Introduction
Conceptual definitions allow authors to use concepts when defining other concepts. The meaning of a concept is provided in a certain piece of writing to allow readers gain knowledge about the measures being made. Conceptual definition makes it simple to analyze the content of a document. According to Churchill (1979), market research requires developing strong measures when generating conceptual definitions. He opines that the quality of measures used in developing literature on marketing determines the authenticity of a research.
As such, he develops the idea that errors in developing conceptual definitions will always result into poor research results. This means that the concept of garbage in garbage out (GIGO) applies when developing conceptual frameworks. In this paper, the importance of developing conceptual definitions has been explained, alongside providing some important conceptual tools such as questionnaires. Examples of conceptual researches have been provided to explore the field of conceptual frameworks. Various authors have been identified to contribute to conceptual works. Therefore, conceptual definitions are important aspects in modern research processes, and they should be embraced to improve the quality of research done.
Questionnaires
Hinkin (1995) provides that questionnaires are important tools that are used to develop measures in a research. They provide a guide to develop conceptual definitions. Hinkin was of the idea that questionnaires provide researchers with a general idea about the concepts. Therefore, conceptual frameworks are linked with the questionnaires used in collecting primary data.
To further explain the importance of questionnaires in a research, Hinkin was of the idea that “problems with the reliability and validity of measures used on questionnaires has often led to difficulties in interpreting the results of field research” (p. 967). Questionnaires are used to gather information about the behavior of organizational members. They give hypothesis about the relationship between and among various variables. This makes it possible to interpret meaning from a research paper. Therefore, research measures should be valid, and consistent with the variables used in a research (Hinkin, 1995).
Validity of measures in MIS
The validity of measures was provided in a research by MacKenzie, Podsakoff and Podsakoff (2011), when the conducted a research on Management Information System (MIS). Validating variables helps determine the best scales to be applied. MIS has been identified as an important tool in organizations, and managers ought to embrace it to achieve success in the long-term. However, very few organizations have improved their techniques of validating techniques. Validating the research variables is important because it provides the management with the authority to rely on research findings.
Therefore, organizations using MIS have been found to improve the performance and profit levels of an organization. In modern business environment, competition has intensified, and the need to develop better strategies has increased. This has created the need to improve MIS in organizations. In addition, globalization in business has facilitated the use of MIS to link all parties in the global market environments. Therefore, seeking the variables that affect MIS is very important in developing better business strategies. The quality of measures used in a research will depend on the validity of procedures used (MacKenzie, Podsakoff & Podsakoff, 2011).
Organizational communication
Detert and Edmondson (2011) conducted a research to identify the importance of communication in an organization. Communication is important for the success of any organization because it allows stakeholders to deliver information which is important in improving the performance of an organization.it is through communication that an organization identifies the best strategies to apply to compete successfully in the market. Eliminating behaviors which are illegal or immoral in an organization can only be done by implementing better communication strategies. The seniors and juniors gain knowledge about organizational processes when they gain better understanding of such processes through various communication channels (Detert & Edmondson, 2011).
Communication is important in an organization because it helps resolve conflicts and to understand the processes involved in all activities. The culture of an organization determines whether people will keep quiet when problems arise. The bureaucracies which have been put in place in an organization may hinder effective communication. This results from procedural barriers which delay communication between and among various stakeholders in an organization.
Detert and Edmondson (2011) analyzed theories relating to voice and silence in organizations. They opined that when employees are silent, the managers may not be able to identify problems being experienced at the workplace. Communication efficiency was found as a major aspect that promoted peace and improved performance in an organization. Organizational learning was also found to be an important aspect that is driven by voice theories.
The voice theories encourage managers to improve communication so that junior employees can deliver their messages to their seniors effectively. However, some managers fear taking the risk of promoting communication in fear of demands for higher rewards by employees. Encouraging silence in organizations can hinder communication among stakeholders. The success of an organization will be determined by the efficiency of communication among various stakeholders because problems are easily solved. New innovative ideas can also be obtained from the ideas generated by stakeholders. However, this can happen when managers encourage communication in all business transactions (Detert & Edmondson, 2011).
Customer Relationship Management
A conceptual framework was developed by Chena, Yenb, Li and Ching (2009) to explain the variables that affect customer relationship management. The importance of customer relationship was established to develop strategies of improving the performance of employees. In addition, CRM was found to affect the profit levels and the competitiveness of firms in the global markets.
Customer Relationships Management (CTM) has been defined by Chena, Yenb, Li and Ching (2009) as a process where organizations establish good communications and contacts with customers to improve their satisfaction levels. Customers are the most valuable assets to an organization, and satisfying their needs should become a priority to the management of a company. This can be achieved by establishing appropriate Customer Relationships Management strategies.
Customer relationships management is an important aspect in organization because it helps offer high quality products and to satisfy the needs of employees. This in return increases the profits as well as market share of a company. Chena, Yenb, Li and Ching (2009) provide a framework of evaluating Customer Relationship Management (CRM). They opine that CRM the loyalty of customers and performance of business are used as indicators of CRM outcomes.
Therefore, it is important to assess the CRM progress regularly. Chena and others suggested that CRM effectiveness is composed of “Relationship Marketing (RM), Customer-Focused Information Technology (CFIT) and Customer-Focused Organizational Climate (CFOC)” (p.283). In the research, 407 companies in the manufacturing industry were sampled. The aspects evaluated were “reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity and nomological validity” (P. 283).
CRM encompasses the use of information technology to determine the nature of consumer behavior. Therefore, CRM combines marketing processes and organizational activities. The dimensions of CFIT, RM and CFOC provide appropriate tools of measuring the behavior of customers. The results obtained from the research proved that CRME is supported by the three dimensions. Therefore, organizations which invest in developing their IT systems have the opportunity to improve the relationships with the customers. This helps increase customer loyalty and expanded market share (Chena, Yenb, Li & Ching, 2009).
Conclusion
Conceptual definitions are important aspects in modern research processes, and they should be embraced to improve the quality of research done. The conceptual frameworks provide researchers with ideas about the best strategies to apply when conducting research. The process of developing conceptual definitions starts with designing appropriate questionnaires which match the variables and hypothesis of a research. Questionnaires are designed to collect primary data, which is used to develop relationships between and among research variables. The use of conceptual frameworks has been found to contribute success in management information system development.
It has been found out that conceptual frameworks are applicable in many behavioral researches. For example, organizational communication and consumer relationship management are some of studies found to explain the importance of conceptual definitions. Communication improves the relationship between an organization and its stakeholders. Therefore, voice theories are important because they provide strategies of promoting communication in organizations. Managers should apply these theories to improve performance, and create efficiency in the delivery of products to the customers. The overall goal of the conceptual definitions is to link theory, their application and their importance to modern organization.
References
Chena, J., Yenb, R. H. J., Li, E. Y. & Ching, R. K. H. (2009). Measuring CRM effectiveness: Construct development, validation and application of a process-oriented model, Total Quality Management, 20(3): 283-299.
Churchill, G. A. (1979). A paradigm for developing better measures of marketing constructs. Journal of Marketing Research, 16: 64-73.
Detert, J. R. & Edmondson, A. C. (2011). Implicit voice theories: taken-for-granted rules of self-censorship at work, Academy of Management Journal, 54(3): 461-488.
Hinkin, T. R. (1995). A Review of Scale Development Practices in the Study of Organizations, Journal of Management, 21(5): 967-988.
MacKenzie, S. B., Podsakoff, P. M. & Podsakoff, N. P. (2011). Construct measurement and validation procedures in MIS and behavioral research: integrating new and existing techniques, MIS quarterly, 35(2): 293-334.