Question Hierarchy

Management- Research Question Hierarchy

The Question Hierarchy

Many researchers of today use this process in order to define and answer management dilemma questions that provide solutions to help with many management decisions. According to Cooper and Schindler, the process is used to move researchers through various levels of questions that are linked within the business research process. This process will allow researchers to define management questions, which will provide a real solution by exploring data, reviewing past and recent books, and periodicals that specifically are related to the management question.

Developing the Management Question

Managers will often face management dilemmas within their organization, whether related to profit, customer satisfaction, decrease in sales, or to improve product quality. Many will use business research to provide solutions. Business researchers are tasked to correctly identify the management dilemma and to uncover the symptoms that are causing the management problem. In Exhibit 5-8, we clearly see the process to form our research question, in order to finally define our research question, we must discover and explore the management dilemma and define our management question. According to Cooper and Schindler, this process usually involves collaboration with experts, interviews and other qualitative research techniques. Exploration is one of the most important factors in defining an management question, "an unstructured exploration allows the researcher to develop and revise the management question" (Cooper D, & Schindler P. 2011, pg 116).

Research Question

Once the researcher has explored and defined the management question, they must develop the research question that will "fit the need to resolve the management dilemma" (Cooper D, & Schindler P. 2011, pg 116). The research question will "best state the objective of the business research study" (Cooper D, & Schindler P. 2011, pg 116). This...