higher than anticipated

• The current instrument for the assessment of potential

employees for management positions is imperfect

• The introduction of flexible work hours has created more

problems than it has solved

• Young workers in the organization show low levels of

commitment to the organization
 Different Types of Problems
• Conceptual
• Epistemological or logical
• Exegetical
• Social, political or economic
• Ethical
• Legal, policy
• Theoretical
• Historical
• Empirical
 Preliminary
Research
• Preliminary Research is research on a topic that
helps you get a better understanding on what types of
sources are available and what is being said about a
topic. This type of research helps solidify a topic by
broadening or narrowing it down. 

It could be classified under two following headings:

• Information on the organization & its environment-
that is the contextual factors
• Information on the topic of interest
 The origin and
history of the
company
Information on the
Size in terms of
management
employees
philosophy

Background Information on
structural factors
Charter

Information of
the Organization
Financial data Location

Independent
Resources
relationship
 Secondary data are data that already exist and do
not have to be collected by the researcher again.

Some secondary sources of data are government

Secondary publications, information published or
unpublished and available from either within or
Data outside the organization, library records, data
available from previous research, online data, web
sites, and the Internet.
 Primary Data

• Data gathered for research from the actual

site of occurrence of events are first time is
called PRIMARY DATA.

• Information such as the perceptions and attitudes of

employees are best obtained:
          by talking to them
         by observing events, people, and objects
  by administering questionnaires to individuals
Information on the Topic of Interest

Relevant findings from Literature review helps

previous research in context to identify the important
of problem. Also known variables related to the
as Literature Review. problem

Helps to structure the
Also helps to make informed
research and
decision about research
develop problem
approach
statement with clarity
 DEFINING THE PROBLEM
STATEMENT

• The problem statement briefly explains the problem that

the research will address.

• The problem statement introduces the key problem that is

addressed in the research project.

• Problem statement is a clear, precise, and short statement

of the specific issue that a researcher wishes to investigate.
What makes a good problem statement?

• A good problem statement includes research objectives &

research questions.

• The purpose or objective of the research explains why the

study is being done.it should be brief, but nontheless
communicate clearly the focus of the project.

• The research question(s) specify what you want to learn

about the topic,
• or;
• Research questions are the translation of the problem of the
organization into a specific need for information.
 It should be relevant
  Problem
Statement
Qualıty
It should be feasible
Assessment
It should be interesting
 Basic Types of
Questions
• Exploratory research questions

• Descriptive research questions

• Casual research questions

• A working title RESEARCH
• Background of the study
• The problem statement
PROPOSAL
         The purpose of the study
         The research questions
• The scope of the study
• The relevence of the study
• The research design
          Type of study
          Data collection
          The sampling design
           Data analysis
• Time frame
• The budget
• Selected bibliography
 • Syptoms must not defined as the real problem

• A well-developed research proposal allows

managers to judge the relevence of the proposed
study.
Managerial
• Managers must stay involved throughout the
Implications entire research process

• Exchanged information between the manager and

the researcher will enhance the managerial
relevence and the quality of the research.
Ethical Issues

Ethics refers to the moral principles that direct or

govern an individual's behavior while associated with
an activity in an organization over a period of time.

• Employees should be informed of the study purpose.

• Employees responses must be kept confidential.
• Participation to study should not be an abligation.
• attempts to obtain information through deceptive
means should be avoided.
Thank You