The notion of research game plan in the Agile Literature Review Approach: a note

This note is on the notion of research game plan in the Agile Literature Review Approach (ALRA). As we know, research strategies (re: the onion model), such as case study research and ethnographic research, comprise a number of research methods, e.g. observation, interview and questionnaire survey, etc.. A specific research project, e.g., one on applied business research for a specific client organization with a specific set of research objectives, involves a tailor-made research strategy as formulated by the researcher. In the Agile Literature Review Approach, such a tailor-made research strategy is called a research game plan. The research game plan is portrayed with two views:

View 1. A research methods mapping view. Diagram 1 is illustrative on this view:

Diagram 1: a research methods mapping view

View 2. A flowchart view. Diagram 2 illustrates this view

Diagram 2: a flowchart view

The relationship between the two research game plan views are shown in Diagram 3 as follows:

Diagram 3: the relationship between the two research game plan views

The two views of a research game plan are to be explained in the chapter on research methods in a dissertation report that involves the ALRA. 

Lastly, it is useful to discuss which part of your research game plan has adopted what kind of principles from which research strategies, e.g., case study research, ethnographic research, grounded theory and action research, etc.., and why. Doing so sheds lights on the underlying nature, research philosophies and aims of your research game plan. This in turn, enables readers to better comprehend the methodological essence of your research game plan.