Research Methods: A concise intruoduction to research in management and buiness consultancy

Research Methods Research Methods A concise introduction to research in management and business consultancy Second Edition By David Crowther, BA, MBA, MEd, PhD, DSocSc, DSc, PGCE, FCMA, CPFA, MCIM & Geoff Lancaster, MSc, PhD, FCIM, FLCC, MCMI, MCIPS AMSTERDAM ● BOSTON ● HEIDELBERG ● LONDON ● NEWYORK ● OXFORD ● PARIS ● SAN DIEGO ● SAN FRANCISCO ● SINGAPORE ● SYDNEY ● TOKYO Butterworth-Heinemann is an imprint of Elsevier Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK First published 2005 Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science & Technology Rights Department in Oxford, UK: phone (ϩ44) (0) 1865 843830; fax (ϩ44) (0) 1865 853333; email: permissions@elsevier com Alternatively you can submit your request online by visiting the Elsevier web site at http:// elsevier.com/locate/permissions, and selecting Obtaining permission to use Elsevier material Notice No responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress ISBN 978-0-7506-8953-3 For information on all Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann publications visit our website at http://books.elsevier.com Typeset by Charon Tec Ltd., A Macmillan Company (www.macmillansolutions.com) Printed and bound in Hungary 07 08 09 10 10 Contents About the Authors Acknowledgements ix xi Introduction 1.1 Background and major themes 1.2 Using this book 1.3 Chapter structure/studying each chapter 1.4 The research/consultancy project 1.5 Concluding comments 1 Managing Your Development as a Manager Learning outcomes 2.1 The importance of continued professional development for the manager 2.2 Approaches to professional development: self-development 2.3 Action learning: process and principles 2.4 Working with and learning from others 2.5 Planning a self-development program 2.6 Concluding comments 2.7 References 2.8 Glossary 10 10 Introduction to Research in Management Learning outcomes 3.1 The theoretical antecedents to management research: epistemological versus ontological orientations 3.2 Deductive versus inductive research 3.3 Nomothetic versus ideographic research 21 21 11 12 14 15 16 20 20 20 22 23 32 vi Contents 3.4 Problems and issues in management consultancy-type research 3.5 Concluding comments 3.6 References 3.7 Glossary Management Consultancy and Research Learning outcomes 4.1 The consultant and consultancy: development and meaning 4.2 Why organizations use consultants: advantages and contributions 4.3 Disadvantages and limitations of management consultants 4.4 Management consultancy: types, roles, and activities 4.5 Internal versus external consultants 4.6 Developments in management consultancy approaches and techniques 4.7 Professional and ethical issues in management consultancy and research 4.8 Concluding comments 4.9 References 4.10 Glossary 36 39 39 40 42 42 43 44 46 48 53 54 55 56 56 57 58 58 59 The Consultancy Research Process Learning outcomes 5.1 Management consultancy and research: an overview 5.2 Initiating the consultancy/research process: meeting/identifying the client 5.3 The consultancy research project/topic 5.4 Planning and agreeing the consultancy/research brief 5.5 Designing and agreeing the research plan 5.6 Completing the consultancy cycle 5.7 Concluding comments 5.8 References 5.9 Glossary 59 63 67 68 69 70 70 71 An Overview of Data Collection: Approaches, Methods, and Techniques Learning outcomes 6.1 Data, information, and decisions 6.2 Types of data 6.3 Methods of data collection 6.4 Issues in data collection 6.5 Choosing between data collection methods 6.6 Concluding comments 72 72 73 74 77 78 82 85 Contents 6.7 6.8 References Glossary Data Collection: Secondary Data Learning outcomes 7.1 Secondary data: meaning and scope 7.2 Planning secondary data collection 7.3 Internal secondary data 7.4 External secondary data 7.5 Criteria for evaluating secondary data 7.6 Concluding comments 7.7 References 7.8 Glossary Data Collection: Observational Research Learning outcomes 8.1 The nature and purpose of observational research 8.2 Observation approaches and techniques 8.3 Planning and implementing observational research 8.4 Other issues in observational research 8.5 Concluding comments 8.6 References 8.7 Glossary Data Collection: Experimental, Quasi-experimental, and Action Research Learning outcomes 9.1 The nature and purpose of experimentation: classical experimentation 9.2 Structuring experimental research design: key steps 9.3 Quasi-experimentation 9.4 Action research 9.5 Concluding comments 9.6 References 9.7 Glossary 10 Data Collection: Asking Questions Learning outcomes 10.1 Ethics in research 10.2 Questioning as a means of data collection 10.3 Interviews 10.4 Questionnaires, surveys, and samples 10.5 Surveys 10.6 Concluding comments 10.7 References 10.8 Glossary vii 86 87 88 88 89 91 95 97 102 104 104 105 107 107 108 110 116 119 121 121 122 123 123 124 128 132 134 137 138 139 140 140 141 143 146 151 160 165 166 167 viii Contents 11 Analyzing Data: Nature and Purpose Learning outcomes 11.1 Using and building models 11.2 Modeling through equations 11.3 Building models 11.4 Analysis: nature and roles 11.5 The purpose of analysis 11.6 Quantitative versus qualitative data analysis 11.7 Concluding comments 11.8 References 11.9 Glossary 168 168 169 170 172 173 176 177 180 181 181 12 Analyzing Qualitative Data Learning outcomes 12.1 Qualitative analysis 12.2 Semiotics 12.3 Dialectics: an alternative form of argument 12.4 Steps in analyzing qualitative data 12.5 Issues in and approaches to analyzing qualitative data 12.6 Concluding comments 12.7 References 12.8 Glossary 182 182 183 188 192 194 196 197 198 199 13 Actioning Research Learning outcomes 13.1 Interpreting and diagnosing research findings, making recommendations and taking decisions 13.2 Designing the implementation and action plans 13.3 Implementation and follow up 13.4 Control and evaluation: disengagement 13.5 Concluding Comments 13.6 References 13.7 Glossary 200 200 Appendix I: Appendix II: Appendix III: Appendix IV: 211 219 227 Appendix V: Appendix VI: Appendix VII: Index Activity Solutions Bibliography Introduction to Management Research Internet Gateways, Research and Databases, Search Engines and Directories for Social Science Researchers Amalgamated Glossary Referencing and Advice on Presentation Resources for Methods in Evaluation and Social Research 201 204 204 206 208 209 210 234 236 241 287 289 About the Authors Professor David Crowther BA, MBA, MEd, PhD, DSocSc, DSc, PGCE, FCMA, CPFA, MCIM Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, UK; Visiting Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility, Yildiz Technical University, Turkey; Visiting Professor and Partner of Knowledge Globalization Institute, Suffolk University, USA; Visiting Professor, Zagreb School of Economics & Management, Croatia; Editor, Social Responsibility Journal; Chair, Social Responsibility Research Network Professor Geoff Lancaster MSc, PhD, FCIM, FLCC, MSc, PhD, FCIM, FLCC, MCMI, MCIPS Dean of Academic Studies, London School of Commerce, Chaucer House, White Hart Yard, London SE1 1NX and Chairman, Durham Associates Group Ltd, Castle Eden Co Durham TS27 4SS Acknowledgements We are grateful to the following for permission to use their material: Richard Charlesworth and Peter Morley, London Metropolitan University, part of Chapter 10 ‘Questionnaire Design’ and ‘Samples and Populations’ John Colby, University of Central England, Appendix VI, ‘Referencing and advice on presentation’ http://essential.sci.uce.ac.uk/ Andy Hollyhead, University of Central England, Appendix VI, ‘Notes on conclusions, executive summaries and abstracts’