The Broad Problem Area, Preliminary

data gathering and Problem Definition

CHAPTER 4
 Broad Problem Area
• Entire situation where one sees the possible
need for research for problem solving.
1. Problem currently existing (Employee Turnover Increases)
2. Area that manager needs to be improved
(Inventory controlled is not effective, Training programs are not effective)

3. Conceptual or theoretical issues that need to

be tightened up for basic research.(For Basic Research)
4. Some research questions that a basic research
wants to answer empirically. (Test the relationship)
1. Problem Currently Existing
• Manager might receive that women not treated
fairly by the bosses.
• When manager is not able to pinpoint, what
exactly it is.
• This is the matter calls for further investigation.
2. Require Improvement
• If company already formulated policies on
discrimination.
• Complains are still continue.
• Means that policies are ambiguous.
• How they are framed, understood and enforced.
3. Conceptual issues that need to be tightened
• For basic research
• To define the concept in precise term.
4. Answer Empirically
• To check the impact of one variable on other
variable.
• Discrimination consequences for individual.
 Preliminary data gathering
1. Nature of data can be collected.
a. Background information of organization
b. Prevailing knowledge on the topic.
Data can be collected through
• Published records
• Websites
• Archives
• Company policies, Rules and procedures Company
records
• PRIMARY AND SECONDRY DATA
 a. Background information on the
organization
• When outside agency conduct research
• Important to acquainted(understand) with background.
I. Origin and history of an organization
II. Size (Employees and Assets)
III. Charter Ideology, Purpose
IV. Location (Geographical Boundaries)
V. Resources
VI. Interdependence and external environment
VII.Financial position.
VIII.Structure
Information on structural factors and
management philosophy (For outside researcher)

• Structure factors
 Role and position and no of employees at each job
 Extent of specialization
 Communication channels
 Control system
 Coordination and span of control
 Reward system
 Workflow system
Prevailing Knowledge on the Topic
• Literature Helps manager to identify factors
related to problem.
• No variable ignored founded in past.
• Variable not founded During interview but
having impact.
 Literature Survey
• Documentation of a comprehensive review of
published and unpublished work from
secondary sources of data in the area of
specific interest.
• People spend several weeks going through
 a. Reasons for Literature Survey
• Ensure No important variable is ignored
• Found that critical variables  Not come from interviews
• With out considering them exercise in Futility (useless)
• Prevent Reinvent the wheel save time and effort
• Good Literature survey ensure that:
 Important variables should not left out
 Tells about important variables
 Problem statement can be made with precision and
clarity
 Data Sources
 Text Books
• Cover broad range of topics
• Cover topics more thoroughly
• Starting point to find more detailed sources
• Less up to date from Journals
• Google Books, 4Shared, Torrent, Library.nu Others
• Reference: Author Name, Year, Book Name and Publisher
 Journals
• Up to date information
• Peer reviewed
• Review Articles Meta Analysis
• Research Articles One or few related studies
• Literature of research article compact overview on specific topic
• EBSCO, Sagepub, Jstor, SpringerLink, Emeraldinsight, Science Direct, Wiley, Taylor and Francis,
SSRN, Google Scholars etc
• References: Author Name, Year, Title, Journal name, Volume, Number, Page No
 Theses
• PhD thesis Exhaustive Review
• Contains Chapters
• Structure Research Paper
• University Websites
• Author Name, Year, Title, University Name
 Conference Proceedings
• Latest unpublished research
• Every manuscript presented in conference should not be published.
• www.conferencealert.com
• Reference: Author Name, Year, Title, Proceeding (Conference name), Where held
and Organizer
 Unpublished Manuscripts
• Information not Officially released
• “In Press” Papers
• AMA website Forthcoming Articles
• Author Name, Year, Title, Unpublished Manuscript, Publisher Name.
 Reports
• Government Institution Research
 Newspapers
• Up to date source
• Not Used in Academic Research
• Reference: Newspaper name, Date, Title and
Page Number
 Internet
• Source Cradibility
b. Conducting the Literature survey
1. Identifying the relevant sources
 Bibliographic database
 Abstract database
 Full-text data base
2. Extracting the relevant information
 Accessing and pinpointing published work the area of interest.
 Sometimes include hundreds of listings
 pertinent and peripheral to the contemplate study.
 Title, Abstract, Introduction
 Table of contents in books
 Quality of Journals and Articles
 Journal peer reviewed
 Impact factors
 Relevant can be obtained
3. Writing up Literature review
Documentation of relevant studies the author and
the year of study is called literature survey.
Its logical presentation of relevant research in the
area of investigation.
Purpose: identify and highlight important variables
and document the significant findings.
Bring together all relevant information in a cogent
(rational) and logical manner. Instead of presenting
all the information in chronological manner.
APA, Chicago Manual of Styles, Turaban Manual of
Writers
 Problem Definition
• After interview and literature review
• In position narrow down the problem
• Problem does not mean something seriously wrong
immediately need to rectified.
• Problem indicate interest in an issue where find the
right answer help to improve existing situation.
• Problem: situation where a gap exist between actual and
desire ideal state.
• Antecedents Problem Consequences
• Problem statement: clear, precise and succinct (to the point)
statement of the question or issue that is to be investigated.
Referencing in Literature Review Section
• Within Same paragraph ali (1988), not mentioned date
again.
• When authored by 2 individuals, Always cite both names.
Ali and hasan (1988).
• > 2 and <6 :First time write all authors names, After all
surname of First Author and Place “et al”. Ali et al., (1988).
• >5: only write surname and after all place et al with
surname.
• No author: Title “two or three words” 1988.
• Anonymous