Research Methods - Mar 2013

What is the purpose of reviewing the literature in relation to influencing the approach to an MBA project and its reporting
What Is a Literature Review ? A survey of scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations, conference proceedings) relevant to a particular area of research, summary and critical evaluation thereof is usually undertaken as a normal part of developing a dissertation, thesis or MBA project. A more formal definition of a literature review is offered by Hart (1998) as the selection of available documents (both published and unpublished) on the topic, which contain information, ideas, data and evidence written from a particular standpoint to fulfill certain aims or express certain views on the nature of the topic and how it is to be investigated, and the effective evaluation of these documents in relation to the research being proposed A Literature Review Provides For A Broad Understanding Of The Field Of Research A thorough literature review provides a demonstration of the researchers knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and represents the first step in formulating a research objective for an MBA project. As such the review process cannot be limited to purely a summary of the material and must include the synthesis and critical evaluation of multiple sources of information. Conversely a poorly conducted literature review which lacks critical thinking and is merely a listed summary of material will ultimately undermine a piece of research regardless of the quality of the primary research itself. This has serious implications for MBA students when developing an MBA Project as Randolph (2004) argues that flawed literature review will likely cause the remainder of the dissertation may also be viewed as flawed. This is in turn supported by the claim of Boote & Beil (2005) that a researcher cannot perform significant research without first understanding the literature in the field where the inversion of this statement could be interpreted as the lack of evidence of an appropriate understanding of literature implies a poorly developed piece of research A Literature Review Supports the Identification Of Gaps In Existing Body Of Knowledge The next step after performing a survey of the available body of knowledge in a particular field is to identify the areas that warrant further investigation. In any field of study, there would be areas that are already well established where a comprehensive literature review helps to avoid the unnecessary duplication of past research. Webster and Watson (2002) posit that an effective literature review creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. It facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers areas where research is needed (p.13)

In relation to development of the approach to an MBA project, a literature review helps to define a virtual map of the existing landscape of available information. When this map is clearly defined it should identify the well established areas of study, areas where there are conflicting views or research topics that constitute uncharted territory. The use of this map allows an author of an MBA project to position his or her piece of research within the appropriate scholarly context. This is not merely a useful analogy but methods have been developed (Carnot 2006) that support the process of concept mapping A Literature Review Provides A Theoretical Framework & Basis For The Research Methodology In addition, a literature review will provide the researcher with the knowledge of the terminologies, existing frameworks and research methodologies that have been applied elsewhere which can serve as the theoretical foundation for the MBA project. It is often the case that most research topics would already have been explored by others. Therefore a literature review should cover not only the salient points and insights from other researchers but also the research methodologies applied by them and frameworks, style and presentation used to discuss and report out the findings. By building on existing theoretical frameworks and research methodologies as a valid point of reference or adopting similar frameworks for the presentation and reporting of the outcomes, the MBA project author will find it much easier to relate any new findings to previous findings. As Randolph (2004 p.2) suggests Without establishing the state of the previous research, it is impossible to establish how the new research advances the previ ous research A Literature Review Supports The Development Of The MBA Project Authors Own Voice(s) As literature review should encompass more than just a summation of the findings of others, a researcher would necessarily have to apply some form of judgment in critiquing the strengths and limitations of each piece of work reviewed. Therefore a literature review serves as one of the initial inputs to the formation of the researchers own personal perspectives, theoretical standing on the topic of study and development of a research objective. This voice naturally develops when a researcher comments upon the work of others within the field of study and is important as a consistency in style and personal (research) perspective will provide a sound narrative to integrate the reporting of findings and discussion thereof within the MBA project report. In Conclusion In conclusion, a literature review process allows a researcher to broadly understand his or her field of research, identify gaps in the existing body of knowledge in order to develop a more focused research objective that is grounded in existing frameworks and leveraged against best practice research methodologies that others have applied whilst forming a professional or scholarly opinion that will tie into the narrative of the MBA project report.

It is not just a discrete step within the development of a MBA project report as Randoph (2004 p.5) suggests that the literature review itself is often an iterative process that is lock step with the refinement of the MBA Project objectives. Levy, Yair & Ellis (2006) go a step further where they suggest that the literature review is a constantly growing and changing organic system that is never complete until a study itself is finished as any changes in methodology or uncovering of conflicting literature will require further research. However in the process of refining and narrowing the focus of the literature review, the boundaries of what the MBA project objective is and sometimes perhaps more importantly, is not, will ultimately be made clearer which consequently should improve upon the quality of the research itself. [1032 vs Target 1000 Words] References : Carnot, M. J. (2006). Using concept maps to organize information for large scale literature reviews and technical reports: two case studies. Concept Maps: Theory, Methodology, Technology Proc. of the Second Int. Conference on Concept Mapping, A. J. Caas, J. D. Novak, Eds., San Jos, Costa Rica, 2006.

Boote, D. N., & Beile, P. (2005). Scholars before researchers: On the centrality of the dissertation literature review in research preparation. Educational Researcher, 34(6), 3-15

Hart, C. (1998). Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science research imagination. London: Sage pp 13

Levy, Yair, and Timothy J. Ellis. "A systems approach to conduct an effective literature review in support of information systems research." Informing Science: International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline 9 (2006): 181-212.

Randolph, Justus (2009). A Guide to Writing the Dissertation Literature Review. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14(13). Available online: http://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?v=14&n=13.

Webster, J., & Watson, R. T. (2002). Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: Writing a literature review. MIS Quarterly, 26(2), 13-23

Bibiolography Rowley, J. and Slack, F. (2004), Conducting a Literature Review, Management Research News 27(4), pp. 31-39 Mullins, G., & Kiley, M. (2002). Its a PhD, not a Nobel Prize: How experienced examiners assess research theses. Studies in Higher Education, 27(4), 369-386