One of the many tasks involved in writing a dissertation or a research article is being able to justify the choice of one methodology over others. Just as critical to the feasibility of a study is the stated rationale for selecting a specific research design. This week, you are introduced to two research designs that have several features in common; there are also stark contrasts that are identifiable.

For this weeks assignment, consider what you have learned about the case study and phenomenological research designs. Using the same research problem developed in Week 1, how could you use these designs to gain insights to fulfill the purpose of your study?

Begin by selecting the approach that best fits the problem. Use the resources provided, and at least three other peer-reviewed articles to defend your choice (two pages minimum). Create a one-page critique of the other research design that includes arguments why the design may not suitable for researching your problem. Include a summary of the key arguments for your choice.

Length: 3-4 pages

Continue with the CITI training. This weeks readings and activities were introspective: you had to evaluate how your choice of a degree path and your worldview will affect your research. Now you will appraise the merits of qualitative research designs. Begin your paper with an overview of the value of qualitative research (1-2 cited paragraphs). Be sure to make the connection between the research problem and the qualitative approach. Determine if there is the potential to employ a mixed methods approach (1-2 cited paragraphs). Explain how your degree path informs your research approach (1-2 cited paragraphs). Based on your discovery of your worldview, share your thoughts about how this will affect your research (1-2 cited paragraphs). Justify and construct a theoretical or conceptual framework for the research problem; this section must be clearly written to ensure that the reader is seeing the proposed research through your framework.

The focus of this weeks assignment is on applying the qualitative method to the research problem. Begin with a one-page introduction about the circumstances that led to the development of the problem; do not state the problem in this section. Establish the existence of your research problem using three to four scholarly articles published within the last five years. Remember that the problem must have a business administration focus, and must relate to your degree specialization.

Use one sentence for each of the following:

Hook: An attention-grabbing statement that is supported by the literature.
Anchor: A statement that includes a statistic and is supported by primary research.
A statement of the general business problem.
A statement of the specific business problem.
This script is helpful to (a) frame the problem, (b) validate that it exists with verifiable data, and (c) identify why and for whom the problem matters (Bakari 2018).

Next, rationalize the use of the qualitative method for your research inquiry. Explain the features. Give examples of the intended research outcomes. Formulate a purpose statement using the framework:

The purpose of this qualitative study is _________________ [content aim of the study]. A qualitative study design will be used in which narrative data will be collected and analyzed to _________. These data will represent ____________ [the bounding or description of the study]. Qualitative data will be gathered exploring _____________ [the central phenomenon] from _________ [participants] at _________ [the research site]. The reasons for using this form of data to ________ [support or generate] data, is to develop an in-depth understanding of ____________________. [Include scholarly sources to support these research decisions.]

Create two research questions that will generate information for later analysis. Tip: Remember that this is qualitative research. If your business research question is about how and why something happened, you will have to use the qualitative methodology.

Case Study: Flexibility at KPMG

Summary: Accounting firm KPMG wanted to decrease payroll costs while maintaining its commitment to employees. KPMG gave employees the choice of a four-day workweek at 90 percent of their salary; a sabbatical at 30 percent of their base pay; either or both; or neither. To educate employees about their options, KPMG held conference calls, trained managers, and posted questions and answers on its intranet.

Discussion points:

1. How does this program help KPMG?

2. How does this program help KPMGs employees?

3. If you were employed by KPMG, would this program appeal to you? Why or why not?

After reviewing the literature you will select a pertinent topic related to literacy instruction. You will develop a problem statement based on the needs you have found within the research. You will then narrow your focus based on that problem and conduct a complete Review of the Literature in order to develop possible Conclusions, Recommendations, and Further Discussion based on your research.

Case 1 – Huge Benefits; Little Understanding or Use The Velma Company designs and manufactures high-tech communications equipment. The firm is a world-class supplier, and its three largest customers are Fortune 50 firms. Velma also has major clients in China and the European Union. Over the last five years, the companys sales have tripled, and the biggest challenge it faces is hiring and retaining state-of-the-art people. In particular, there are two groups that are critical to the companys success. One is the design people who are responsible for developing new products that are more efficient and price competitive than those currently on the market. The other is the manufacturing people who build the equipment. In an effort to attract and keep outstanding design people, Velma has a very attractive benefits package. All of their health insurance premiums and medical expenses are covered (no copay or deductibles). The company contributes 10 percent of their annual income toward a retirement program, and these funds are vested within 24 months. So a new design person who is earning $75,000 annually will have $7,500 put into a retirement fund by the company, and the individual can make additional personal contributions. Each year all designers are given 100 shares of stock (the current sales price is $22) and an option to buy another 100 shares (the current stock price is $25 and this option is good for 10 years or as long as the person works for the firm, whichever comes first). The manufacturing people are on a pay-for-performance plan. Each individual is paid $7 for each unit he or she produces, and the average worker can turn out three units an hour. There is weekend work for anyone who wants it, but the rate per unit does not change. In addition, the company gives all of the manufacturing people free health insurance and covers all medical expenses. Another benefit is that everyone in the company is eligible for five personal days a year, and the company will pay for any unused days. Velma also has a large daycare facility that is free for all employees, and there is a state-of-the-art wellness center located on the premises. Last year the companys turnover was 9 percent, and the firm would like to reduce it by 50 percent this year. One proposed strategy is to strengthen the benefits package even more and make it so attractive that no one will want to, or could afford to, leave. Some top managers privately are concerned that the firm is already doing way too much for these employees and are troubled by the fact that exit interviews with designers who left in the last year indicated that many of them were unaware of the benefits they were receiving. For example, most of the designers who have gone elsewhere reported that they were attracted to the stock offered them, yet they did not exercise the options to buy additional shares of Velma stock because they were not sure what the financial benefits were to them. The manufacturing people who left reported that $7 per unit was acceptable, although a higher rate would have resulted in their remaining with the firm. The manufacturing people also liked the stock that the company gave them, but were somewhat confused about the options they held. Both groupsdesigners and manufacturing personnelseemed pleased with the contribution that the company made to their retirement program, but most of them did not put any additional personal contributions into their retirement fund. When asked why, the majority of them were unaware that this could be done on a before-tax basis, thus temporarily shielding the contributions from taxes and making it easier to build a nest egg for the future. Finally, all of those who left said that they liked the child care benefit, although most of them did not have young children so they did not use it, and they thought the wellness center was also a good idea but they were so busy working that they admitted to never using the facilities. Your assignment response should be submitted in a single document with the response for each case clearly and separately delineated within the same document. Your responses to each question within the case should also be clearly numbered. The minimum word count for this assignment is 750.
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You’ll search online and select a single-page advertisement (it cannot be a commercial, video, magazine cover, or poster) and analyze it in MLA style. The first page of your essay will be just the copy/pasted ad itself. You will then write an intro paragraph, four body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph, for a total of six paragraphs. As with the description mini-essay, this is intended to be a light, somewhat fun essay. However, your writing (grammar and punctuation especially) will be critiqued more closely than before. Upload your essay as a .doc / .docx or .pdf file (do not copy and paste content) through the Canvas Assignment page by the due date. Your similarity score must not exceed 20%. If it does, then you must revise and resubmit your essay by the deadline. It takes time for your similarity score to be calculated, and the % for resubmissions takes up to twenty-four hours to calculate. Instructions: First, search Google or another engine for a print advertisement that intrigues you. Paste that compelling advertisement onto a Word document. Pick an image you can work with. It will be your first page. You may not use a video–it must be a single-page print ad. Use MLA format. (We’ll discuss MLA vs. APA format in greater depth later.) Font is Times New Roman size 12. Entire essay should be double-spaced but have no extra spaces aside from that. Standard 1″ margins on all sides. Proofread it. Then read it aloud for Barry White-ness. Then revise it based on grammar, organization, and argumentation. Then proofread it again. Repeat this process at least three times.

The essay should be 7 to 8 pages, double spaced, 12-point type. Follow APA format guidelines and submit in a Microsoft Word document file. Support your assessment with information from one or more journal articles. Prepare an essay that outlines your response to the following: Based upon the readings and upon lessons learned from 9/11, explain what practical, tactical, and legal procedures the US should adopt now to better insure that a devastating terrorist attack will not occur on US soil or against American interests elsewhere.

Select a country -MEXICO Report on various aspects of that country (Mexico) , including history, geography, economics, political and demographic factors (paint a picture; no more than two pages should be devoted to this) Identify at least three terrorist/extremist groups in that country and state their main goals Select one of the identified groups, justify your choice, and summarize their: Ideology History Organizational structure/leadership Membership Historical terror incidents Funding Assess how the selected group is or may be a threat to the U.S. Describe preventive steps and counter-measures that the U.S. could use in connection with the threat of the group The format for the paper: Cover sheet including title of paper (not title of course), your name, the date submitted, the course number and name. An executive summary (not more than one page) An introduction including why you selected the particular country and the methodology that you followed in conducting your research (not more than one page) Items one through six from above, presented in a third-person narrative style, 90 percent free of typographical and grammatical errors. The writing should be logically organized and not repetitious. Each question in the assignment should be answered fully. Opinions should be given, when requested, and should be labeled as same. A map may be appropriate; tables, charts and graphics can be instructive and should be used where necessary. A summary and conclusion References cited. NOTE: no less than 10 references should be used.
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QUESTION 1: Using Myanmar as an example, discuss how crony capitalism and strict control of dissent impact the development of a political and economic system. QUESTION 2: After President Suhartos resignation in 1998, the political and economic development of Indonesia emerged from an era of corruption and strict control. How can the changes implemented to date impact the country? What else needs to be done by Indonesias leaders to continue this trend?