Research Methodology Report: Case Study Analysis of Research

This report delves into the intricacies of research methodology, analyzing various case studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research process. The report begins with a summary of the case studies, covering topics such as financial performance analysis, knowledge analytics, and supply chain management in humanitarian relief. It then explores the importance of research objectives and questions, highlighting their role in guiding the research process. A critical analysis of literature reviews is presented, examining different approaches and sources used. The report reviews main business theories, including financial performance analysis, knowledge analytics, and supply chain management. Furthermore, the report evaluates the appropriateness of research types, sampling designs, and research instruments used in the case studies, providing insights into their strengths and limitations. The document, contributed by a student, is available on Desklib, a platform offering AI-based study tools.

Running head: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Methodology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s note

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Abstract
The idea of this assignment is to develop a comprehensive understanding about the
research methodology that is implemented while researching a paper. Research is a
procedure that follows a standard guideline so that the researcher can conduct the
process in an organized and smooth way. The first section is a brief summary about the
case studies that has been provided. Research objectives and research questions are
some of the important concept of research methodology followed by the analysis of the
literature that is reviewed in the studies. Determining the sample size and analyzing the
approaches used in the researches are also discussed in details. The understanding of
these concepts will help to conduct the research studies easily in the future.

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Contents
Question1. Summary...................................................................................................... 3
Question2. Research Objective and Research Questions...............................................5
Question3. Critical analysis of the review of literature......................................................7
Question4: review of the main business theories.............................................................8
Question5: Critical evaluation of the appropriateness of choice of type research..........10
Question6: Critical evaluation of the sampling design....................................................12
Question7: Critical evaluation of the research instruments............................................13

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Question1. Summary
Case 1: (Structure ratios of Profit and Loss Account – source of information for
performance analysis) The performance of a company can be easily analyzed with the
help of the annual report published by the company. It includes the sales value the cost
of production or manufacturing as well as the revenue of the company. The growth and
future decisions of the company taken by the higher management is based on this
document. The Financial ratios show a relationship between financial statistics and the
integrate resources of the company, so that the financial position of the company can be
analyzed. In this report Romania’s furniture industry has been analyzed to prove the
hypothesis (Marginean et al., 2015).
Case 2: (Knowledge Analytics: A FRESH WAY OF THINKING ABOUT AN OLD
PROBLEM) This study discusses the idea of a new technique in the process of
knowledge measurement; the purpose of the idea is to assimilate new, data-driven
insights about knowledge this includes the five Ws and one H. Knowledge Analytics is
the method which is a change in management technique: It is built on dialogue with
executives about data these leaders really want and care about. The authors discuss
about the main idea of Knowledge Analytics which involves a seven-step procedure that
allows knowledge professionals to support and back up the KM with the key business
drivers and measures (O’Dell, 2012).
Case3: (Climate-Related Humanitarian Relief: A Mission for Cargo Airships) the
environmental degradation has been a global concern and has been incorporated in
every global event. Climate-related and geophysical disasters have been the cause of
many losses of lives; the issue that follows the disaster is the barriers that are faced by
the relief system as the condition of the location that has been hit is not easy to reach.
Most of the time the only way possible is by the air route. This study aims to analyze the
logistic of the cargo airships so that the efficiency and the promptness of the procedure
can be improved in the future (Knotts & Barry, 2014).
Case 4: (Knowledge Sharing in the Flow: Survey Results) this report aims to identify
the process and the workflow that is implemented by the organizations in the sector of

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knowledge management in respect to significant business operations. KM is a process
that is a two step process, above and in, the flow of business. The study identifies the
complexities involved in the process. In order to succeed an organization must
implement an enterprise approach to knowledge management, employee instruments
and methods so that the resources of the organization is at par with the idea,
communication is an integral part. The outcome of the process impacts positively and
largely. The author says that skill and knowledge are the two key aspects of success for
any organization (Knowledge Sharing in the Flow: Survey Results, 2017).
Case 5: (An Analysis of U.S. AND Latin American Financial Accounting Ratios) the
disparity in the accounting principles, organizational practices and economic milieu
gives rise to the misinterpretation of the financial accounting ratios. This study aims to
associate selected financial accounting ratios of companies from seven Latin American
countries with those companies who are of the same sample profile of U.S. it is been
found that the results show that the liquidity, activity, and coverage ratios of the Latin
American companies were lesser the companies of the United States. On the other
hand, the profitability ratio is varied and the profit margin on sales generally superior for
the Latin American companies, the return on assets mixed, and the return on equity
ratios not significantly different between the Latin American and U.S. companies (Etter
et al., 2006).

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Question2. Research Objective and Research Questions
The research objective of a paper states what the study is aiming to achieve form
the study. It outlines and from s a guideline for the researcher to keep the research topic
narrow and focused. Research objectives is one of the first steps that are taken while
developing the report of the study so that it is also easy for the reader of the report to
understand and keep up with the thought process of the researcher. The research
objective is closely followed by the research questions. These are based on the
objectives and are an interrogative sentence which the researcher has to answer in the
findings in order to give the report a holistic support of the hypothesis. The part of the
report that follows the questions is focused on answering the question and thereby
finding a solution to an issue. The research questions of the study concentrates on the
topic, establishes the methodology that has to be followed while doing the study. It also
guides all phases of inquiry, examination, and synthesis of the information (Ary et al.,
2013).
In the first, third and fourth case the question of research is not stated clearly it is
hidden in the abstract and the introduction of the study neither is the objective of the
research it is a direct approach. On the other hand, in the second and the fifth case the
questions are stated clearly in from of bullet points whereas the introduction suggests
the objective and aim of the study also the title of the study is clear about the objective.
While reading the abstract and introduction of all the cases, the objectives of the
research are being clear. The title of the report also suggests the objectives but do not
have the question that has to be addressed in the research process. One of the main
reasons to omit these steps is the limitation in the word count the researcher has
straight jumped in to the research process with data and analysis. It is a possibility that
the research methodology that precedes this report has the objectives and the
questions mentioned.
I would have written two separate sections in the report stating research
objectives and research question so as to create a flow in the structure. It also gives

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definition to the report. It would also help the reader of my study to have a better
understanding of the idea I have while conducting the study (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016).

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Question3. Critical analysis of the review of literature
Data collection has two methods one is collection of new information known as
primary data collection and the other is gathering information from the data that is
already available in the topic. The review of the literature is the process by which the
data that has been earlier researched by other authors in the same topic is discussed
and used to form the base of the primary research. In the process of literature review
the researcher can opt to gather data form books, journal articles, e-documents,
company documents, government documents etc. One of the most important factors
that is associated with literature reviewing is the proper referencing of the document.
The work of another author should be respected and honored while using their work as
an aid to the study.
In the cases that is been analyzed the literature review has been done in various ways.
In case1, the author of the study has used the literature as a guide to develop an
deeper understanding of the topic, it is a theoretical review. Whereas in case2 and
case4 , does not have a section that is dedicated to the secondary research as the
researcher is dealing with a contemporary topic and the author describes as procedure
in details. In case3, the literature does not have a definition rather the researcher has
separated sections under sub headings and used information from other authors, this is
also called integrative review. Case5 has a previous research section which is the
literature review, it follows a pattern of systematic as well as theoretical review pattern
where an overview of existing evidence applicable to a clearly formulated research. It
follows the process of cause and effect. The aim of the literature is to form an idea of
the theories that are involved in taking the research process forward. The theoretical
literature review help determine what and analyze the theories that already exist, the
associations in between the topic and these theories, to what extent the existing
theories have been examined, and to develop new hypotheses to be analyzed (Machi &
McEvoy, 2016).

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Most of the sources that have been cited in the papers are taken from journal
articles and books. E-documents are mostly avoided by researchers as the
authenticities of these documents are not reliable (Aveyard, 2014).
Question4: review of the main business theories
Case1: The theory that has been used in this paper is financial performance analysis of
a company. According to Fifka (2013), the ratios of profit and loss account are a mirror
image of the performance of the company in the last financial year, by comparing the
final accounts of the company with previous year’s accounts or with the accounts of the
competitors in the market. The profit of a company is the revenue minus the cost, hence
it can be said that when a company is earning profit then the company is performing
well, now to decide whether the company’s performance is increasing or decreasing the
accounts of the previous year can be used as a marker. The attributes used in the P
and L account can be used to understand the position of the company and the resource
utilization efficiency as well.
Case2: According to Karanth & Mahesh (2015), knowledge Analytics is the theory that
has been discussed in details in this document. It is a process by which the company
uses the knowledge at its disposal to enhance the operations of the business. The
authors describe the knowledge analytics follows a seven steps procedure:
identification and understanding the business drivers, keep parity in between the KM
plan and the investment procedure, implementation of the KM strategies followed by the
analysis of the data, critical analysis of the information to understand the patterns, to
draw a conclusion form the data that has been analyzed and lastly implementation of
the process.
Case3: The theory that has been the undertone of the study is supply chain. The Cargo
aircrafts are used in the relief of the natural disasters. Balcik et al. (2016) states that in a
supply chain there is a supplier, manufacturer, assembly, distribution and logistics.
During emergency situations necessities like food, water and medical help supply is
regarded as the prime concern. The communication process is almost terminated in

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case of any climatic natural disaster and hence the airways are the only method of
reaching the people who are being affected. According to Stadtler (2015), a logical and
logistically feasible supply chain management has to be implemented in these
situations. In a humanitarian act of supply chain it is imperative to quickly accommodate
the victims’ requirements by providing and positioning assistance, services and
materials. Commercial supply chain involves attributes like place, people, time, and
quantities and this is same for this supply chain as well but what is different is that it is
loaded with uncertainty and time and resource constraints juxtaposing the commercial
supply chain requirements making the process more challenging.
Case4: in a business process, knowledge plays an important role. Hislop (2013), states
that Knowledge management is the concept by which a company utilizes the data and
information and implements it in the daily operations of the business. It enables the
companies work in a smart way in order to gain rapid growth and development. The
policies and the decisions taken by the management of any organization should be
based in knowledge management so that the performance and the efficiency of the
resources, product or services can be improved.
Case 5: Accounting ratios is the analysis of two aspects of the financial statement; it is
used to establish an idea about the operation of the business of the organization.
Depending on the rules and regulations laid by the government and the accounting
authorities of a country the company implements the accounting standards. This may
create the disparity in the accounting books of companies in two different countries
(Collier, 2015).

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Question5: Critical evaluation of the appropriateness of choice of type research
The research procedure of synthesizing the data can involve two different types
of method: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative research is the process which
includes the logical reasoning flow of data with the help of numerical and statistical back
up, there is a tabular or graphical representation of the analysis which help in the
synthesis of information. The importance of this procedure of synthesizing the data are:
it explains the variables clearly to the reader; it establishes reviews and identifies the
dynamics of the variables; it also establishes the cause and effect impact among the
variables (Clemence et al., 2014).
On the other hand, qualitative research is more based upon gathering insightful
and theoretical knowledge about the topic of research in order to gain better
understanding about the related aspects. This process helps the researcher to identify
the challenges in the topic as well and then tries to find a solution and conclude the
study by linking the objectives (Creswell, 2013).
Case1: In this report quantitative method of research has been analyzed, the report has
detailed tables and graphical representation of information and logical representation of
facts with figures.
Case2: This is a qualitative descriptive research paper which includes theories to
explain and identify the attributes of the topic. Few info-graphics are used to further
simplify the topic to the readers. The most important reason of the qualitative research
is innovation and addition of a new theory to the topic of knowledge management. It
sites some of the problems with plausible solution through knowledge analytics.
Case3: This case study also helps develop a descriptive qualitative analysis of the topic
of research. The authors of the study have used historical and theoretical evidences to
prove the objective and answer the questions of the study. Several info-graphics are
used to identify the challenges and the solution (Eriksson and Kovalainen, 2015).

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Case4: This report also has a mixture of quantitative and qualitative research approach
in a descriptive way. The graphs used in the report helps the author and the reader
analyze the situation that is being discussed better (Ragin, 2013).
Case5: the approach of this study is quantitative in nature; depending on the topic that
has been researched the approaches are chosen by the researcher. As this document
deals with the financing theories of two different places the approach has to be in the
quantitative form in order to reach a plausible solution to the problem statement and
answer the questions of the research (Venkatesh et al., 2013).