Research proposal and Literature review
Required to think of an interesting business-research idea and develop this idea into a formal, clearly articulated research question - a problem-statement. This question will be used as the organising framework for a critical literature review of previous academic research in the area.
Assignment 2 has two related stages. The first is to convert your idea into a researchable question using the techniques taught in the first two weeks of the unit. The second is to write a critical literature review using the methods taught in week 3 of the unit.
The overall objective is to produce a formal research question and set of research objectives based on a rigorous assessment of the available evidence on the topic. This will be the basis for your development of the project report in Assignment 3.
You are encouraged to discuss your research idea(s) with your lecturer and fellow students in the workshops/tutorials as well as study the materials for the first three weeks of the unit carefully. You will start with a general research idea and, as you go through the literature review, you will modify and hone your question into a clear and concise statement that could form the basis of a research design.
The instructions below lay out the basic requirements of the task.
• Prepare a research proposal that addresses the following criteria:
• Background (250 words) - provide a brief overview describing the industry-related research situation relevant to the research idea you would like to develop.
• Significance (250 words) - explain the significance and need for this research from the perspective of the business or organisation.
• Scope (150 words) - explain the geographical, temporal and demographic scope of the proposed research.
• Problem statement and objectives (150 words) - determine a clear and concise problem statement and two research objectives that relate to your research proposal.
• Prepare a literature review that critically evaluates five (5) references from the academic literature (books and/or academic journal articles) relevant to your research idea (1000 words).
• Provide a reference list (Harvard - see Summers and Smith (2006) Referencing Guide for academic literature sources you use to justify your final research proposal.
• Note: This is a hypothetical exercise only that is designed to give you opportunity to learn, in a small but practical situation, about the research process and its place within business management decision making. Under no circumstances are you to approach any employee of any business or organisation for assistance with this assignment or Assignment 3.