Achieving project alignment and coherence with the Agile Literature Review Approach

Achieving project alignment and coherence with the Agile Literature Review Approach (ALRA) requires a number of conversion tasks on 7 topics (which are often specific ALRA deliverables). This is depicted in the following diagram:

The 7 topics [shown as components in black colour in the diagram] are:

Topic 1: The problem-context

Topic 2: A set of related management concerns (in the form of a management-concerns diagram)

Topic 3: A level-0 theoretical framework

Topic 4: A level-1 theoretical framework

Topic 5: An overall research gameplan (including a theoretical framework (level 1) with mapped-on research methods)

Topic 6: An organized and valid analysis and findings

Topic 7: A set of concrete and helpful recommendations

{For MBA students doing applied business research projects, when you have largely clarified your thinking on topic 3 and are starting to work on topics 4 and 5, you are in a good position to write up your synopsis form; when you have largely clarified your thinking on topics 4 and 5, you are in a good position to write up your dissertation proposal.}

The conversion tasks (CT) [shown in red colour in the diagram] are: 

CT1: a meaningful extraction [of key issues and concerns out of the problem-context]

CT2: An appropriate intellectual response [to the set of management concerns with a level-0 theoretical framework]

CT3: A sufficiently enriched theoretical framework [level-1] with literature review

CT4: An appropriate research methods mapping performed

CT5: A skillful research methods application as informed by academic ideas from the level-1 theoretical framework

CT6: A clear justification of recommendations with a logical chain of evidence (as presented in various parts of your dissertation report).