From 2 zones to 3 zones in diagramming for the agile literature review approach

This note discuss the reasons adopting 3 zones, instead of 2 zones, in diagramming for the agile literature review approach (ALRA)

A 2-zones scheme would go something likes this:

For examining management issues and concerns as well as for developing a set of high-level research tasks, the two-zones scheme has the following limitations:

1. It does not clearly indicate which independent variables are controllable, and which not, from the managerial perspective.

2. It does not tell whether the the dependent variable is indeed a management issue or management concern as related to an organization's organizational capability, organization's performance or any implemented or proposed recommendation.

3. It may have indicated some actions (e.g., some independent variables may be related to some manipulable policy options), but it does not indicate what the organization "can do" (or need to build up the capability to do), but primarily suggests what the company can consider "to do".

For these reasons, the writer adopts the 3-zones scheme for the agile literature review approach.

The 3-zones scheme is much more useful for guiding an applied business research project because it addresses the 2-zones scheme limitations much better.

Facebook resources for the Onion Model (Research Methods) : information

Facebook resources for the Onion Model (Research Methods) : information.

The onion model comes from Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. 2016. Research methods for business students, Pearson. The following table provides Facebook resources maintained by the writer related to the specific layers of the onion model:

Layers of the Onion Model	Facebook resources
1. Philosophy	Literature on research methods
2. Approaches to theory development	Literature on reasoning
3. Methodological choice	NIL
4. Strategies	Literature on case study research Literature on survey research Literature on ethnographic research Literature on interview research methods Literature on experiment research Literature on observation research Literature on grounded theory Literature on focus group
5. Time horizon	Nil
6. Techniques and procedures	Literature on qualitative research (on qualitative data analysis part). Literature on quantitative research (on quantitative data analysis part). Literature on correlation analysis

Blog articles on the Agile Literature Review Approach - a collection 2018 Winter

Blog articles on the Agile Literature Review Approach (ALRA) - a collection 2018 Winter


I. About the management-concerns diagrams

• On the nature of the management-concerns diagram
• Steps for producing a management-concerns diagram
• Refining management-concerns diagram variables

II. About the theoretical framework set

• Terminology of theoretical framework level-0
• Examples of components on theoretical framework level-0
• Using theoretical framework level-0 as an agenda to do literature review
• Terminology of theoretical framework level-1a
• Level of complexity of analytical academic ideas in the theoretical framework level-1a
• Offering concrete academic ideas for the construction of theoretical framework level-1a
• Conducting literature review at the component level of theoretical framework level-1a
• Guidelines for producing theoretical framework level-1b
• Two types of research tasks in the ALRA
• Terminology of theoretical framework level-1c
• Examining the underlying research philosophies of the ALRA research design (theoretical framework level-1c)

III. About the overall ALRA

• On the three zones of the ALRA diagramming
• From two zones to three ALRA zones
• On the rationale underlying the 3-zones scheme
• On the complicated understanding orientation of the ALRA
• Strengths and weaknesses of the ALRA
• On the double systemicity of the ALRA diagramming

Suggested word count distribution on Applied Business Research dissertation project

Suggested word count distribution on Applied Business Research dissertation project, roughly (total 15,000):

Abstract (about 1/2 page to at most 1 page; the normal practice is that it is not included in word count).
Acknowledgement (about 1/3 page; the normal practice is that it is not included in word count).

Chapter 1: Introduction (around 1,500 words)

Chapter 2: Literature review (around 3,200 words)

Chapter 3: Research methods (around 2,900 words)

Chapter 4: Findings and analysis (around 4,100 words)

Chapter 5: Conclusions and recommendations (around 2,800 words)

Chapter 6: Personal development (500 words)

References

Appendix



*** some +/- 6% per chapter is possible, though the figure should be close to 500 words for Chapter 6.

Agile literature review approach for housing studies - some notes

The following notes are on the Agile literature review approach as applied in Housing Studies:


1. An overview on proposal formulation
2. The table of contents checklist
3. Identification of academic ideas: on homelessness; another one on housing affordability.
4. Identification of housing concerns: on homelessness; another one on housing affordability.
5. Diagram-pairing; an illustrative example on homelessness of baby boomers in Hong Kong; a level-1 diagram for illustration.
6. Housing dissertation proposal info
7. Proposal preparation - some suggestions
8. Characteristics of the ALRA for housing studies

9. Agile diagramming for housing dissertation project work.




About the ALRA
The agile literature review approach was originally developed for applied business research; since then, it has been adapted and applied in Housing Studies dissertation works.

Multiple regression analysis - a typical concern from Independent Study students

Multiple regression analysis - a common concern from Independent Study (IS) students

Student A: I have generated my multiple regression report, but it shows that all the b-values (of the x variables) have almost zero values and that the p-values are so large that the null hypotheses of b values being zero cannot be rejected. Is it a big problem? What could I do now?

Professor B:  It needs not be a problem. There are three actions you could consider:

i. keep analyzing your existing data with your existing regression formula for your assignment work [remember: no major findings is still a finding];

ii. revise mildly your multiple regression formula with, e.g., different variables, in an exploratory mode to see if something more interesting can be discovered;

iii. conduct some complementary data analysis using scatter diagrams, bar charts, or pivot tables, etc., to enrich your data analysis.

All the three actions are OK.

Student A: I don't want to be OK; I need to achieve high score.

Professor B: ic; in this case, consider action (ii) or (iii); action (iii) tends to have a higher ROI on your effort made. You could also consider to adopt both (ii) and (iii), if you like and have time to do so. If you take action (ii), you need to update your literature review to support your revised multiple regression formula setting.

Housing studies dissertation report template (for the consulting-oriented type)

Housing studies dissertation report template (for the consulting-oriented type)

[Last update: Dec 13 2022]

[This template serves as a checklist to evaluate and monitor students' dissertation projects; it relies on the agile literature review approach]

Abstract

Acknowledgement

Table of contents

List of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature review
Chapter 3: Research methods
Chapter 4: Findings and analysis
Chapter 5: Conclusions
Chapter 6: Recommendations

Endnotes

Appendix

References

[The dissertation report template is compatible with the report structure guideline of the module guide on Housing Studies, and is thus relevant to the writer's project supervisees]

** word count figure expected for the report: 10,000 - 12,000 words

** students may be also interested in studying a note on the proposal and progress review paper.

** compare this template with the one for the academic-oriented project type.

Readings on research decision support systems

Readings on research decision support systems

• An application on literature review survey data (also see this doc.)

• An application on homelessness survey data (also see: 

http://www.euacademic.org/UploadArticle/3551.pdf)

• An application on the sharing economy survey data

Applied business research dissertation report table of contents

A detailed "Applied business research dissertation report table of contents for the ALRA" serves as a checklist for students doing dissertation projects; it also helps students to comprehend better the agile literature review approach (ALRA):

Dissertation project title

Statement of originality and authenticity
Executive summary
Acknowledgement
Table of contents
List of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Literature review

Chapter 3: Research methods

Chapter 4: Findings and analysis (for latest module guide: this becomes Chapter 4: Presentation of research findings

Chapter 5: Discussion of findings; see the revised chapter template on chapters 4 and 5.

Chapter 6: Conclusions and recommendations

Chapter 7: Reflection on personal development

Current version: Chapter 7: Reflection on personal development (content same as portfolio report) [no separate mark for personal development]: the guideline is :

"Chapter 7 Reflections on developing your personal competence. This chapter provides the opportunity for you to reflect on your programme experience and the learning which has impacted on the development of your professional identity. Drawing on evidence you have collated throughout the module you are to write a reflective commentary which addresses the following: what were your initial motivations for undertaking aMBA and what were the central components of your professional identity during semester 1? What did you learn about yourself as a developing business professional and how that learning will shape your future professional self? (Approximately 2000 words)".

< word count figure: XXX>

References

Appendix

******************
Relevant readings

1. Mgt-concerns diagrams
2. Theoretical framework set
3. Study note with highlight on academic ideas, research tasks

***

Latest module guide suggested report structure is as follows:

Executive summary

Statement of originality and authenticity (see section 13 of this handbook)

Title page

Contents

Lists of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction and context of the study

Chapter 2: Literature review

Chapter 3: Methodology

Chapter 4: Presentation of research findings

Chapter 5: Discussion of findings

Chapter 6: Conclusion and recommendations

Chapter 7: Reflections on developing your personal competence

Reference list

Appendix (to include evidence to support reflections)

****  Students will be required to submit one written report of approximately 12000 words.

Reminder to students: When constructing your own table of content, please adapt and express the headings and sub-headings of the table of contents in your own words.

Readings on the agile literature review approach (ALRA)

Readings on the agile literature review approach (ALRA):

1. On the exploration of applied research project background
2. On the agile literature review approach
3. Additional comments on the agile literature review approach
4. On the research-practice relevance gap
5. On ideas systemic diagramming