PMP module book final.pdf - Blackboard - University of Leicester

PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT
Keeping an Open Mind about Findings, Methods and Data Analysis
Although as we have said above it is crucial that you choose a topic and question/s
that interest you, so you can keep your interest and motivation going, it is also very
important that you do not pre-judge your findings, or allow your interest or expertise
in a particular method or approach to analysing data to influence the research question
that you select. First you need to keep an open mind about what the answer to your
research question/s might be, because otherwise your preconceptions will mean you
are likely to ignore important data or to misinterpret the data that you do gather.
Second, research methods and data analysis techniques should be chosen to fit the
research topic, not the other way around.
Using the Subject-Specific Literature
Once you have decided on a topic area, it is a good idea to look at the subjectspecific
literature for suggestions for future research. As Section 2 establishes, this
material may actually outline questions which still need to be answered about the
relevant topic. A critical review of the literature also allows you to spot gaps and
weaknesses. We have mentioned the idea of making a contribution several times
already in this module book, and a discerning scan of the literature allows you to see
where you might be able to add something new by looking at something that hasn’t
been studied before, by using an unusual method, by gathering data from a different
kind of sample or by bringing together and/or evaluating literature in a novel way.
It also allows you to ensure your research question is of contemporary relevance –
something in which today’s management academics and managers themselves will
be interested (as already discussed in Section 1).
Ensuring ‘Real World Value’
Again we have alluded to this issue in Section 1. ‘Real world value’ is Robson’s
(2002:56) term – he adapts it from Campbell et al. They refer to successful management
research having relevance or usefulness to managers, to its potential to address
specific organisational problems or improve organisational processes or procedures.
Not only does this mean that the research has a use beyond adding to academic
knowledge but it might also give something back to the organisation/s where you are
doing the research, and/or which is sponsoring you. It might also make access easier
if you can promise some kind of report which will make specific recommendations
for organisational improvements (more on this in Section 6). But do remember that
you are not acting as a consultant or aiming to produce a management report: your
project must address issues of academic significance and be written according to
academic protocol, as (once more) we established in Section 1.
Brainstorm It
Again this is something that we discussed in Foundations of Management, but
brainstorming can also be used to come up with research questions. Gill and Johnson
(2002:19) give a useful example around the topic of managerial stress. Remember
you can brainstorm with others or alone. The process is to write down any questions
SChOOL OF MANAGEMENT 27