Research Methodologies for Strategic Management

By

Acknowledgement

My thanks go out to all who have helped me complete this study and with whom this project may have not been possible. In particular, my gratitude goes out to friends, facilitator and family for extensive and helpful comments on early drafts. I am also deeply indebted to the authors who have shared my interest and preceded me. Their works provided me with a host of information to learn from and build upon, also served as examples to emulate.

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1.2 Purpose Statement6

1.3 Aims and Objectives7

1.4 Research Questions7

1.5 Significance of the Study8

1.6 Limitations of the Study9

1.7 Dissertation Layout9

CHAPTER TWO: LITARATURE REVIEW11

2.1 Strategic Management11

2.2 Research12

2.3 Strategic Management and Research13

2.4 Strategic Management and Research Methodology13

2.5 Qualitative Research in Strategic Management15

2.5.1 Case Study16

2.6 Quantitative Research in Strategic Management16

2.7 Mixed Research Method in Strategic Management17

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY21

3.1 Research Design21

3.1.1 Primary Research22

3.2 Research Approach23

3.3 Research Technique24

3.4 Research Instrument25

3.5 Sampling25

3.6 Data Analysis Technique26

3.7 Research Philosophy28

3.8 Conceptual Framework28

3.9 Literature Search29

3.10 Ethical Issues30

3.10.1 Biasness in Research30

3.10.2 Ambiguous Presentation of Findings30

3.10.3 Invasion of Privacy31

3.10.4 Research without Consent31

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION33

4.1 Results33

4.1.1Results Related to Research Question One33

4.1.21Results Related to Research Question Two35

4.1.31Results Related to Research Question Three36

4.1.41Results Related to Research Question Four38

4.2 Interpretation41

4.2.1 Interpretation Related to Research Question One41

4.2.2 Interpretation Related to Research Question Two42

4.2.3 Interpretation Related to Research Question Three43

4.2.4 Interpretation Related to Research Question Four44

4.3 Discussion45

4.3.1 Discussion related to Research Question Number One45

4.3.2 Discussion related to Research Question Number Two46

4.3.3 Discussion related to Research Question Number Three48

4.3.4 Discussion related to Research Question Number Four50

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION51

REFERENCES55

APPENDIX65

Questionnaire65

ABSTRACT

The topic of the research is to know about the research methodologies in the strategic management field. To know about this variegated objectives and research questions are developed for this research. There are four questions that this research study aims to answer. The first research question is to know about the most used and frequently used research method in the strategic management field. The second question is to know the most effective research method that can be implied in the strategic management. Third question is to know the problems and challenges in implying research methods in the strategic management. Last question is about the impact of evolution of the field of strategic management on the usage of research methodology within this field. In order to obtain the answers to all these research questions mixed methodology is used. Interviews are conducted from thirty strategic managers who are currently working in different organizations. To obtain the answer of the fourth research question exploratory research is conducted. The answers of the research questions suggest that the most used and most frequently used research methodology in the field of strategic management is qualitative research. The most effective research methodology to be used in this field is mixed research methodology. The problematic issue in implying research methodology is element of continuity. Lastly, the results suggest that evolution of the field has caused great impact on the usage of research methodology.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

The world in which we live today is moving at a rapid ...