Research methodology paths for the agile literature review approach (ALRA): the core-focus-domain view

Research methodology paths for the agile literature review approach (ALRA), as defined by the core-focus-domain composition.

Path 1 [single company level]: a single-case study research: 3 options

Core-focus domain options: 

1a. two items in zone 2

1b. 1 item in zone 2 and 1 item in zone 1, zone 3a or zone 3b.

1c. 1 item in zone 2 only

Other core-focus domain options are not recommended, if they have no zone 2 item as one of the core-focus-domain items.

Path 2: [industry/ business sector level]: use multiple-case study research: 3 options

2a. two items in zone 2

2b. 1 item in zone 2 and 1 item in zone 1, zone 3a or zone 3b.

2c. 1 item in zone 2 only

Other core-focus domain options are not recommended, if no zone 2 item is included  in the core-focus domain.

The underlying rationale: 

1. it is critical to be aware of the organizational capabilities at the individual company and the industry/ business sector levels to investigate a dissertation project capable of producing practical and useful managerial recommendations.

2. Research methodology with the ALRA involves substantial evaluation efforts, as reflected in the high-level research tasks statements, notably " to evaluate........".

3. Research methodology with the ALRA is, at a deeper theoretical level, is grounded on critical systems thinking [this is beyond the research methods syllabus of my MBA students, thus not further discussed in these research projects workshops.]

4. The core-focus domain constitutes the theme focus of the dissertation project, and is reflected in the title of the dissertation project. 50-60% of the research efforts are spent on the core-focus domain.

Other guidelines:

1. The non-core-focus-domain items are useful to help capturing (i) a complicated understanding of the set of management concerns involved and (ii) a complicated intellectual response to the identified set of management concerns.

2. The research methodology in ALRA inevitably is mixed methods research in nature (i.e., using both qualitative and quantitative research).

A class exercise on research methods to use within the agile literature review approach

A class exercise on research methods to use within the agile literature review approach (ALRA):

Zone 1: environmental drivers-related

High-level research task 1: To evaluate the prevailing consumers' service quality expectation on retail banking services:

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

High-level research task 2: To evaluate the tight labour market trend on home care staff:

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

Zone 2: organizational capabilities related

High-level research task 3: To evaluate the managerial competence of the middle management of ABC Ltd:

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

High-level research task 4: To evaluate the leadership competence of the senior management of ABC Ltd:

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

Zone 3a: outcomes-related:

High-level research task 5: To evaluate the staff morale of the sales team of ABC Ltd.

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

High-level research task 6: To evaluate the staff turnover status of the office staff of ABC Ltd.

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

Zone 3b: solutions related:

High-level research task 7: To formulate effective corporate mentoring and coaching training programmes for the middle management of ABC Ltd.

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

High-level research task 8:To formulate an effective retail outlet automation strategy for ABC Ltd:

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

High-level research task 9:To formulate an effective work from home policy for the office staff of ABC Ltd:

Research methods to use: ??

Research method choice justifications are: ??

References: 

1. a blog note on research methods (video study materials)

2. A blog note on research methods quality (study materials)

3. A blog note on research methods pros and cons.

Examples of academic ideas, (often as analytical concepts) considered in theoretical framework level 1a (ALRA)

Examples of academic ideas (often as analytical concepts) considered in theoretical framework level 1a (used in the agile literature review approach [ALRA]).

Examples 1: concept 1: social media strategic capability; concept 2: environmental dynamism; concept 3: A moderated mediated model on business innovation and social media strategic capability of Zhang and Zhu (2021)

Example 2: concept 1: environmental dynamism

The examples are illustrative of the kind of academic concepts that are likely candidate concepts to be adopted to populate a theoretical framework level 1a. These are sensitizing notions that are associated with (i) explanatory, evaluative and creativity-stimulating views and mechanisms, (ii) intervention and measurement approaches,  and (iii) issues/ concepts sensitizing, challenging/ distinguishing, classifying and synthesizing methods,  as discussed in the academic literature. An academic concept can be explicitly or tacitly anchored on a  particular theoretical perspective (e.g. positivist, interpretive and critical perspectives) and organizational image (e.g., machine, culture, organism, psychic prison and instrument of domination, etc). Some academic concepts are complex while others are much less so; some academic concepts deal with broad topics (e.g. a consumer behavior framework) while others investigate narrow topics (e.g. a Gen-Z consumer behavior model on consumer electronic products). 

Note that academic article titles per se (even for a simplified statement of the nature of an article title) are not concrete academic concepts. Academic articles do include academic ideas (notably analytical notions) that could be highly relevant to a student's dissertation project work (e.g. informing research method design and, subsequently, conducting theory-driven analysis).

Some academic ideas students are familiar with are: Porter's 5-Force Model, Porter's Value Chain Model, Maslow's hierarchy of needs model and Core competence theory of Prahalad and Hamel (year...); make sure you include harvard referencing next to your academic idea name (i.e. [surname, year]).

Finally, note that for the construction of theoretical framework level 1a, academic concept definitions are not the academic ideas to be incorporated into the 1a framework. Nevertheless, concept definitions are inevitably discussed in the Chapter of Literature Review, so they are important in writing up the literature review chapter.

Reference

How to use theory (video)

On research objectives and research questions in the agile literature review approach

 On research objectives and research questions in the agile literature review approach (ALRA):

Research objectives are the items in theoretical framework level 0 of the agile literature review approach, such as:

Research objective : To evaluate how covid 19 affects consumer preferences on product brands of luxury watches.

Research questions subsumed under this research objectives capture more specific contextual considerations that the researcher deems important for meeting the research objective:

E.g. 

Research question 1: How does consumer gender affect product brand preference of luxury watches in the context of covid 19?

Research question 2: Is the following correlation hypothesis statement true?

The age of consumers (the x variable) has no association to the product brand preference of luxury watches (the y variable) in the context of covid 19? [note: the value of b = 0 in the correlation formula in this case.]. Research question 2 involves a hypothesis test in this regard.

In a nutshell, research questions are important questions, subsumed under a specific research objective, to be investigated by the researcher using research methods.

[note 1: important] i.e. deemed important by the researcher with informed justifications (e.g. via preliminary literature review).

[note 2: research methods]: refer to the blog note on research methods.

The inductive reasoning support offered by the theoretical framework set of the agile literature review approach

The theoretical framework set (level 0, level 1a, level 1b, and 1c) of the agile literature review approach (ALRA) is employed to guide the research methodology design and, subsequently, data analysis on the research findings (inevitably involving both quantitative and qualitative findings).Since the theoretical framework itself is not a set of hypothesis statements to be tested, the theoretical framework set is not primarily used to directly support deductive reasoning in dissertation projects in terms of the theoretical framework items. 

Nevertheless, students can conduct hypothesis testing in their dissertation project works, as long as these tests, constituting specific research methods, are useful to address the high-level research objectives as identified the theoretical frameworks in ALRA; the theoretical framework could include theories [as analytical ideas] that justify the formulation of specific hypothesis statements to be tested; in this case, the testing exercise is deductive in nature. Thee high-level research objectives in the theoretical framework set are more often than not evaluative in nature.

The theoretical framework set, notably level 1a, comprises groups of analytical concepts gathered via literature review, which serve as sensitizing, evaluative and explanatory concepts to inform concrete research method design and, later, to conduct theory-driven analysis of research methods findings. Thus, the ALRA theoretical framework set is employed to support inductive reasoning in research projects primarily, without excluding some secondary deductive reasoning tasks. The inductive reasoning, informed by the literature review findings [i.e. theoretical framework level 1a] in this case is intended to come up with some " grounded theories" [from the dissertation research findings] to evaluate and explain the dissertation research findings; these dissertation projects are mainly case study research in nature. 

[The notions of inductive and deductive reasoning are the ones explicated by Gill, Johnson and Clark (2010, Chapter 2)].

Reference

Gill, J., Johnson P. and Clark, M. 2010. Research Methods for Managers, Sage, London.

*** A revision video on inductive and deductive reasoning/ approaches.

The idiosyncratic trajectory of literature review for MBA dissertation projects on a single case study

The idiosyncratic trajectory of literature review for MBA dissertation projects on a single case study [in the agile literature review approach]:

Let us consider the following high-level research task (in the agile literature review approach [ALRA]):

To evaluate the managerial competence to retain staff in the sales department of ABC Ltd.

Ltierature review effort : from the general and broad themes (High level focus) to the idiosyncratic themes (Low level focus)

High level focus

Level 0: The human resource management function, with special reference to staff retention.

Level 1: The managerial competence with special reference to staff retention.

Level 2: Staff retention competence of salespeople from the perspective of levels 0 and 1.

Level 3a: Staff retention competence of salespeople in SMEs (ABC Ltd being an SME) from the perspective of levels 0 and 1.

Level 3b: Staff retention competence of salespeople in the interior design sector (ABC Ltd being an interior design company) from the perspective of levels 0 - 2.

Leve 3c: Staff retention competence of salespeople in Hong Kong from the perspective of levels 0 - 2.

Level 3d: Staff retention competence of salespeople in the context of covid 19 from the perspective of levels 0 - 2.

Level 4: staff retention competence of salespeople of HK SMEs in the interior design sector in the context of covid 19.

Level 5: level 4 with additional idiosyncratic considerations of ABC Ltd. (may have to do with company-specific internal and external organizational factors, such as peculiar executive personalities/ values and family business culture).

Low level focus

** Literature search with higher level focus is easier than that with lower level focus. Kindly also study the literature review funnel for enhancing knowledge on the idiosyncratic trajectory of literature review.

Now, As you go through the idiosyncratic literature review trajectory (e.g. from level 0 to level 5), take stock of what (i) academic theories, models and notions [including their definitions], (ii) research questions and research methods raised, and (iii) empirical findings have been identified by you as useful to inform your high-level research task: 

        "To evaluate the managerial competence to retain staff in the sales department of ABC Ltd", or "To evaluate the HRM competence of ABC Ltd, with special regard to staff retention of salespeople".

Learning literature review: a self study programme with videos mainly

Learning literature review: a self study programme with videos:

There are various types of literature review; before a student decides a specific approach for his/her dissertation project, it is useful to learn the diverse advice and ideas on the topic. I thus compile a e-learning list for students to study; the list is as follows:

1. What is a literature review. (another one on what is a literature review.)

2. Literature review: a step by step guide.

3. How to write a literature review.

4. Writing the literature review : part 1.

5. Writing the literature review: part 2.

6. Writing a literature review.

7a. Literature review: an overview.

7b. Appraising the evidence in literature review.

8. How to structure a literature review.

9a. The literature review funnel.

9b. The literature review funnel.

10. How to write a literature review fast.

11. Writing a literature synthesis.

12. Toward synthesis and evaluation.

13a. Literature Reviews: Adding your voice

13b. Creating coherence in your writing (literature review).

13c. Steps for creating a literature review paper.

14. A highly related topics on (i) Meanings of theory and  (ii) How to write theory.

For students interested in ppt slides, study this slideshare.

After studying the videos, you should also study the topic in Research Methods textbooks to enhance understanding on the topic.

** also a SlideShare on literature review. For students using the agile literature review approach, pls also read the idiosyncratic trajectory of literature review, the inductive reasoning support of the ALRA and examples of analytical ideas for theoretical framework level 1a.

** useful literature search links: proquest and pdfdrive.

A related concern of many students is how to read a scholarly article; there are YouTube videos about this topic such as this video [video 1], video 2 and video 3 [more about note-taking on reading academic articles].

An article example of a vigorous literature review: corporate foresight. The MBA dissertation report literature review is less vigorous, at the level such as this article on logistics management and this one on plagiarism. 

An example of comparison of academic ideas: 5-Force Model and Core competence Theory [an horizontal literature review example; refer to two directions of literature review (ALRA).]

A related video on theoretical framework and theories (from the positivist perspective mainly). Another video is on "how to use theory".

Also for reference

For literature search

Academic publisher websites:

1. Sciencedirect.

2. Proquest.

3. Emerald.insight.

4. Wiley online library.

5. Taylor and Francis online.

6. Sage journals.

7. Springer.

8. pdfdrive. [ebooks]/ vdoc. [ebooks]

A relevant reading: a study note on literature review: types and focuses.

Notice: about Facebook ac: Joseph KK Ho

Research Proposal Template 2020-2021 MBA

 

Research Proposal Template

 

This template will help you to focus your mind on how you want to approach your project. It also provides a basis for both your research and discussions with your Supervisor.

 

Candidate Name
Student Number
Name of Supervisor
Proposed Title
Agreed date of  proposal submission
Project Background  Rationale for selection – importance and potential impact on the strategic position of an organisation  or business sector. Word guide approx. 500
Literature Review Identify the key aspects of the business literature to underpin the study. This  reviewshould cover the main ideas and business practice that will be  considered. It shouldshow a sample of some of the key sources and identify  key critical issues that might arise.  Word guide approx. 750
Objectives Identify 3/4 objective outcomes for the project in terms of what the study seeks to achieve for  the organisation or business sector. These  objectives should reflect outputs (not tasks)  to be completed and should emphasise the  areas for improvement to business  performance that the project will concentrate on.
Methodology Produce a brief statement as to what you consider are the main methods of primary and secondary research that are likely to be most useful to achieve the project outcomes. Word guide approx. 300 words
Time plan Highlight key activities (milestones) for  the proposed project and the resources  required.

 

The wrong and right reasons to justify dissertation work decision: an example

 The wrong and right reasons to justify dissertation work decision: an example:

The wrong reason:

Based on the recommendation of my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Michael Jackson, I employed this ABC research method to study the XYZ topic. Or,

Following the suggestion of my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Michael Jackson, I employed this ABC research method to study the XYZ topic.

The right reason:

After reviewing advice (and the supportive reasons) from my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Michael Jackson as well as the XYZ research theory of Bolt (2021), I adopted the ABC research method to study the XYZ topic. The main underlying rationale of its adoption is that ...([e.g.] the ABC research method)... [e.g.] is good at measuring the level of employee engagement in a "straightforward, unintrusive, and reliable way" (Bolt, 2021).

Some common defects of MBA dissertation reports: a note

Some common defects of MBA dissertation reports: the main points

1. Executive summary: a. content structure not proper; b. missing information and information not concrete about the case study itself; c. read like a report introduction, not an executive summary.

2. Chapter 1: Introduction: a. too lengthy on background and company description, often with a lengthy SWOT analysis [not supported by explicit research methods findings]. b. No clear statements of management concerns and no clear statements of research objectives; c. relationship of the student to the client organization not clear; d. discussion is focused on the industry concerns while the dissertation project is on a specific company [industry concerns are not the same as a company's management concerns.]; e. the research objectives have major blind spots and are not clearly responding to the management concerns chosen to tackle in the report; f. the research objectives propose simplistic intellectual responses to a set of complex management concerns.

3. Chapter 2 - Literature review: a. not clear how the literature review approach responds to individual research objectives; b. literature review content reads like annotated bibliography; c. the literature review only briefly introduce academic articles and some of the empirical findings of them; d. unclear how the analytical ideas (e.g. theories) from the academic literature are to be employed in the dissertation project; e. unclear how the analytical ideas (e.g. theories) "discussed" can be compatibly used together to guide the research design and, subsequently, to analyze the research findings.

4. Chapter 3: Research methodology: a. not clear how the individual research method is related to specific research objective; not clear how the literature review findings (e.g. analytical ideas to use) inform the research method design; b. not clear when the research method was conducted and by whom; c. unclear on the overall research methodology and unclear on the evaluation of the research methodology and its constituent research methods in terms of the concepts of the research methods subject (e.g. Saunders et al.'s onion model).

5. Chapter 4: Findings: a. lack of labels on specific research findings, e.g. finding 1, finding 2, etc... 

6. Chapter 5: Analysis: a. unclear on theory-driven analysis; unclear "chain of evidence" in the analysis (from specific research objectives, to specific literature review findings to specific research method findings); b. missing overall assessment and unclear emphasis on the critical (and related factors) involved; c. unclear labelling (and expression) of analysis findings, (e.g., in the form of analysis finding 1, analysis finding 2, etc.).

7. Chapter 6: Conclusion and recommendations: a. the evaluation of the outcomes of the dissertation report with regard to the research objectives is not clear; the evaluation of the practical and academic value of the dissertation project is not clear; b. unclear in recommendation formulation, e.g. [should be]: recommendation 1, recommendation 2; c. the recommendation details are not clear: who to do what, with whose support, with what resources; when to start; d.  the justification of the recommendations is unclear "chain of evidence" (i.e. based on which research method findings and which specific analysis viewpoints).

8. Chapter 7: reflection on personal development: a. chapter not provided. b. too much discussion on the external environment and theories about MBA education in general (i.e. not sufficiently focused and concrete on the student's personal development and learning experience per se).

Besides, one common problem [problem 1] is dissertation report cloning: using the management concerns diagram and the theoretical frameworks of a specific finished dissertation report from a previous student; the adoption of the diagrams includes also grammatical errors in those previous diagrams. A single prior dissertation report has also been very popularly cloned by subsequent dissertation students. 

Another common problem [problem 2] involves "spelling mistakes", e.g. "unclear customer requirements" becomes "nuclear customer requirements" and "the supervisor's recommendation" as  the justification.

Hypothesis formulation based on knowledge: a note

Hypothesis formulation based on knowledge [justified beliefs]: a note for research methods students doing correlation study.

Formulating hypothesis statements requires justification with relevant knowledge (i.e. justified beliefs):

Beliefs are justified with knowledge from"

1. academic literature review (top choice)

2. Government publications,

3. newspapers, and 

4. personal personal observations.

A classical example for discussion purpose is:

A hypothesis (null) : all swans are white. (based on existing findings from credible sources, e.g. the academic literature)

An alternative hypothesis is: not all swans are white.

The main aim of hypothesis testing is not "to prove that the null hypothesis statement is correct"; but to find out if the empirical evidence (e.g. your sample statistics) is sufficient to reject the null hypothesis (re: study Popper's falsification).

*** Now, note these: 

a. If your hypothesis test result rejects your null hypothesis, it does not mean that your research method exercise (e.g. hypothesis testing on correlation relationship) is a failure.

b. If your hypothesis test does not reject your null hypothesis, it does not prove that you null hypothesis statement is correct; it just means that that your test result (on you sample statistics) does not reject your null hypothesis.

MBA dissertation report chapters: info about the content, 2022

 MBA dissertation report chapters: info about the content, 2022 (as per the latest module guide )  [2020 /21 (October 2020 cohort)]:

(** bear in mind that 1 page is about 400 words)

Executive summary:

There should be an Executive Summary (approximately 200 words) at

the beginning which should review what has been covered and the

main outcome proposed.  

Chapter 1, Introduction, and context of the study. This should cover a strategic overview

developing and enhancing the first section of the proposal covering the rationale

for the project and its importance to an organisation or business sector.

This may be expressed in terms of sustaining competitive position or improving that position. 

This section might usefully consider the subject from the threats, opportunities,

and business contextual factors. It should avoid too broad a scope.

This might discuss improvement to internal business processes:

customer care, service quality, improvement in skills and or organisation of resources etc.

It might include better service delivery, marketing strategies or identification

of new markets and or products or services to the external business environment.

These are illustrative only. (Approximately 500 words)

Chapter 2, Literature Review The work will include a robust and critical literature review.

The main purpose is to establish the important areas of research and enquiry

such that the project objectives can be achieved.

It serves an important purpose in expanding the body of knowledge that we have

with which to understand current performance and as a secondary base to build

better informed practices for the future. It should review both the academic literature

and the empirical practices that organisations operate.

Your ability to shape the ideas and practices is one of the key skills.

It is not just a question of presenting other authors ideas without comment.

The better marks are to be achieved whereby you identify areas of difference

and consensus and from these works draw a strong conclusion as to

what is important in managing the particular area under review.

The outcome is likely to have not much more than 4-6 key ideas and principles in the

conclusions and will be framed around the question ‘what makes this a successful

strategic business practice- and how can it be managed effectively in practice’.

These will be the areas you will further examine in your research.

This needs to be written in logical and coherent chapters that flow together.

It should be clear as to what is being covered and it should avoid extending into too many areas otherwise critical depth is lost.

The number of primary sources will vary. We expect a good range of relevant

and contemporary sources but the treatment of them is more important than shear number. (Approximately 2000 words). 

Chapter 3 Methodology The project must include a critical review of both primary and secondary research methods that are possible but more importantly those deployed in the project from the perspective of such things as selecting valid and reliable sources of information against the objectives. Discussion of sample sizes and drawing reliable conclusions). It should address specific tools used (interviews, questionnaires, case studies etc.)  and the various strengths of these and how they can be best designed and used for the designated project.  (Approximately 2000 words)

Chapter 4 Presentation of Research findings There must be a strong section which presents and discusses the research findings from both primary and secondary sources but emphasising new material collected specifically for the project. This section is important as this is the area where you engage with new and original material that you have collected and the skills deployed here are definitive in terms of the scope final assessment grade together with the recommendations. Data must be presented systematically and structured clearly around tables – if appropriate- or in terms of outcomes against the areas identified from the literature and linked back to project objectives. (Approximately 2000 words)

Chapter 5 Discussion of Findings Having presented the data descriptively you will be expected to interrogate the findings by asking questions of your information such as: what is significant here, where is there key agreements between participants /sources what are the main areas of disagreement, how does this information reflect the outcomes (confirm or deny) from the literature review etc. What does this say about important ideas to shape policy /strategy and its implementation. (Approximately 2000 words) 

Chapter 6 Conclusion and Recommendations You will need a conclusion which draws together the findings from your research and the literature review and start to feedback and comment on the possibilities that now arise in terms of meeting the objectives. It should shape the agenda and start to define what it is you now think can be done.  It should summarise main points and decide what stance you are taking with respect to the practice /policies under review. It should flow naturally from the earlier work. This section should not introduce new ideas or new debates even if you have discovered new information! If this is the case earlier chapters need reworking. (Approximately 1000 words)

Recommendations should follow the conclusions. At this stage you move away from a research stance and adopt a leadership stance. Here you will advocate a possible direction for the organisation or sector. It can be specific as to future strategy and policy or it might offer an alternative view and scenario depending on particular future contexts. It should be carefully presented in management   terms.  Imagine you are presenting to a body of interested organisational managers with different levels of commitment to what you are proposing! It should clearly state what issue / opportunity is being addressed and the impact desired. It should state what should be done and it should say something on the implementation around; resources, barriers, risk, timescales, and organisation of the changes. It should not overly direct to further work or decisions otherwise the project is likely to be overly ‘contextual ‘and general and not solution driven. Again, no new ideas should be introduced here and it should be clear how the recommendations can be derived from the foregoing work. (Approximately 500 words)

Chapter 7 Reflections on developing your personal competence. This chapter provides the opportunity for you to reflect on your programme experience and the learning which has impacted on the development of your professional identity. Drawing on evidence you have collated throughout the module you are to write a reflective commentary which addresses the following: what were your initial motivations for undertaking a MBA and what were the central components of your professional identity during semester 1? What did you learn about yourself as a developing business professional and how that learning will shape your future professional self? (Approximately 2000 words)

The dissertation/project should be approximately 12000 words. However, the exact make-up of the sections may vary. It is unlikely you will be able to meet the learning outcomes in terms of depth and range of analysis in a study of less than 12000 words. 

The remainder of the dissertation/project should comprise your research proposal (final) and the reference list and appendices which evidence content in the main body of your report. Appendices should be carefully selected. They should be referenced in the main body of the study and should clearly relate to and provide further important reference for the reader. They should not be included if they have no central bearing on the study or simply a catalogue of all organisational information you can find.   

Please treat all word guides flexibly as different projects will emphasise different priorities and weightings so these are indicative.