Reference no: EM133181797 , Length: word count:2850

HI6008 Company-specific mini-literature review and research design proposal

Purpose:
This unit aims to give you an opportunity to combine many facets of your acquired MBA skills into the production of a research project mini-literature review and research design proposal.

Task

Your task is to prepare a research report of up to 3000 words (the word count does not include your questionnaire and reference list), based on the following hypothetical case:

You work in a medium-sized company based in Woollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The company was founded 6 years ago and has grown to 60 people and is the recognised local market leader in the manufacture, supply, and installation of retail shopfitting, i.e. shelving, display cabinets, cupboards, desks, customer service and check-out counters, etc. The founder is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and he is ably supported by 6 functional managers: Finance, Marketing, Manufacturing, Installation, Contracts, and Human Resources. You work in the firm as a management trainee and are currently assigned to support the CEO with ‘special projects'.

Your CEO has recently learned about Organisational Development, particularly from this article: Robinson - Leading Organisations by the Values Journey Model of adult bio-psycho-social behaviour, published in American Academy of Business Journal, September 2020. He has requested that you study the article and its associated constructs and that you undertake a research project to ascertain the following:
• Where the firm currently stands regarding its progress in the ‘Values Journey'
• Which style of management is most-suited to this company
• Whether the company has any current or potential ‘organisational pathologies' which might be impairing its effective work culture, and if so what should be done to set a corrective course.
• Has also heard from a friend at the local Lions Club that there is something called ‘The Founders Trap' (IchakAdizes), which he is keen to avoidas he sees himself as a charismatic and transformative leader who wants to continue taking the company forward from its current ‘Go-Go' stage to ‘Prime'.

Part A- Literature Review [maximum 1000 words]

Research relevant academic literature that will be useful in creating a deeper understanding of organisational culture and potential organisational pathologies.

You are advised to base your research project on the above articles. You may add up to three additional academic sources, as long as they are relevant to the same theme (i.e. organisational development, transformation, pathologies, leadership practices or obstacles to growth / effectiveness), so as to strengthen your proposal to the CEO.

Part B- Research Proposal [maximum 1000 words]

State the Problem you intend to Research and specify a well-constructed Research Question, then propose to the CEO, with your justification, an in-company qualitative survey that could be conducted to ascertain whether any current or potential organisational pathology exists. In your proposal to the CEO, ensure that you explain the Values Journey and the associated styles of leadership at each stage and step, and why it is necessary to achieve congruency in all organisational processes and management practices.

Part C- Methodology [maximum 1000 words]

Decide what primary data would be needed to complete your study and state how you would go about collecting it, i.e. your specificmethodology design. The methodology you present must be a viable plan.In particular, specify your sample frame of participants (which staff departments you will interview and how many of each, with justification), the type of interviews you would use (interview method, venue, structure, and duration), and design a questionnaire containing the exact questions you will use (include a range of questioning styles, moving from closed-ended to open-ended, allowing participants to reveal their ‘lived experiences' at work in the firm).

Attachment:- Research design proposal.rar