purpose of a literature review in mba research.docx

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Research Methods - Mar 2013

What is the purpose of reviewing the li terature in relation to inf luencing the approach to an

MBA project and it’s reporting

What Is a Literature Review ?

A survey of scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations, conference proceedings) relevant to a

particular area of research, summary and critical evaluation thereof is usually undertaken as a normal part of

developing a dissertation, thesis or MBA project.

A more formal definition of a literature review is offered by Hart (1998) as “the selection of available documents

(both published and unpublished) on the topic, which contain information, ideas, data and evidence written from a

particular standpoint to fulfill certain aims or express certain views on the nature of the topic and how it is to be

investigated, and the effective evaluation of these documents in relation to the research being proposed ”

A Literature Review Provides For A Broad Understanding Of The Field Of Research

A thorough literature review provides a demonstration of the researcher‟s knowledge and understanding of the

subject matter and represents the first step in formulating a research objective for an MBA project. As such the

review process cannot be limited to purely a summary of the material and must include the synthesis and critical

evaluation of multiple sources of information.

Conversely a poorly conducted literature review which lacks critical thinking and is merely a listed summary of

material will ultimately undermine a piece of research regardless of the quality of the primary research itself. Thishas serious implications for MBA students when developing an MBA Project as Randolph (2004) argues that flawed

literature review will “likely cause the remainder of the dissertation may also be viewed as flawed ”.

This is in turn supported by the claim of Boote & Beil (2005) that “a researcher cannot perform significant research

without first understanding the literature in the field ” where the inversion of this statement could be interpreted as

the lack of evidence of an appropriate understanding of literature implies a poorly developed piece of research

A Literature Review Supports the Identification Of Gaps In Existing Body Of Knowledge

The next step after performing a survey of the available body of knowledge in a particular field is to identify the

areas that warrant further investigation. In any field of study, there would be areas that are already well established

where a comprehensive literature review helps to avoid the unnecessary duplication of past research.

Webster and Watson (2002) posit that an effective literature review “creates a firm foundation for advancing

knowledge. It facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers areas

where research is needed ” (p.13)



In relation to development of the approach to an MBA project, a literature review helps to define a virtual map of

the existing landscape of available information. When this map is clearly defined it should identify the well

established areas of study, areas where there are conflicting views or research topics that constitute „uncharted‟

territory. The use of this map allows an author of an MBA project to position his or her piece of research within the

appropriate scholarly context. This is not merely a useful analogy but methods have been developed (Carnot 2006)

that support the process of “concept mapping”

A Literature Review Provides A Theoretical Framework & Basis For The Research Methodology

In addition, a literature review will provide the researcher with the knowledge of the terminologies, existing

frameworks and research methodologies that have been applied elsewhere which can serve as the theoretical

foundation for the MBA project.

It is often the case that most research topics would already have been explored by others. Therefore a literature

review should cover not only the salient points and insights from other researchers but also the research

methodologies applied by them and frameworks, style and presentation used to discuss and report out the findings.

By building on existing theoretical frameworks and research methodologies as a valid point of reference or adopting

similar frameworks for the presentation and reporting of the outcomes, the MBA project author will find it much

easier to relate any new findings to previous findings. As Randolph (2004 p.2) suggests “Without establishing the

state of the previous research, it is impossible to establish how the new research advances the previous research”

A Literature Review Supports The Development Of The MBA Project Author‟s Own Voice(s)

As literature review should encompass more than just a summation of the findings of others, a researcher would

necessarily have to apply some form of judgment in critiquing the strengths and limitations of each piece of work

reviewed.

Therefore a literature review serves as one of the initial inputs to the formation of the researcher‟s own personal

perspectives, theoretical standing on the topic of study and development of a research objective. This „voice‟

naturally develops when a researcher comments upon the work of others within the field of study and is important as

a consistency in style and personal (research) perspective will provide a sound narrative to integrate the reporting of

findings and discussion thereof within the MBA project report.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, a literature review process allows a researcher to broadly understand his or her field of research,

identify gaps in the existing body of knowledge in order to develop a more focused research objective that is

grounded in existing frameworks and leveraged against best practice research methodologies that others have

applied whilst forming a professional or scholarly opinion that will tie into the narrative of the MBA project report.



It is not just a discrete step within the development of a MBA project report as Randoph (2004 p.5) suggests that the

literature review itself is often an iterative process that is lock step with the refinement of the MBA Project

objectives. Levy, Yair & Ellis (2006) go a step further where they suggest that the literature review is a constantly

growing and changing organic system that is never complete until a study itself is finished as any changes in

methodology or uncovering of conflicting literature will require further research.

However in the process of refining and narrowing the focus of the literature review, the boundaries of what the

MBA project objective is and sometimes perhaps more importantly, is not, will ultimately be made clearer which

consequently should improve upon the quality of the research itself.

[1032 vs Target 1000 Words]

References :

Carnot, M. J. (2006). Using concept maps to organize information for large scale literature reviews and technical

reports: two case studies. Concept Maps: Theory, Methodology, Technology Proc. of the Second Int. Conference on

Concept Mapping , A. J. Cañas, J. D. Novak, Eds., San José, Costa Rica, 2006.

Boote, D. N., & Beile, P. (2005). Scholars before researchers: On the centrality of the dissertation literature review

in research preparation. Educational Researcher, 34(6), 3-15

Hart, C. (1998). Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science research imagination. London: Sage pp 13

Levy, Yair, and Timothy J. Ellis. "A systems approach to conduct an effective literature review in support of

information systems research." Informing Science: International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline 9 (2006):

181-212.

Randolph, Justus (2009). A Guide to Writing the Dissertation Literature Review. Practical Assessment, Research &

Evaluation, 14(13). Available online: http://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?v=14&n=13.

Webster, J., & Watson, R. T. (2002). Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: Writing a literature review. MIS

Quarterly, 26 (2), 13-23

Bibiolography

Rowley, J. and Slack, F. (2004), „Conducting a Literature Review‟, Management Research News 27(4), pp. 31-39

Mullins, G., & Kiley, M. (2002). “It‟s a PhD, not a Nobel Prize”: How experienced examiners assess research

theses. Studies in Higher Education, 27 (4), 369-386

http://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?v=14&n=13



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