INTRODUCTION
The research methodology chapter provides scientifically developed guideline for research process. Research methodology systematically defines postulates to be followed in order to successfully account important areas of the research within available resource.
Under development research methodology is a guideline for the research entitled “Organizational Change to a Project Management Culture in an Organization”. Underlying developed research methodology provides theoretical assumption considered for developing the research. Moreover, I have also shed light upon the limitations applicable to the research due to set of methods and approaches employed (Beiske, 2007).
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Conceptual framework is the skeleton of the research that is developed with reference to literature review. Sekaran (2006) cites that conceptual framework allows researchers to understand, describe and infer insight developed from results of the research.
Conceptual framework for the underlying research can be defined as follows:
- Across the three levels of conceptual framework, theories employed for the research design are as follows:
HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis in general terms are assumptions made. For the research purpose hypothesis are assumptions made to be answered with scientifically developed research (Crabtree, 1992; Bernard, 2011).
Set of Null and alternative hypothesis is developed for every assumption. Null hypothesis is the assumption to be disapproved with research results. Contrary, as practices I have also developed alternative hypothesis with reference to above mentioned theories. These alternative hypotheses intend to prove the conceptual framework with scientifically approved methodology (Jankowicz, 2005; Goddard & Melville, 2004).
The null and alternative hypothesis for the research under development is as follows:
H10: There is no relationship between the organizational culture and project performance.
H1A: Project receives direct impact from the organizational culture.
H20: Change in organizational culture has no impact on the project management and project success.
H2A: Positive change in the organizational culture has positive impact on the project management and project success.
RESEARCH APPROACH STRATEGY
Babbie (2010, p.53) has identified that all researches fall under deductive or inductive approach. Snieder and Larner (2009) state that deductive approach is one in which research is based on a reasoning supported by the theory. This hypothesis is then used to be tested in research. On contrary, inductive research is when the theory is to be developed as a result of observation being tested in a research (Maylor & Blackman, 2005; Monette, Sullivan, DeJong, 2005), hence, can be defined as bottom up approach.
I have employed deductive approach for underlying project. Employing Lewin’s Theory of Change management in the organization and Linnenluecke and Griffiths’s (2010) theory of relationship between organizational culture with strategies and decisions has been taken as basis to assess the AGI (selected organization for the study). Further, I have used Kendra and Taplin (2004) theory of projects’ success dependency on the level of its alignment with culture in AGI.
The underlying research follows the deductive approach. Calori and Sarnin (1991) established the direct relationship between the performance of the organization and culture. In addition, Jones (2010) has developed the positive relationship of the project success and organizational culture. Furthermore, Lewin’s theory (1939) has provided ground for change in organizational culture. Hence, employing these theoretical developments I have developed hypothesis for the research. Therefore, the research approach employed is deductive.
RESEARCH STRATEGY
Research strategy is method adopted for testing the hypothesis (Stewart, 1993; Neuman, 2005). Suiting to the need of the research as well as resources available the strategy is developed (Patton, 2002). Among various strategies such as experimenting, survey etc I has adopted case study for under discussion research. Case study of the AGI being an International civil and electromechanical (EPC) contracting company has been picked for testing the hypothesis.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Data collection is the most important task in the research methodology (Glass, 1976; Pelissier, 2008). The data collection for the underlying research will be done using secondary and primary sources.
SECONDARY SOURCES constituting data that has been already assessed scientifically will be used for the literature review, conceptual framework development for the study and developing alignment of the study results with literature.
PRIMARY DATA is one that is being collected for the first time and has not been through any assessment (Aanstoos, 1983). Population for the research includes all organizations that deal with project management around the world and has any culture. However, due to resources constraint and the case study approach sample picked for the underlying research has been AGI -an International civil and electromechanical (EPC) contracting company.
For the primary data collection two methods have been adopted; first the questionnaire and second being the interviews. Systematic questionnaire has been developed to collect the responses from the referred company’s concerned participants. Questionnaire will include closed ended questions related to change management, project management, factors leading to successful project management, relationship between project management and cultural change and attitude inclination of the participants for accepting any change. Data from questionnaire will be collected from participants that are to adapt to the implemented change.
Around 18 questions have been set in questionnaire. Questions from one to 10 will develop an opinion related to relationship of project management’s success with cultural factors in line with base theory of Kendra and Taplin (2004). Questions from four to 10 has been designed to specifically identify participant’s thoughts about the cultural factors (few selected as resource allocation, communication, level of formalization, decision making practices) in AGI and their relationship with project success. Rest questions will measure the readiness of the employees for the changes in the defined areas. Also in accordance with Lewin’s (1939) change management theory rest questions will identify effort management will require to achieve the change and readiness of participants to accept it.
Interview, on the other hand will collect the open ended responses in referred areas. Interview based data collection will be done from the company employees centrally concerned for implementing change. Interview questions are attached in Appendix. Interview questions are less in number as being open ended and are designed to cover all aspect of three theories that are made basis of study. Question will provide the starting point of interview, question two is in accordance with Kendra and Taplin (2004) theory. Question three and four will provide information of change implementing authorities’ alignment with Linnenluecke and Griffiths (2010) and rest two questions will identify the change management spectrum at AGI with reference to Lewin’s proposed model.
Data Analysis:
Assessment of the data will be done using descriptive analysis statistical techniques while interview responses data will be assessed with qualitative techniques of developing inferences. The Lewin’s Theory, Linnenluecke and Griffiths’s (2010) theory and Kendra and Taplin (2004) from the secondary sources that formed the conceptual model of the study will be used to assess the results. Rest of the secondary source data will b used to assert the compatibility of the underlying study results.
Kendra and Taplin (2004) will provide information related to the AGI’s employees’ consideration related to the cultural factors responsible for project success. Using reference from Linnenluecke and Griffiths (2010) theory and responses from interview I will explore the readiness of the change planners for the change in project management culture. Further responses of questionnaire will be assessed on the basis of Lewin’s theory (1939) with respect to the level of effort required in case management of AGI intends to inculcate change in the project management practices. Hence, both questionnaire and interview responses will be assessed with respect to all three theories
ETHICAL CONSIDERATION
Every research is compulsorily required to meet the ethical standard to add value to the authenticity of the research. Clearly addressed ethical considerations also enable I to collect more comprehensive and accurate data from participants (Saunders, Thornhill, & Lewis, 2009).
I have taken following measures to address ethical considerations:
- Taken consent from the participants for using provided information for research with defining objective.
- Provided assurance of not using the provided information for any other purpose than underlying research.
- Information provided will be kept in full confidentiality.
LIMITATION
Research entitled “Organizational Change to a Project Management Culture in an Organization” has attempted to address the all necessary aspects for making underlying research a valuable contribution to the organization as well as academic literature. However, following limitations are posed due to research method employed and other resource constraints:
- The research strategy of the case study also affects the generalization of the research results.
- Interviewers may not provide the comprehensive and true information despite assurance from ethical perspective.
- Critical inference required for the assessment of the interview responses that are complimented with other gestures and postures may remain unattended due to limited research capacity.
- Questionnaire based responses may also not provide complete details as participants tend to leave questions unattended if face difficulty in understanding.
SUMMARY
Research methodology provides systematically developed guideline for the project. Scientifically developed road map of the study provides clear instructions to be followed for conducting research within given resources to achieve objective. Details related to the research method are also a comprehensive guideline for future researches and scrutiny purpose.
List of References
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