11/5/2020

Problem

 Problem: any situation where a gap exists

between an actual and a desired ideal
Defining and Refining the state.
Problem

Slide 3-1 Slide 3-2

The Broad Problem Area Symptoms versus Problems

 Examples of broad problem areas that a  The previous are broad areas of problems that
manager could observe at the workplace: need to be narrowed down to a feasible research
 Training programs are not as effective as topic.
anticipated.
 The sales volume of a product is not picking  It is important that symptoms of problems are not
up. defined as the real problem.
 Minority group members are not advancing in  One way of determining that the problem, rather
their careers. than the symptom, is being addressed is a
 The newly installed information system is not technique called ‘5 Whys’ or ‘5 times why’,
being used by the managers for whom it was
primarily designed.  This approach will help you to get to the root
 The introduction of flexible work hours has cause (the most basic cause) of a problem.
created more problems than it has solved in
many companies.
Slide 3-3 Slide 3-4

Symptoms versus Problems From Problem to Feasible Research

Topic
 Keep asking “Why?” until the most basic cause is  We need to transform the broad problem
arrived at. into a feasible topic for research by:
 Example: My best employees are leaving the
organization.
a) making it more specific and precise;
 Why? They are not satisfied with their jobs. b) setting clear boundaries;
 Why? They don’t find a challenge in their jobs. c) selecting a perspective from which we
 Why? They don’t have control over their work. investigate the subject
 Why? They don’t have enough influence over
planning, executing, and evaluating their
work.
 Preliminary research will help us to make
 Why? We have been reluctant to delegate. these transformations.
 What matters is that we investigate recurring problems
by addressing true causes and not symptoms of these
Slide 3-5 Slide 3-6

causes.

1
 11/5/2020

Preliminary Information
First Review of the Literature
Gathering

 Helps the researcher to:

 Nature of information to be gathered:  Structure research on work already
done
1. Information on the organization and its
 Develop problem statement with
environment – that is, the contextual precision and clarity
factors.
2. Information on the topic of interest.  Is beneficial in both basic and applied
research projects

Slide 3-7 Slide 3-8

A Good Problem Statement

What Makes a Good Problem Statement?
 Research objective: why of the research
 Research objective applied research:
 Good problem statement includes both:  to solve a specific problem in a work setting;
 The research objective  to change something.
 Research questions  Example:
 To determine factors that increase employee
commitment to the organization.
 Allows manager to increase commitment and
hence to decrease turnover, absenteeism and
increase performance levels.
Slide 3-9
Slide 3-10

Example of A Business Problem Translated

into Problem Statement Example of Research Objectives

CAA Airlines’ Delay Problem

The purpose of this study :
Problem: Frequent and long delays may 1. to identify the factors that influence the
translate into much frustration among passenger’s waiting experience
airline passengers, to switching behaviour, 2. to investigate the possible impact of
and to negative word-of-mouth waiting on customer satisfaction and
communication. These feelings and service evaluations.
behaviors eventually have negative effects
on the performance and the profitability of
the firm.
Slide 3-11 Slide 3-12

2
 11/5/2020

A Good Problem Statement A Good Problem Statement

 Research Questions:
 Drawing from prior research in the areas of
 What of the research (what do you want to learn?)
 Translates problem into a specific need for information. waiting, service evaluation, and mood theory,
 Are related to the objective(s). hypotheses are generated regarding the
 If objective is unclear we will not be able to formulate research relationships among :
questions.
 a delay,
 Example:
 What are the factors that affect the perceived waiting experience of
 the waiting experience,
airline passengers, and to what extent do these factors affect the  affect, and
perception of waiting times?  service evaluation.
 What are the affective consequences of waiting and how does affect  These hypothesized relationships are tested in
mediate the relationship between waiting and service evaluations?
 How do situational variables (such as filled time) influence customer a field setting involving delayed CAA airline
reactions to the waiting experience? passengers.
Slide 3-13 Slide 3-14

Three Key Criteria to assess the

Quality of A Problem Statement
Basic Types of Questions

 Relevant
 for the organization  Exploratory
 Feasible
 Descriptive
 you are able to answer the research
questions within the restrictions of the  Causal
research project.
 Interesting
 to you!

Slide 3-15 Slide 3-16

Basic Types of Questions Basic Types of Questions

 Descriptive questions:
 Exploratory questions:  Enable the researcher to describe the
 not much is known about the situation characteristics of the variables of interest in a
situation.
at hand, or no information is available  Example:
on how similar problems or research  What is the profile of the individuals who have
issues have been solved in the past. loan payments outstanding for 6 months and
 Example: more?
 A service provider wants to know why  The profile would include details of their average
age, earnings, nature of occupation, full-time/part-
his customers are switching to other time employment status, and the like. This might
service providers? help him to elicit further information or decide
right away on the types of individuals who should
Slide 3-17 Slide 3-18
be made ineligible for loans in the future.

3
 11/5/2020

Basic Types of Questions The Research Proposal

 Causal questions:
 Delineating one or more factors that are
causing a problem.  The research proposal drawn up by the
 The following conditions should be met: investigator is the result of a planned,
 The independent (X) and the dependent (Y) variables should
covary. organized, and careful effort.
 X (the presumed causal factor) should precede Y.
 No other factor should be a possible cause of the change in Y.
 A logical explanation (a theory) is needed and it must explain
why the X affects Y.
 Example:
 Will the sales of product Z increase if we
increase the advertising budget?
Slide 3-19 Slide 3-20

Research Proposal Contains Research Proposal Contains

(1) (2)
 The research design offering details on:
 Working title a. Type of study
 Background of the study b. Data collection methods
 The problem statement c. The sampling design.
- The purpose of the study d. Data analysis.
- Research questions  Time frame of the study
 The scope of the study  Budget
 The relevance of the study  Selected bibliography

Slide 3-21 Slide 3-22