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PART 2

RESEARCH ISSUES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS

MAJOR RESEARCH ISSUES MINOR RESEARCH ISSUES

THE RESEARCH QUESTION

RESEARCH PROBLEM THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING PROBLEMS SIGNIFICANCE

DESCRIPTION AND STATEMENT

PROBLEM ANALYSIS PROCEDURES

EVALUATION OF A PROBLEM- PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

COMMON MISTAKES IN PROBLEM FORMULATION

ORGANIZATION OF CHAPTER ONE

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IDENTIFICATION OF

RESEARCH ISSUE/QUESTIONS

FOPRMULATION OF

RESEARCH PROBLEMS

REVIEW OF

RELATED

LITERATURE

CLARIFICATION

OF CONCEPTS

IDENTIFICATION

OF VARIABLES

STATEMENT OFHYPOTHESIS

1 23

4

SELECTION OF

RESEARCH

DESIGN

EXPLORATORY

DESCRIPTIVE

CAUSAL

SURVEYS

CASE STUDIES

LABORATORY

EXPERIMENTS

FIELD

EXPERIMENTS

SELECTION OF

DATA COLLECTION

TECHNIQUES

PRIMARY

DATA

SECONDARY

DATA

OBSERVATION

DIRECT

COMMUNICATION

PARTICIPANT

NON-PARTICIPANT

QUESTIONNAIRES

INTERVIEWS

PROJECTIVE

5

6

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Research Issue

Research Question

Research Problem

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HOW DO I FIND THE

RESEARCH ISSUE?

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THE RESEARCH ISSUE

How do I find the Research Issue?

1. Experience2. Listening and talking with

professionals and experts in subject

area

3. Literature Review

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LOOKING FOR RESEARCH

ISSUES?

YOU MIGHT FOCUS ON THETRENDS, UNRESOLVED

PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS IN

ANY OF THE FOLLOWINGAREAS.

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TWO LEVELS OF RESEARCH

ISSUES

MACRO LEVEL

Issues in the General Environment

MICRO LEVEL

Issues in the Industry Specific Environment

Issues in the Organizations Specific

Environment

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MACRO LEVEL - GENERAL ENVIRONMENT

1. SOCIOCULTURAL ISSUES -DIMENSION

- Education level, quality

- Lifestyle change, rate of socialchange, family values

- Psychographic customer

behaviour, preferences, attitude andperceptions

- Demographic trends

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2. POLITICAL ISSUES - DIMENSION

- Law & Regulations

Jurisdiction, Legislative, Administrative(Impact, Revision and Constituency)

- Lobbying/Legislative Influence

Jurisdiction, Legislative, Administrative

(Impact, Revision and Constituency)

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3. ECONOMIC ISSUES - DIMENSION

- GNP, GDP Trends- Fiscal Policies Government spending,

decisions

- Monetary Policies Federal Reservesystem

-Labour Unemployment, shifts, labourpool, demand and supply

- Trade Exchange of Goods andServices, tariffs, agreements

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4. TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES - DIMENSION

- Products Production, packaging, distribution,sanitation, safety

- Machinery/Equipment- Cost effectiveness,innovations, automation, industry needs,energy conservation, maintenance, safety

- Computer/Electronics

- Energy Utilities, water usage

- Facilities/Construction - Design and Layout,ergonomics

- Communications

- Transportation/Logistics/DistributionEffective allocation.

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5. ECOLOGICAL ISSUES - DIMENSION

Concerns with maintenance and

Conservation of:

- Land: - solid waste, chemical dumping,

pollution- Sea/Water: - solid waste, chemical

dumping, pollution

- Environment/Air: - solid waste, chemical

dumping, pollution

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MICRO LEVEL

1. INDUSTRY SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTISSUES

EG. SERVICE INDUSTRY BANKING,HOTEL

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY -

FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRYAGRICULTURAL AND FISHING

MINING

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2. ORGANIZATIONS SPECIFIC

ENVIRONMENT ISSUES

- FINANCE/ACCOUNTING

- MARKETING

- OPERATIONS

- HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

- ADMINISTRATION/MANAGEMENT

- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION LEVEL - INDICATORS

COMMONLY USED FINANCIAL MEASURES -

Total assets

Total assets per employee

Profit as a % of total assets

Return on net assets

Return on total assets

Revenue/total assets

Gross marginNet income

Profit as a % of sales

Profit per employee

Revenue

Revenue from new products

Revenue per employee

Return on equity (ROE)

Return on capital employed (ROCE)

Return on investment (ROI)

Economic value added (EVA)

Market value added (MVA)

Value added per employee

Compound growth rate

Dividends

Market value

Share price

Shareholder mix

Shareholder loyaltyCash flow

Total costs

Credit rating

Debt

Debt to equity

Times interest earned

Days sales in receivables

Accounts receivable turnover

Days in payables

Days in inventory

Inventory turnover ratio

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ORGANIZATION LEVEL - INDICATORS

A SAMPLE OF CUSTOMER MEASURES

Customer satisfaction

Customer loyaltyMarket share

Customer complaints

Complaints resolved on first contact

Return rates

Response time per customer request

Direct price

Price relative to competition

Total cost to customer

Average duration of customer

relationship

Customers lostCustomer retention

Customer acquisition rates

Percentage of revenue from new

customers

Number of customers

Annual sales per customer

Win rate (sales closed/sales contacts)

Customer visits to the companyHours spent with customers

Marketing costs as a percentage of sales

Number of ads placed

Number of proposals made

Brand recognition

Response rate

Number of trade shows attended

Sales volume

Share of target customer spending

Sales per channel

Average customer sizeCustomers per employees

Customer service expense per customers

Customer profitability

Frequency (number of sales transactions)

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ORGANIZATION LEVEL - INDICATORSSUPPLY-CHAIN PROCESS MEASUREMENTS

TIME:

On-time delivery receipts

Order cycle time

Order cycle time variability

Response time

Forecasting/Planning cycle time

Planning cycle time variability

QUALITY:Overall customer satisfaction

Processing accuracy

Perfect order fulfillment

- On-time delivery

- Complete order

- Accurate product selection

- Damage-free

- Accurate invoice

Forecast accuracy

Planning accuracy

Schedule adherence

COST:

Finished goods inventory turns

Days sales outstanding

Cost to serve

Cash to cash cycle time

Total delivered costs

- Cost of goods

- Transportation costs

- Inventory carrying costs- Material handling costs

- All other costs

- Information systems

- Administrative

Cost of excess capacity

Cost of capacity shortfall

OTHER/SUPPORTING

Approval exceptions to standard

- Minimum order quantity

- Change order timing

Availability of information

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ORGANIZATION LEVEL - INDICATORS

INTERNAL PROCESS MEASURES

Average cost per transaction

On-time delivery

Average lead time

Inventory turnover

Environmental emissions

R&D expense

Community involvement

Patents pending

Average age of patents

Ratio of new products to total

offerings

Stockouts

Labour utilization rates

Response time to customer

requests

Defect percentage

Rework

Customer database availability

Breakeven time

Cycle time improvement

Continuous improvement

Warranty claims

Lead user identification

Products/services in the pipeline

Internal rate of return on new

projects

Waste reduction

Space utilization

Frequency of returned purchases

Downtime

Planning accuracy

Time to market of new

products/services

New products introduced

Number of positive media stories

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ORGANIZATION LEVEL - INDICATORS

EMPLOYEE LEARNING AND GROWTH MEASURES

Employee participation in professional or

trade associations

Training investment per customer

Average years of service

Percentage of employees with advanced

degrees

Number of cross-trained employees

Absenteeism

Turnover rate

Employee suggestions

Employee satisfaction

Participation in stock ownership plans

Lost time accidents

Value added per employee

Motivation index

Outstanding number of applications for

employment

Empowerment index (number of

managers)

Quality of work environment

Internal communication rating

Employee productivity

Health promotions

Training hours

Competency coverage ratio

Personal goal achievementTimely completion of performance

appraisals

Leadership development

Communication planning

Reportable accidents

Percentage of employees with

computers

Strategic information ratio

Cross-functional assignments

Knowledge management

Ethics violationsDiversity rates

ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL ISSUES

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ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL ISSUES:

1. STRATEGIC LEVEL

Long-term plans and policies that determine orchange the character of an organization

a. Policy Research

Analysis of overall organizations situationwith a view of formulating major policy

proposals and establishing their priorities.

Measures: Critical elements of economic,sociocultural political, technological and ecological

changes having potential impact on the organization.

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b. Evaluation Research

Formal, objective Measurement

on the extent to which given

action, activity or program has

achieved its objectives.

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2. MANAGERIAL LEVEL

Those actions associated with ongoing

management of the organization whichare carried on within the limits of theobjectives and policies defined at thestrategic level.

a. Managerial Research

Research related to a specific problem of

limited scope in which management hasthe need of additional information onwhich to base a decision.

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b. Action Research

Continuous gathering and analysis

of research data and relying of the

findings into the organization for

the purpose of improving the

organizations functions.

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c. Technical Research

Specific transactions involved in carrying out the

tasks required to achieve a variety of objectivesdefined at the managerial level.

d. Operational ResearchA range of quantitative/analytical techniques

designed to formulate and test decision rules

which will permit management to optimize therelations between inputs and outputs of a given

operational procedure.

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WHAT IS THE RESEARCH

QUESTION?

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THE RESEARCH QUESTION

- Narrows the research issue

- Identifies the concern addressed by the

research project

- Should relate to aspects of the industry

that you are strongly concerned with.

- End result should contribute to the

industry.

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- Question may be in the form of a hypotheses

that certain relationships exist among variables,or it may be of an exploratory nature,

essentially asking What is the relationship

among variables.

- It may begin in a closely formulated form, but

must eventually be stated such that a testablehypothesis or model is generated.

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WHAT IS THE RESEARCH

PROBLEM?

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THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

- Rewording of the research question into a

statement form.

- It is a statement concerning the relationships

existing between Variables (sets of events),

and research is conducted to find answers to

the research questions.

- Helps to identify key words and phrases to

assist in the literature review.

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The first question that is always asked is

How Do I find a Research Problem

There are no set rules for locating a research

problem, but the 3 major sources are:

1. Deduction from theory

2. Experience3. Related Literature

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FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

The formulation of a research problem isoften far more essential than its solution.

To raise new questions, new possibilities,

or to regard old problems from a newangle, requires creative imagination and

marks rela advances in knowledge.

Einstein and Infeld (1938)

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Carrying out a research

investigation requires carefulplanning. Central to a research

investigation is a clear-cut

statement of the research problem.

A question well-stated is a question

half-answered

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CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING A RESEARCH

PROBLEMS SIGNIFICANCE

1. The problem should be one whose solutionwill make a contribution to the body oforganized knowledge in the field of interest.

2. The problem should be one that will lead tonew problems and to further research

3. The problem must be one that isresearchable

4. The problem must be suitable for theparticular researcher

5. Select a problem that is specific, simple and

clear.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE STATEMENT OF THE

RESEARCH PROBLEM

1. State of basic difficulty or problem situation -

significance and importance of the problem area.

2. Careful analysis of known and suspected facts, andexplanation of existing information and knowledge

that may have some bearing on problem.

3. Soundness of the logic underlying selection ofvariables or factors to be studied and expression of

their relationship to the problem area.

4. Systematic and orderly presentation of theinterrelationships of relevant facts and conceptsunderlying the problem.

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5. Clear identification of the problem statement through useof appropriate heading or paragraph caption.

6. Succinct, precise, and unambiguous statement of theresearch problem (including the delineation ofindependent, dependent, and other variables), of themajor questions to be resolved, or of the objectives to be

investigated.

7. Distinction (if any) between the problems or questionsthat are either factually oriented or value oriented.

Sufficient delimitation of the problem area - narrowing ofthe scope without becoming concerned with a trivialproblem.

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PROBLEM ANALYSIS PROCEDURES

1. Select a problem that engages your attention andbegs for a solution

2. Accumulate the facts that might be related to theproblem.

3. Settle by observation whether the facts are relevant

4. Trace any relationships between facts that mightreveal the key to the difficulty.

5. Propose various explanations (hypotheses) for the

cause of the difficulty.

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6. Ascertain through observation and analysis

whether they are relevant to the problem.

7. Trace the relationships between explanations

that may give an insight into the problem

solution.

8. Trace the relationships between facts and

explanations.

9. Questions assumptions underlying the analysis

of the problem.

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EVALUATION OF A PROBLEM

PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Is the problem in line with my goal expectations and the expectations ofothers.

2. Am I genuinely interested in this problem, but free from strong biases?

3. Do I posses or can I acquire the necessary skills, abilities, and

background knowledge to study this problem?4. Do I have access to the tools, equipment, laboratories, and subjects

necessary to conduct the investigation?

5. Do I have the time and money to complete it?

6. Can I obtain the adequate data?

7. Does the problem meet the scope, significance, and topicalrequirements of the institution or periodical to which I will submit myreport?

8. Can I obtain administrative support, guidance, and cooperation for theconduct of the study?

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SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Will the solution of this problem advance knowledge in the field

appreciably?2. Will the findings be of practical value to educators, parents, social

workers or others?

3. What will be the breadth of the application of the findings in terms of

range of individuals, years of applicability, and areas of coverage?

4. Will the investigation duplicate the work that has been or is being doneadequately by someone else?

5. If this topic has been covered, does it need to be extended beyond its

present limits?

6. Is the topic sufficiently delimited to permit an exhaustive treatment yet

sufficiently significant to warrant investigating it?

7. Will the conclusions of the study be of doubtful value because the tools

and techniques available to conduct the inquiry are not adequately

refined and sufficiently reliable?

8. Will the study lead to the development of other investigations?

SOME COMMON MISTAKES IN PROBLEM

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SOME COMMON MISTAKES IN PROBLEM

FORMULATION

1. Collecting data without a well-defined plan or purpose,

hoping to make some sense out of it afterward.

2. Taking a batch of data that already exists and attemptingto fit meaningful research questions to it.

3. Defining objectives in such general or ambiguous terms thatyour interpretations and conclusions will be arbitrary andinvalid.

4. Undertaking a research project without reviewing theexisting literature on the subject.

5. Ad hoc research, unique to a given situation, permitting nogeneralization beyond the situation itself and making no

contribution to the general body of research.

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6. Failure to base research on a sound theoretical orconceptual framework, which would tie together thedivergent masses of research into a systematic and

comparative scheme, providing feedback and evaluation fortheory.

7. Failure to make explicit and clear the underlyingassumptions within your research so that it can be

evaluated in terms of these foundations.

8. Failure to recognize the limitations in your approach,implied or explicit, that place restrictions on the conclusions

and how they apply to other situations.

9. Failure to anticipate alternative rival hypotheses that wouldalso account for a given set of findings and which challengethe interpretations and conclusions reached by theinvestigator.

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CHAPTER ONE

THE PROBLEM

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IMPORTANCE OF CHAPTER ONE

- Determines how the rest of the research

project will be written and presented.

- Similar to the frame of a building:

It determines the size and shape of each

room (Similarly, the research objectives,

research questions, research problems,

and the hypotheses determine the sizeand shape of the research project).

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COMPONENTS OF CHAPTER ONE

TITLE PAGE

1.0 INTRODUCTION RESEARCH ISSUES:

background of the problem trends related to theissues, unresolved issues, social concerns.

1.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:

Goal oriented: emphasizing practical outcome.

1.2 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY:

Contributions of the study, suggestions on improvingthe given situation/issues

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

Delineation of the issues into several questions,questions to be answered or objectives to beinvestigated.

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1.4 RESEARCH PROBLEMS:

Statement of the problem situations, basic difficulty/area of concern orfelt needs, delineation of the research questions.

1.5 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESES:Explication of relationships among variables or comparisons to beconsidered, direction of relationships.

1.6 THEORETICAL UNDERPINNING:

Background/foundations of the study/academic discipline(s) upon whichthe study/enquiry is built.

1.7 STUDY FRAMEWORK:

Rationale and theoretical framework, conceptual or substantiveassumptions indicating relationships among variables, definition of

terms, variables Operationalization.

1.8 SUMMARY:

Outline of the remainder of the research proposal.

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ASSIGNMENT 1:

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THERESEARCH TITLE

2. IDENTIFICATION OF THERESEARCH ISSUE

3. IDENTIFICATION OF THERESEARCH QUESTIONS