The research significance of linkages in theoretical framework level-0 in the agile literature review approach

The research significance of linkages in theoretical framework level-0 in the agile literature review approach:

A theoretical framework level-0 is made up of a set of high-level research tasks with linkages among them. What exactly does a linkage in theoretical framework level-O indicates? Take an example with two item research tasks:

[to evaluate the managerial competence of ABC Ltd] ---> [to evaluate the staff morale of ABC Ltd]

[item research task 1]  ---->                   [item research task 2]

In this example, the linkage expresses the high-level research task of [to evaluate how ABC Ltd's managerial competence influences its staff morale]. 

This is then a linkage research task (item research task 1 to item research task 2).

With this clarification, one can estimate roughly the proportion of research efforts on all the research tasks [i.e., item research tasks and linkage research tasks] as follows:

Research tasks (both item research tasks and linkage research tasks)	Dissertation research efforts (primarily research methods + literature review + finding analysis coverage)
I. All of the core-focus-domain research tasks	40%
II. All of the research tasks outside the core-focus-domain	60%

Note: there are normally 2 research tasks in the core-focus-domain (I), with each task taking up (40%/2 = 20%) of the dissertation research efforts; as to the non-core-focus-domain (II), the number of item research tasks can easily reach 6 items; when linkage research tasks are included (e.g., 9 linkage research tasks), the total research tasks here will add up to 15 [6 + 9] items. In this case, the research effort on each item would be about 60%/15 = 4%.

 

Holistic thinking on management-concerns diagrams and theoretical frameworks naturally leads to the recognition of (i) linkages in these diagrams and frameworks and (ii) the systemic nature of these diagrams and frameworks. In this regard, the linkages in theoretical framework research significance for the agile literature review approach (ALRA) practice. This blog note provides some clarification on the implications of these linkages on ALRA practice.

Note: also study a related article on extended item research task.