Unit 2 assignment 1 - Essay Example

Evaluating A Research Methodology Ali Ghandour 10th, November, Why workers share or do not share knowledge: a case study is a doctoral study that endeavors to unravel the reason why workers will share or not share knowledge. Although businesses management staff think that their work environments offer haven for sharing knowledge, this is not the case. Businesses have invested heavily on IT to enable workers search for knowledge, and share it with their coworkers, which they merely do. Other human resources department incentives and occupational communities and practices do not yield much either.

The case study research methodology employed relates well with this problem.To fulfill the purpose of this study, the researcher designed three questions to be answered in the course of the study. The qualitative data collection methods used for this study involved open-ended questions. This is an appropriate method for this study in that it open-ended questions allowed the respondents to articulate their beliefs and insights freely. In addition, because there was no need for control of any behavioral events, a case study method was appropriate.

Therefore, semi-structured interviews and participant observations were quite appropriate for this study. The problem in question involved workers and the research had to unravel why they shared or did not share knowledge. Therefore, through interviewing the workers that the researcher got to understand why they would choose to share or not share knowledge.This research design is quite consistent with the methods chosen for this study.Other additional data that the author would have said about the data collection strategies is how he managed to avoid bias.

Use of semi-structured interviews allows the researcher’s respondents to provide many facts and opinions, as they wanted. This can make a researcher deviate from the main purpose of the study. The data needed for this research could have been collected differently using structured questions. Such an interview consists of verbally administered questionnaires where lists of predetermined questions are asked with little or no variation. This method is good because it consumes less time and resources.

In addition, the fact that there is no variation in the questions makes the process less bias (Gill et al., 2008). However, although the method is cheap and easy to administer, they allow a limited participant response and thus not suitable for depth participation.The doctoral study has a well researched background in that the authors has researched well for this topic. The author has used required number of peer reviewed references to support this case study. In addition, the research has a well stated problem that contrasts the existing know how on workers sharing knowledge and the actual truth.

While business managers think that they have sufficiently provided for a good working environment and tools for sharing knowledge, it is not one of the motivators to workers. Therefore, the purpose of the study is clear with reasons for choosing qualitative method identified. The research is to a particular population of American workers from a certain geographical region. The study contributes to business practice in that by understanding the motivators of workers to share knowledge, management can use them to enhance productivity.

In conclusion, the author has three central research problems that the case study seeks to answer.ReferencesGill, P., Stewart, K., Treasure, E., & Chadwick, B. (2008). “Methods of data collection in qualitative research interviews and focus groups,” British Dental Journal, 204(6), 291-295Soo, K. (2006). “Why Workers Share or Do Not Share Knowledge: A Case Study.” Indiana University. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 280-280, retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/305309550?

accountid=45049. (305309550).