A note on the literature review task to conduct theory-driven investigation: for MBA students

A note on the literature review task to conduct theory-driven investigation: for MBA students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question: "Regarding doing a 5-month part-time MBA dissertation projects, one of the main topics is on literature review on gathering, evaluating, synthesising and adopting some useful academic concepts, perspectives and theories to inform research methods design and, subsequently to conduct theory-driven analysis in order to address a few specific research objectives and questions. Please offer 4 main advice on how to effectively carry out this kind of literature review tasks."

The reply: "Effective literature reviews for a 5-month part-time MBA dissertation focus on targeted searches, critical evaluation, and synthesis to build a theory-driven framework for research methods and analysis. Tailored to your pragmatism-oriented projects in MBA/Housing Studies, here are four key pieces of advice.

Develop Search Strategy

Start with your research objectives and questions to identify keywords, synonyms, and clusters (e.g., "pragmatism research philosophy," "mixed methods MBA dissertation"). Use academic databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, or your university's resources, prioritizing recent (past 5-10 years) peer-reviewed journals; apply inclusion criteria such as relevance to Hong Kong contexts or theory applicability. Snowball from key articles via citations and "related works" to efficiently gather 20-40 sources within your time constraints.

Evaluate Sources Critically

Scan abstracts, intros, and conclusions first to assess credibility, methodology strengths/weaknesses, and fit for your objectives (e.g., does the theory support theory-driven analysis?). Note validity, generalizability (especially to Asian business settings), and biases; discard low-impact or outdated works. Create a summary table logging themes, gaps, and critiques to track how sources inform methods design.

Synthesize Thematically

Group sources by themes (e.g., positivism vs. pragmatism), theories (3-4 complementary ones like RBV with dynamic capabilities), or methodologies, comparing/contrasting to build a consolidated framework. Use synthesis tools like matrices or maps to reveal patterns, contradictions, and gaps your study addresses, ensuring links to research questions. This creates a mid-range theory tailored for your analysis, avoiding mere summaries.

Link to Methods and Objectives

Explicitly connect synthesized concepts to your research methods (e.g., pragmatist mixed methods) and objectives, visualizing via diagrams showing framework flow to analysis. Structure writing with intro (scope), thematic sections, and conclusion (gaps/implications), maintaining your authorial voice. Allocate ~4-6 weeks iteratively, refining as your proposal evolves."

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