Chapter NO.
3
Defining and Refining the
Problem
THE BROAD PROBLEM AREA
A “problem” does not necessarily mean that something is seriously
wrong with a current situation that needs to be rectified immediately.
A problem could also indicate an interest in an issue where finding
the right answers might help to improve an existing situation.
Thus, it is fruitful to define a problem as any situation where a gap
exists between an actual and a desired ideal state.
Problems versus symptoms of
problems
Three important first steps in
the research process
Preliminary information gathering (or preliminary research) will help us
to make the necessary transformations.
Figure shows the three initial stages of the research process and
illustrates how we get from a broad management problem to a feasible
topic for research.
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH
Preliminary research should help the researcher to find answers to
questions such as:
“What is the problem?”;
“Why does the problem exist?”;
“Is the problem important?”; and
“What are the benefits of solving the problem?”
Although the exact nature of the information needed for this purpose
depends on the type of problem one is addressing, it may be broadly
classified under two headings:
Information on the organization and its environment – that is, the
contextual factors.
Information on the topic of interest.
Nature of information to be gathered
Background information on the
organization
Information gathered on relevant contextual factors will be useful in talking knowledgeably
with managers and other employees in the company and raising the appropriate issues
related to the problem.
Background information might include, among other things, the contextual factors listed
below, which may be obtained from various sources.
The origin and history of the company – when it came into being, business it is in, rate of
growth, ownership and control, and so on
Size in terms of employees, assets, or both
Charter – purpose and ideology
Location – regional, national, or other
Resources – human and others
Interdependent relationships with other institutions and the external environment
Financial position during the previous five to ten years, and relevant financial
data
Information on structural factors (for instance, roles and positions in the
organization and number of employees at each job level, communication
channels, control systems, workflow systems)
Information on the management philosophy
Secondary Data
Secondary data are data that have been collected by others for
another purpose than the purpose of the current study.
Some secondary sources of data are statistical bulletins, government
publications, published or unpublished information available from
either within or outside the organization, company websites, and the
Internet.
Primary Data
In some cases information is best obtained by other methods such as
interviewing people, observation, or by administering questionnaires
to individuals.
Such data that the researcher gathers first hand for the specific
purpose of the study are called primary data.
Four principal methods of primary data collection (interviews,
observation, administering questionnaires, and experiments)
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
STATEMENT
After gathering preliminary information, the researcher is in a position
to narrow down the problem from its original broad base and define
the issues of concern more clearly.
It is critical that the problem statement is unambiguous, specific, and
focused, and that the problem is addressed from a specific academic
perspective.
No amount of good research can find solutions to the situation if the
critical issue or the problem to be studied is not clearly pinpointed.
What makes a good problem
statement?
A good problem statement includes both a statement of the research
objective(s) and the research question(s).
A good problem statement is relevant but also feasible.
A problem statement is feasible if you are able to answer the
research questions within the restrictions of the research project.
From a managerial perspective, research is relevant if it relates to:
A problem that currently exists in an organizational setting or
An area that a manager believes needs to be improved in the organization.
From an academic perspective, research is relevant if:
Nothing is known about a topic,
Much is known about the topic, but the knowledge is scattered and not
integrated,
Much research on the topic is available, but the results are (partly)
contradictory, or
Established relationships do not hold in certain situations.
Basic Types of Questions:
Exploratory and Descriptive
Exploratory research questions
Exploratory research often relies on qualitative approaches to data
gathering such as informal discussions (with consumers, employees,
managers), interviews, focus groups, and/or case studies.
Descriptive research questions
The objective of a descriptive study is to obtain data that describes the
topic of interest.
Descriptive studies may help the researcher to:
Understand the characteristics of a group in a given situation (for instance
the profile of a specific segment in a market)
Offer ideas for further probing and research
Help make certain (simple) decisions (such as decisions related to the use
of specific communication channels depending on the customer profile,
opening hours, cost reductions, staff employment, and the like)
Causal research questions
. In a causal study, the researcher is interested in delineating one or
more factors that are causing a problem.
Typical examples of causal research questions are: “What is the effect of
a reward system on productivity?” and “How does perceived value affect
consumer purchase intentions?”
THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The research proposal drawn up by the investigator is the result of a
planned, organized, and careful effort, and basically contains the
following:
1. A working title
2. Background of the study
3. The problem statement:
1. The purpose of the study
2. Research questions
4. The scope of the study
The relevance of the study
The research design, offering details on:
Type of study – exploratory and descriptive
Data collection methods
The sampling design
Data analysis
Time frame of the study, including information on when the written
report will be handed over to the sponsors
The budget, detailing the costs with reference to specific items of
expenditure
Selected bibliography