CH03
CH03
THE RESEARCH PROCESS: THE BROAD PROBLEM AREA AND DEFINING THE PROBLEM STATEMENT
Instructional Goals
1. To clarify to the students that though the Research Process has distinct phases, some of the steps follow an
iterative, rather than a linear process. For example, the problem statement could be redefined after the
theoretical framework is conceptualized, after data analysis, and in fact, at any of the stages in the process.
2. To illustrate that identifying the Broad Problem Area sets the stage for focusing on literature search and
subsequently clearly defining the problem.
3. To emphasize that preliminary data collection through interviews offers a great opportunity to narrow down
the problem and identify the prospective variables influencing it.
4. To develop interviewing and problem identification skills in students.
5. To create a mindset in students of viewing a problem as a gap between desired and actual state of things in a
system, and a solution as narrowing this gap.
6. To encourage students to develop bibliographies by accessing available on-line data bases.
7. To require students to write a good literature review in the areas of their research interests and to make
them aware that most class term papers could use this type of introduction to enhance their value.
Discussion Questions
This research smacks of a totally unacceptable and unethical approach to the investigation.
© 2009 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
www.wileyeurope.com/college/sekaran 13
14. What is the problem statement in the following situation?
Employee Loyalty
Companies benefit through employee loyalty. Crude downsizing in organizations during the recession
crushed the loyalty of millions. The economic benefits of loyalty embrace lower recruitment and training
costs, higher productivity of workers, customer satisfaction, and boost the morale of fresh recruits. In order
that these benefits may not be lost, some companies, while downsizing, try various gimmicks. Flex leave, for
instance, is one. This helps employees receive 20% of their salary, plus employer-provided benefits while
they take a 6-12 month sabbatical, with a call option on their services. Others try alternatives like more
communication, hand-holding, and the like.
Problem statement. How can employee loyalty be maintained during periods of downsizing?
15. How would you define the problem in the following case?
Accounting Gets Radical
The GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) do an unacceptable job of accounting for the
principal activities of the Information Age companies. Today, investors are in the dark because the
accounting is irrelevant. The basic purpose of accounting is to provide useful information to help investors
make rational investment, credit, and similar decisions, but today’s most important assets and activities –
intellectual capital and knowledge work – are totally ignored. Professor Robert A. Howell wants to reform the
accounting system with the goal of making clear the measurement of how companies produce cash and
create value.
Problem Definition: What is the best way to improve the accounting system in the Information Age that
would furnish useful data and information to investors to make rational decisions?
Practice Projects