TOPIC of the thesis: The effect of leadership on organizational agility in EGYPT
literature review chapter (2) should include mentioning (no detailed explanation) the relevant theories, models that have been used for similar cases or studies. This chapter also talks about the variables (mentioned above) in connection with the models or theories stated in the literatures. So, you can write about the importance of the variables under study.
It includes pointing out to the authors who worked in similar studies and mentioning their findings. (the researcher is encouraged to put his/her input and opinion and justifications)
This chapter is about what happened and when in the area of the research.
Relevant Figures and tables from literature can be used to facilitate explaining and writing.
The end of this chapter has to prepare smoothly to go to chapter 3 (e.g. conclusion of chapter 2)
2.1 INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW (HISTORY OF THE BUSINESS/INDUSTRY/SECTOR)
Choose the title you wish
This section will include general information (world-wide) about the business (if you are talking about the airline, you should talk about this business worldwide, some statistics will be very beneficial. Using this statistics/data/information will help you to talk about the booming of the business, or/and the declining (deteriorating) of the business; if any. You should here, cover a suitable and important time span (the time horizon) that serves your purpose of the study.
(The objective of this section is to shed the light about the important events that this business has faced in the past and might face in the future and has the implications to these changes). Opinions of different studies and authors are very helpful for understanding the current status of this particular business.
Note: You can write subsections under the main section (e.g., 2.1.1, 2.1.2, etc.)
2.2 OVERVIEW ABOUT THE ABC (Theoretical Part) choose the title you wish
ABC can be the CRM/TAM, can be SERVQUAL, can be the relevant theories/Models (Competency Model, Customer Loyalty, Job Satisfaction, Motivation) needed as potential models and theories that will help you to explain your conceptualization in chapter 3 with the purpose to build the theoretical (conceptual) framework. Also ABC can also be a process (like training design/evaluation, Knowledge Management, R&D), also can be tools/methodology (System Dynamics) that you are intending to use in your Thesis in particular in your theoretical framework (chapter 3). Do not forget that in your back mind you think that the ABC is the solution (or part of the solution) of the problem faced by the business. Here is the place to talk about the evolution/objective/usage of the models/theory/techniques etc. Some definitions (only the most important) can be demonstrated to help understand the model/theory/techniques/process. Here you can talk about different candidates of models/theories etc. in sort of comparison with the objective to select that one that you will be using in your theoretical framework. This comparison might be through different keys, such as; focus, limitations, assumptions, pros, cons, application (product/service, industry/business), etc.
(the objective of this section is to introduce the reader the models/theory etc., that will be very helpful when you introduce the theoretical framework in chapter 3.)
Note: You can write subsections under the main section (e.g., 2.2.1, 2.2.2, etc.)
Should be linked to each other (paragraphs—sections, smooth transitions, it could be a question to be answered in next section, you should find a clear theme to follow and do not expect that reader should understand what you intend to say)
2.3 CASES (Practical Part/best practices) choose the title you wish
This section will demonstrate the cases (world-wide) in the same/similar sector/field that used the Approach ABC. It is like showing and reflecting the practice of similar cases world-wide. Here is the place to pinpoint the failed and the successful cases, in practice. Comparison between different cases is very helpful to show the factors that were involved in the failure or the success of the particular case. Those factors will be your base in building the theoretical framework in chapter 3. Any variable (factor) that will appear in your theoretical framework in chapter 3 should be here in this section somehow (directly or indirectly) mentioned. This part is about actual practice. Do not forget that those cases can be used to support the problem, objective and/or the model/framework. Also can be used to support your findings in chapter 4 and 5.
Note 1: All above sections MUST be supported by secondary sources (literatures). That is why this chapter called literature review .
Note 2: You can write subsections under the main section (e.g., 2.3.1, 2.3.2, etc.)
2.4 LOCAL CASE/BUSINESS choose the title you wish
Throughout this section, you will start talking about the signs/symptoms/motivations that resulted in through the problem (that will be redefined in chapter 3) of the business in the local market (localizing the subject). Here you need evidence that those signs/symptoms are really valid (and not your own perception) and exist. To do so, secondary data/information are the first to think of, like reports, documents as well as previous studies. But in case you do not have the chance to get (enough) the information after exhausting yourself in searching process, primary data have to be collected from experts in the field (witness). The information to be collected here will be through conducting maybe an informal/unstructured/semi-structured (or a formal and structure or any combination interview, but has to be mentioned) interview with the people that you think they will give you the information you are looking for. Also, focus group could be an informative and suitable method for this purpose. Your personal experience (observation) also might be asked and requested.
(the objective of this section is to give the reader the confidence/trust that the problem that you are talking about (in chapter 3) is valid research problem). It is very important section and very crucial for the research.
Note: You can write subsections under each main section (e.g., 2.4.1, 2.4.2, etc.)
As you see the objective of this chapter 2, is to prepare for chapter 3. It serves chapter 3 to a large extent. So, all your writing will be around the problem and the objective of the research. So, anything you feel will take you away form the focus of the problem, just do not mention it.
Chapter 2, is the reference for everything in the thesis. It is the database/information-base/knowledge-base/event-base, fact-based, Evidences-Based that you will rely on, in your design (chapter 3) and your arguments (chapter 4). It is the Backbone of the whole study/research.
CHAPTER 3
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH DESIGN
3.1 INTRODUCTION (1 Page or ¾ Page)
It is mainly a summary for section 2.4 (in chapter 2); just to remind the reader about the current status of the subject world wide as well as in Egypt (local case).
3.2 PROBLEM DEFINITION
Rephrase it to be different from chapter 1 (keep the meaning BUT you have to change the wordings).
3.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
Rephrase it to be different from chapter 1 (keep the meaning BUT you have to change the wordings).
3.4 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The proposed Model has to be justified, why you selected such model or theory specifically or probably you will use triangulation from different models and theories. You will describe the model with all details. Also while you are defining the variables, you should explain the possible effects that might evolve from the inter-relationships among the variables.
3.4.1 Dependent variables (In Details, including definition)
3.4.2 Independent Variables (In Details, including definition)
3.4.3 Moderating Variables (In Details, including definition)
3.4.4 Intervening Variables (If any and in Details, including definition)
(as stated above, by defining the variables, the possible effects on the dependent variables have to be mentioned: like “it might be” “it will appear later as hypothesis or proposition” or “it will” “in this case it will appear as assumption”)
3.4.5 Research Assumptions (List of the assumed conditions, and WHY, you assumed them)
All assumptions HAVE to be supported by secondary information (literatures), or by primary information (interviews/focus group). Remember, weak assumptions will subject your Thesis findings and hence your research to danger.
3.4.6 Research Limitations (List of Limited Variables, and WHY)
The limitations have to be realistic and do not limit your research because you do not want to study some variables; you have to justify strongly why you limited your research. By limiting your research too much, you will not expect that you will get enough findings then you will be asked in the defense about the few findings.
3.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESES
3.5.1 Major Research Question
(In details, write down how did you reach this question and why you asked it and in what sense is linked to your objective and problem), link it to the research problem
3.5.2 Minor Research Questions (In details, see above)
(In details, write down how did you reach this question and why you asked it and in what sense is linked to your objective and problem), link it to the research problem
All hypotheses and propositions have to be listed and justified. By “justified”, I mean it is your duty to explain how this particular hypothesis or proposition has evolved. Of course you need to refer to literatures which you have already mentioned in chapter 2. So, all Hypotheses or Propositions have to be backed up and supported by literatures or may be based on the preliminary investigation you have already conducted (refer to section 2.4 in chapter 2).
3.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.6.1 Research Type (descriptive, …, deductive, … applied, …)
Here you have to explain why your research has used Case Study, Inductive approach, or why you consider the descriptive or cross-sectional is better suit your point. Also you need to mention why you believe that System dynamic methodology is relevant for your research.
3.6.2 Data Collection Instrument and Source (Questionnaire or/and Interviews Questions), This section is the most important part to justify why you have asked the questionnaire questions. This is also the Operationalization of all model variables that need to be measured. Also the type and scale of the data has to be mentioned (quantitative, qualitative, ordinal, nominal, ratio, …).
This section is dedicated to explain how you are going to design the data collection instrument needed to collect the required data/information/knowledge. One way to help you explain that is to insert a table that shows mapping between variables in the model/theory, research questions/hypotheses/propositions, questions in the questionnaire/interview script/focus group method.
Table 3.2: Data Requirement and Variables-Question-Hypotheses Mapping Research Question Research Hypothesis/Proposition Theoretical Framework Variable(s) Operationalization of the variable Questionnaire/interview questions
You might put the full wording of the question Either to put the number (#) or the full wording You put the variable name here Here you put the items/ elements of the variable You can just put the question number
3.6.3 Sampling Methods (Justification should be in details)
Here it is the place to mention how you are going to perform the sampling and why you believe that these Criteria (random, judgmental, cluster, stratified) are the best for your research. Also you have to explain how and why you judge the sample size.
3.6.4 Data Analysis Methods (Data/Information Requirement Table)
All methods for data analysis have to be mentioned and also justify why you are going to use them, such as data-mining, neural network, content analysis. Like why you decided to use non-parametric data analysis and not the metric. Also why you used ANOVA test Factor Analysis/Cluster Analysis, Liner or Logistic Regression, Structural Equation Modeling SEM (LISREL or Amos software, www.spss.com) … etc. Then the statistical tests name (in case of quantitative research) that will be used for each and every formulated and developed hypothesis has to be mentioned (table could make life easier to explain and to understand).
Do not also forget to state at which significant level you are going to test if your research is quantitative. As you can observe it is about your strategy to analyze your data.
