Developing a Research Project

The first step in developing a business research project is to conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature and develop research questions. A literature review provides an in-depth and thorough knowledge base of the subject. The process of conducting a literature review occurs when the researcher evaluates and critically analyzes available literature on the chosen topic. Once the literature review is complete and research topic has been defined, the next step is developing appropriate research questions. 

Learning Objectives

• Understand the purpose and requirements of an effective literature review 
• Be able to read sources critically and place the information in the context of business research 
• Be able to effectively organize information for a literature review
• Be able to develop appropriate research questions

Defining the Research Problem

Research exists to solve a problem, answer a question, or advance knowledge of a specific topic. Within the context of business research, there are multiple topics to consider so narrowing down and defining the problem is important. According to Quinton and Smallbone (2006) a good research topic should meet the following criteria:

• The topic should contain a central business or management issue. 
• The topic should have underpinning in theory 
• The proposed study, when complete, should provide new insights into some aspect of business and management.  

Determining whether a proposed study adds new insights or adds to the body of knowledge is a central consideration in defining the research gap. As such, the research topic should be firmly tethered to previous studies and author recommendations for further research but should also provide new findings or additional insights. Purely academic research is oftentimes criticized for lacking practical applications. Therefore, it is important for business research to be rooted in theory but also provide useful insights and results. Birkinshaw, Lecuona, and Barwise (2016) explored the role of “bridging media” which are peer-reviewed journals including Sloan Management Review and Harvard Business Review. These types of journals are pivotal in business research as they include academic studies within the context of business available to practicing mangers and organizations. 

Conducting the Literature Review

A thorough review of the existing literature is the next step once the research problem has been defined. A literature review is oftentimes a separate section within a larger part of a research study and provides a foundation for the study. Additionally, a literature review can be a scholarly article dedicated to highlighting gaps and unresolved issues within the literature (Rocco & Hatcher, 2011). In both instances, a literature review is more in-depth and detailed than an annotated bibliography and provides a clear and concise view by synthesizing information from a variety of sources. As such, a well-constructed literature review develops new knowledge and insights through the synthesis of previous studies. The literature review can also provide possible insights into possible methodological approaches by analyzing previously conducted studies (Hart, 2001). 

Part of conducting an effective literature review is selecting the appropriate type of source or publication. As it relates to business research, it would be appropriate to select sources related to a specific topic such as management, leadership, accounting, or economics. The process of conducting a literature review includes evaluating the context of each source, understating the authors’ claims, and linking the claims to the research problem (Machi & McEvoy, 2016). Reviewing the literature oftentimes begins with a broad topic and ends with a narrow scope of the research problem. It is also important to critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each study as part of the literature review. 

Please consult the Research Ready certification on conducting a literature review for more details. 

Developing the Research Questions

The process of creating research questions generally starts with a general, broad topic that is eventually narrowed down to one or more specific research questions. It is important to note that one study cannot answer all possible research questions; therefore, it is essential the final research questions be connected to information found in the literature review to build on or challenge prior study results (Bell, Bryman, & Harley, 2018).  Research questions are phrased as a “what” “how” and “why” questions. Quantitative studies are typically numbers or statistics driven and answer “what” questions. Qualitative studies relate to human nature and are designed to answer “how” and “what” questions. 

Please consult the Research Ready certification on developing research questions for more details. 

Scenario: ABC Consulting

In this case of ABC Consulting, it is first necessary to explore the current data management software. Does it meet the current needs of the company? If not, what needs are not addressed? A review of the literature might include reviews of similar software packages and a look at their differences and similarities. This might lead to the following research questions to drive instruction:

What factors to employees most want in the new data management software?

How do employees utilize the data management software to meet the needs of their job?

For Further Study

Business Research Topics Harvard Business School: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/topics/

Business Research Topics: https://libguides.umflint.edu/topics/business

Writing The Literature Review Part 1: https://youtu.be/2IUZWZX4OGI

Writing The Literature Review Part 2: https://youtu.be/UoYpyY9n9YQ

Get Lit: The Literature Review: https://youtu.be/9la5ytz9MmM

Creating A Good Research Question: https://youtu.be/89NonP_iZZo

Writing Research Questions: https://youtu.be/OqJkMZXsbeY

Problem Statements and Research Questions: https://youtu.be/Z1yJEOtLsb8

Literature Reviews: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/literature-reviews/

Research Questions Hypothesis and Variables: https://youtu.be/_BmjujlZExQ

Research Ready: Writing A Literature Review:  

https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/research_ready/lit_reviews

Guidelines for Writing A Literature Review: 

http://www.duluth.umn.edu/~hrallis/guides/researching/litreview.html

References  

Bell, E., Bryman, A., & Hartley, B. (2018). Busines reseach methods. Oxford University Press.

Birkinshaw, J., Lecuona, R., & Barwise, P. (2016). The relevance gap in business school research: which academic papers are cited in managerial bridge journals? Academy of Management Learning & Education, 15(4), 686-702.

Brown, R. B. (2006). Doing your dissertation in business and management: the reality of researching and writing: Sage.

Hart, C. (2001). Doing a literature search: a comprehensive guide for the social sciences: Sage.

Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2016). The literature review: Six steps to success. Corwin Press.

Quinton, S., & Smallbone, T. (2006). Postgraduate research in business: a critical guide: Sage.

Rocco, T. S., & Hatcher, T. G. (2011). The handbook of scholarly writing and publishing: John Wiley & Sons.

Zikmund, W. G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C., & Griffin, M. (2013). Business research methods: Cengage Learning.