Abstract
I must pay glowing tribute to the work of Burian et al (2010) as far as the abstract of this research is concerned. This is because I drew a lot of inspiration from the said authors in matters to with the methodology I used.
Thus, in adopting the specific methodology of Burian et al, I chose in principle to align research questions to the research design. The specific point of my evaluation of the methodology is in application in the cases of Riordan Manufacturing, Benedek Medical Technologies, Inc., Haynes Medical Distribution, LLC and Loehr Equipment Company.
Burian et al (2010) points out that even though the order of the research is thought to be direct, a researcher’s attempt becomes repetitive (p. 46). Therefore aligning research questions to the research derives its importance to its purpose.
The methodology seeks to make interventions of qualitative and quantitative research, as the two methodologies are crucial in determining accurate results. It is important however to mention the fact that a one sided approach cannot guarantee reliable results however empirical. A combination of these two aspects gives value to the research.
In following the explanation above, the methodology used in this research will target the various companies using a varied approach to aligning quantitative and qualitative designs to address the research problem. Thus in explaining the two approaches, Burian et al( 2010) noted that the latter helps the researcher to come to terms with the strategies used to market the company’s products thereby exploring approaches and later using the findings to answer the outlined hypotheses.
The quantitative approach tries to find out the cause and effect theory i.e. what can be observed by manipulating variables (p. 46). In addition, ethical issues during the research are to be considered, as every process must follow professional ethical standards. The importance and characteristics of effective questions and hypotheses and how to design a research question.
One of the key characteristics of an effective research is that which is founded on a well-constituted literature and experiential knowledge of the problem at hand. This means that the literature is relevant throughout the research process for the reason of finding new knowledge that would answer the research questions (Van den Akker et al in press).
In addition, carrying out a design based research involves going out to the scope of the study and having firsthand experience of the problem itself so as to ascertain the research validity. Thus, the researcher has to be involved in the problem to be able to fully understand the situation at hand.
This will in turn lead to an effective application of the research design. Secondly, the research design has to be practical in the sense that the goals and objectives should focus at addressing the problem by continuously designing and applying involvement thus expanding the theories used to refine the methodology. (Design-Based Research Collective 2003)
Thirdly, the research process needs to comparatively engage other works of research to introduce interventions that have been applied before thus avoiding repetition of the solution. This means that the researcher will integrate other views from similar researchers who dealt with the current problem earlier.
In his flexibility in doing this, the researcher will come to expand the research and authenticate his findings thereby bringing an effective change to the problem at hand (DBRC, 2003; Reeves, Herrington, & Oliver, 2005; Wang & Hannafin, 2005).
In addition, the researcher has to use a variety of methodology paradigms which are both qualitative and quantitative, and which relate to the needs of the research. This according to Christensen, Johnson &Turner (2011) is seen in the fact that it will lead to the validity of the findings. This will also result from the field thereby giving evidence that supports the research.
Finally, the research design has to be contextualized in a given setting for the reason of linking the process with the results arising from the research. (Wang & Hannafi 2005, p.11). This will be made possible by making sure that the researcher files detailed accounts of the outcomes and highlights what has worked and what has not worked with the aim of bringing interventions to the changes made.
To determine the outcomes as explained by the methodology, the research will bring out both theoretical and practical solutions. This can be generated using the following theories:
Domain Theories
This explains the various learning positions that the researcher is involved in. In the case of this research, the researcher is involved in the analysis of two companies whose learning environment is explored in the context of reviewing the research of Iwamoto.Crews.Coe consulting firm thereby coming up with the outcomes of the research that these theories produce.
Design Framework
Christensen, Johnson &Turner (2011) highlights that the framework design is a solution that provides a set of “design guidelines for a particular problem of design challenge” thus implying that the research on the organization highlighted here was of the nature of selection and development of their workforce. This design therefore was designed to address the problem of the company’s strategies and processes of selection towards enhancing the success of their products.
Design Methodologies
Design methodologies presented in this research were to address the particular problems of the two organizations. This methodology presented served as a guideline in addressing their particular problems. This is confirmed by Neuman (2011) describing a design framework as being prescriptive in nature, thus having a structure that shows how to implement a set of proposal and identify the skills required.
This leads to the organization contracting Iwamoto.Crews.Coe to evaluate the organizations workforce and coming up with the outcomes. Because of the repetitive process, the researcher continues to effectively develop the design for the reason of making it applicable in a real situation. In conclusion, the nature of reality influences the researcher’s perception of things. Therefore, the knowledge one has gained through understanding the meaning of their experiences is important in realizing one’s values guided by intuition.
Businesses Problems Matrix
The analysis that follows highlights the two companies whose problems lwamoto.Crews.Coe-Consulting Firm has been contracted to solve. In the matrix is a format used to describe the problem, identify the purpose, and develop questions and hypotheses in the following paragraphs.
- Problem
- Purpose
- Question
- Hypothesis
Riordan Manufacturing
This is a leader in plastic injection molding industry whose implementing strategy is to operate as a high performing organization. It aims to achieve this by hiring sales individual leaders with the ability of being highly effective in creating satisfied sales assistants and representatives to deliver outstanding customer service thus affecting the organization’s profitability.
In the past, they promoted individuals using the criteria of performance and externally compared candidates in comparison to other applicants.
However, the process used did not bear positive fruits leading to the organization’s poor performance. This led them to work with Iwamoto.Crews. Coe Consulting Firm in modifying internal and external selection processes where candidates were compared with the required competencies.
This process resulted in higher quality sales leaders. According to their expectations, they need more evidence that the revised selection process results in hiring led to people who were consistently demonstrating critical performance competencies.
Therefore, a multi-rater tool was created to bring feedback to assess extent in which sales leaders demonstrate a critical performance competence. This tool had 3-5 behavior competence. 1) Individuals working with other leaders to rate extent of demonstration 2) each rated with the Likert type scale.
Problem
Promoting and hiring using performance criteria based on individuals rather than organization’s needs.
Purpose
To achieve this by hiring sales individual leaders with the ability of being highly effective in creating satisfied sales assistants and representatives to deliver outstanding customer service thus affecting organization’s profitability.
Question
Does the revised selection process result to hiring individuals who demonstrate a critical performance competence?
Hypothesis
The revised selection process resulted to hiring higher quality sales leaders.
Analysis
Iwamoto.Crews.Coe Consulting Firm found out that initially the old process that Riordan used of hiring individuals compared to other individuals did not rate the participants based on the organization’s needs therefore leading to the failure of the organization.
This implored them to rate the individuals based on the required competencies that the firm needed. Therefore, in identifying this, the Likert type scale tool was used which rated the behavior competencies by: rating individuals to work with other leaders in observing their performance demonstration and individuals had to fill in the performance question.
Benedek Medical Technology Inc.
This company designs, develops, and distributes surgical equipment with minimal invasive endoscopic procedures. In the 5years of its operations, it has expanded in products, distribution markets and workforce. It needs to deal with its products’ expansion strategically and efficiently thus making it a global leading company.
Focus has been to use more time and energy on selection and development of its sales workforce who distribute products because of its enormous growth and success. Their goal is to employ 90 sales professions who will be hired and trained using the phase approached based on products availability and schedule. It implemented a comprehensive selection process, identifying individuals with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to be successful sales people who fit the organization’s culture.
Currently, it has extended employment offers to 7 individuals which depend upon a 3 day extensive training program where their success is determined by their performance on a series of multiple choice tests. The purpose is to educate new hired individuals on competitor products on how to position their products and ensure the employees understand clearly their success factors.
Problem
Using more time and energy on selection and development of its sales workforce to distribute products.
Purpose
To employ 90 sales professions who will be hired and trained using the phase approached based on products availability and schedule. It will also educate new hired individuals on competitor products on how to position their products and ensure the employees understand clearly their success factors.
Question
Does the energy used by the company to select and develop its workforce in distributing products cater for the need of growth and success?
Hypothesis
In 5 years, it has expanded in products, distribution markets and workforce. It needs to deal with its products expansion strategically and efficiently thus making it a global leading company.
Analysis
According to the foreseen growth of the company, Iwamoto.Crews.Coe Consulting Firm has found out that in focusing more on the employees capacity building the Benedek Company has expanded tremendously thus the workforce being motivated to work with minimal supervision.
The focus has made sure that the company has placed itself strategically to effectively serve their market. However, the company’s energy is to be cost effective in their selection and development process. In overall conclusion the above company’s best strengths against missing their success is that they did everything possible to contract a competent consulting firm.
This move has gone a long way in trying to find out important issues that determines their success in that when an organization becomes aware of the value of its success (workforce) then it is on the road to being sustainable in making sure that their information is accurate, research has made it possible for them to continue in the learning of their reason for their esteemed progress in the market.
This never the less to say that the companies will now be free from external or internal threats, but to emphasize the need to review itself from in human, social, political and technological angle.
Therefore, these types of research are tools for enlightening the members of organization so that they have a clear way forward in understanding their external and internal environments. Thus in coming to the realization of knowing their capacities and weaknesses they will ask themselves question that will lead to transforming certain sectors and ways in which they run their business.
This process asks important question of when and where the company needs to reduce the workforce and when to increase its workforce. They will know be able to use statistical tools in professionally making decisions that improve their working environment and thereby seeing the need to contract other experienced companies for developing their business.
References
Burian et al. The research roadmap: A primer to the approach and process. Contemporary Issues in Education Research, 3(8), 43-57. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals.
Christensen, L. B., Johnson, R. B., & Turner, L. A. (2011). Research methods, design, and analysis (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Design-Based Research Collective. (2003). Design-based research: An emerging paradigm for educational inquiry, Educational Researcher, 32(1), 5-8.
Neuman, W. L. (2011). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Reeves, T. C., Herrington, J., & Oliver, R. (2005). Design research: A socially responsible approach to instructional technology research in higher education. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 16(2), 97-116.
Van den Akker et al (in press). Introducing Educational Design Research. In Van den Akker, J., Gravemeiger, K., McKenney, S. & Nieveen, N. (in press) (Eds.), Educational design research. (pp. 1-8). London: Routledge.
Wang, F., & Hannafin, M. J. (2005). Design-based research and technology-enhanced learning environments.Educational Technology Research and Development, 53(4), 5-23.