Action learning project: proposal and writing

 

 

 1.    Introduction

1.1    Aim and scope of this manual.

When selecting a suitable research program for your action learning project (ALP), you are expected to address a problem, challenge, issue, or opportunity that is sufficiently complex as well as significant and important reorganization. Your ALP aims to contribute towards improving the performance of your organization.

The ALP must demonstrate your ability to apply relevant theory from the existing body of knowledge to the problem and formulate and apply appropriate research. The results and benefits of which must be measurable by organizations who stop choosing the problem is a very important decision who stop is your devil considering every possible practical aspect into account.

1.2    MBA Learning Outcomes and Correlation with the ALP

• Learning outcome 2: improvement or development of working method can independently develop end or improve the work method whereby the approach shows insight in both research methods and work processes and whereby the result leads to demonstrable improvement in efficiency, quality, flexibility and sustainability.
  

• Learning outcome 3: policy development or contribution to the implementation of a year plan can to contribute to the development and attainment of policy targets related to business (professional) problems or challenges, thereby taking into account the connection between strategic command structural and cultural aspects of the organization and anticipating future changes (internal and external).
  

The student decides in which ALP each of these two outcomes takes the central stage. It is compulsory, though, to dedicate at least one ALP to learning outcome two and one ALP to learning outcome 3. The focus of the third ALP is thus free. 

In summary:

ALP 1: deals with a situation or problem that requires the development or improvements of a working method (learning outcome two).

ALP 2: deals with an experienced problem in respect of the day- business or executing policy or implementing part of a year plan. (Learning outcome 3).

ALP 3: deals with either a problem relating to learning outcome 2 or to learning outcome 3.

ALP 4: is the assignment in respect of international management which focuses on learning outcome 12: “International awareness”. 

NB: The order of execution of ALP 1, 2, and 3 described above, may be deviated from.

 

2.    Format of the Action learning project proposal

Before you embark on the actual ALP, you are required to work out a detailed proposal that is to be submitted for approval/inputs. This section of the guidelines discuss is all components that must be included in the proposal. 

2.1    Title

Rather than being the focus of the project, the ultimate title of your ALP should reflect the solution to the actual problem. At the proposal stage though, you are not expected (in fact, not even supposed) to know what the solution entails who stop hence, at this stage, you will not need to spend too much time on the title definition. 

Once you are making progress with your research and thus are getting closer to a solution, a suitable title will eventually present yourself with a stop at this stage please bear in mind that the title should be concise (7 to 12 words) and that you are advised to avoid statements such as: “An investigation into the possibility of researching in...”

A title should not begin with a present participle, such as researching or analyzing. The title should be: “An examination of customer defection within the capital finance organization, Ghana”. The title must include the name of the organization. E.g., “A digital marketing strategy for Capitec Bank, Netherlands.”

  2.2    Introduction: Background to the Research problem, dominant focus and learning outcome to be addressed

The introduction and background are important components of the action learning proposal as these provide the reader with their current situation and context of the problem that you intend to research. You are free to address any problem (challenge, issue, or opportunity) that is of current significance and importance to your organization.

Make sure to indicate concerning which learning outcome (viz. # 2 or #3) this ALP is going to be executed.

In most cases, the nature of such problems is likely to involve a variety of core management fields which will necessitate a certain level of knowledge and understanding from these respective fields. Despite his integrated nature, an action learning problem will usually have one dominant focus (e.g., marketing, information management command human resource management etc.). The learning outcomes of this program require graduates to be exposed to a wide range of managerial practices. Therefore, in each new ALP that you embarked on you are supposed to select the problem that reflects a dominant focus that differs from your previous ALP(s).

Make sure to identify and explain this dominant focus introduction.
It is also necessary to explain your motivation for researching your problem, and therefore you need to provide sufficient detail relating to the background to the problem. This will help the tutor to be able to understand the situation. Clarify the areas of concern, and your justification for the research study (this could be a subheading). Any material that aids the reader's understanding of the situation may be supplied for free.

Try not to elaborate too much; Usually a 1–2-page introduction explaining the company background and context of the problem suffices. This introduction is logically to lead to the problem statement.  
 

2.3 Problem statement

The problem, in its most straightforward definition, refers to a single quote its discrepancy between the norm and reality as perceived by the problem owner single quote close. In other words, the existing situation (reality) deviates from what is desired (norm).

It is the most critical component of your ALP proposal and you need to ensure that you spend sufficient time refining and reframing the problem statement until you get it right. If you get this wrong then your entire ALP is likely to fail; you need to ensure that your entire ALP will address the real problem, issue, or challenge and not merely the symptoms of the real problem. 

The background information relating to the problem must be meaningfully converted into a single-sentence statement of the root problem. so, not a lengthy discussion, nor a question.

Students frequently struggle to describe the problem; instead, they list the aims, results, needs, or other irrelevant factors.

Checklist for selecting of Action Learning Problems

A problem, in general terms, refers to a situation that leads to unsatisfying results about what is desired or demanded or expected. That is what is expected, is preferably captured in a measurable nor. Otherwise, one cannot state why it is a problem, nor when the eventual solution is successful. A problem is only a problem if the solution is not known. For instance, a situation where “…we do not have a recruitment policy…” may be perceived as undesirable, but it is not a suitable Action Learning problem since the solution, or, in this case rather the remedy, is self-evident (i.e., develop a recruitment policy). 

Further questions to consider when selecting a new finding for your problem statement:

• Is the problem significant to the organization?
• Is the problem urgent?
• Is it a real and complex problem? That is not an already decided course of action that only requires implementation hoping practices lady sample of the recruitment policy above).
• Is the scope of the problem challenging yet not too wide?
• Is there a time frame for acting? 
• Is the problem within the scope and feasibility an understanding of the researcher?
• Do you have the authority to take action?
• Do you know who will be responsible and accountable for acting?
• Does the problem provide learning opportunities?
• Has the problem been presented clearly? 

Frequently found weaknesses in proposed problem statements

• Excessive use of in-company or industry jargon, which frequently obscures rather than clarifies the real study topic.

• The description of the research project is nebulous, in all unfocused, such that the purpose of the research is unclear.

• The problem is unimportant or unlikely to yield new information that would benefit the organization.

• The problem is more complex than the researcher realizes.

 

2.4    Literature Review

Once the problem statement has been correctly formulated, you need to provide details as to how you intend to research and solve the problem. This begins with your intended research of the system body of knowledge (initial review of the existing literature), and you need to ensure that you inform the tutor of your intentions in terms of the literature that you intend to review.

Note: in your proposal, you must inform the tutor of the themes, concepts, models commander in that you intend to review. It is not sufficient to simply advise the tutor that you intend to read books, or some articles, or set websites - you must provide the reader with the direction and focus of your intended literature review.

2.5    Research Questions

You need to provide a tutor with the proposed research questions that you intend to research. In simple terms, this means answering the questions: 

• What do I want to find out from my primary (and secondary) research? NB: primary search is concerned with ‘new data’, generated from your field research (e.g., Questionnaire, interview). Secondary research results in data derived from existing publications open practices (e.g., Research papers, company documentation).

• What is the best research design that will enable me to solve the problem?

• Who can assist me in solving my problem (sample frame)? 

• What research methodology should I use to research the problem (survey, interviews, etc.)? 

• Which research instrument is most appropriate to gather my data?

• How will a research instrument be best administered?
  

• How will I process my data?
  

Remember, the action learning MBA is a Masters level project and as such, must meet the requirements of rigorous research design.

2.6    Objectives of the Research

Once you have answered these questions you need to formulate specific research objectives. Identify the specific issues that you wish to address and then convert them into clear and concise specific research objectives.

Clarify the specific objectives of your research. Objectives should be divided into primary and secondary objectives. When writing the proposal, and students should note that it is critical to maintaining attention on the problem statement and the research objectives.
 

2.7    Proposed Research Design

Once you have formulated your intended reset questions and converted them into specific research objectives you need to provide details of your intended research design.

The research design may be described as a plan or blueprint of how the researcher intends to conduct the research project. There is a distinct difference between a ‘research design’ and ‘research methodology’, and each comprises different dimensions of research. The research design is the overall plan for relating the conceptual problem to relevant practicable empirical research. 

A research design provides the basic directions or recipe for carrying out the Action Learning research project. The researchers should always try to follow the principles of parsimony when choosing a design that will:

• Provide relevant information on the research questions and,
• Will do the job most efficiently.
  

A research design is simply the blueprint or plan of how the information to answer the problem will be guided and access the question: “How would we collect information to address the research problem?”

• Their research design must be consistent with the problem statement.
• The research design phase requires the researcher to look ahead to other statutes stages of the research process.

• This is a step where it could be decided that a questionnaire of some type is the best way to collect information.

• It is at this stage that the questionnaire will be designed.
  

Many research designs can be used to study business problems in Business Research designs can be grouped into one of three categories:

1. Exploratory
2. Descriptive or
3. Causal design 

 

 2.8    Proposed Methodology

Provide details of your intended research methodology - whether you intend to use the subway, in-depth interviews, etc., together with your motivation for both your intended research design and your research methodology.

This is a vital piece since it is a cornerstone of the action learning project plan. Failure to address it effectively may result in the proposal being rejected.

While you may not be able to provide final details of your methodology at the proposal stage, it is critical to provide a strong preliminary indication and motivation for your intended research methodology so that the reader is satisfied that your methodology is relevant and acceptable concerning your problem statement.

Research Instruments

If you intend to use a research instrument (such as a questionnaire), provide basic details (not the detail question itself), and how you intend to administer the questionnaire. For example- face to face, online, etc.

Clarify and motivate your investigation strategy, e.g.:

• Survey
• Questionnaires
• Personal interviews
• Focus groups.
  

Sample Frame
Provide the reader with details of your intended sample; Intended sample size, etc. 

2.9    Analysis of Data

Provide details as to how you intend to process and analyze your data.

Remember, everything is in a proposed format at this stage. This is what you are proposing to the cheater- one of the main objectives of your ALP proposal is for the tutor to ensure that you are on the right track and that you have presented a logical approach and logical line of reasoning in your proposal.

2.10    Expected outcomes of the research.

It is always a good idea to provide the reader with an idea of your expected outcomes - think about what you hope to implement as an outcome; will your outcome be a new strategy for your organization; a new process; a new model?
What are the expected results of what you want to accomplish? e.g.:

• a prototype
• a new strategy 
• a new model 
• a new process 
• Is specialized assistance provided to practitioners in a certain profession?
• An instrumental can be used in a specific industry, etc.
  

2.11    Execution Plan

You must include an overview and a preliminary indication of the time restrictions you are establishing for your study as well as the estimated completion dates for the individual parts and activities associated with the project's execution.

3.    Summary for ALP Proposals

A.    Background to the research problem

• Is there an appropriate summary of the problem's background?
• Does the problem meet the criteria OK good problem statement?
•  What is the dominant focus? (for example human resource management, marketing, operations etc) 
• Which learning outcome ( #2 or #3 ) is being addressed?

B.    Problem identification 

• Is the problem statement clearly defined?
• Is the problem statement well formulated? 
• Has organizational Jaguar been eliminated? 
  

C.    Literature Review 

• Is there a clear link between the problem statement and the proposed literature?
• Is there sufficient motivation for the literature research study?
  

D.    Conceptual framework 

• Is the proposed conceptual framework clearly defined?
• Are the research questions unambiguous?
  

E.    Objectives 

• Happy optics use of the study is stated clearly?

F.    Research Design 

• Is the problem statement clearly defined and is the research design appropriate and well-articulated?
• Has the research methodology been motivated?  
• Is there a link between the objectives of the research in the proposed research methodology?
•  Is there sufficient justification for the use of qualitative or quantitative methods?
•  Have the sampling technique and data gathering procedures been thoroughly explained?
• Is the planned data analysis appropriate for the type of study??
  

G.    Significance 

•  Is it proposed research likely to result in an objective solution to the problem?

• Why is it important for the organization to undertake this project?

• Are the expected outcomes identified?

H.    Feasibility 

• Is the problem relevant, researchable, and realistically feasible?