2.4 Follow the layout DBA CAPSTONE TEMPLATE GUIDE SECTION 2:LITERATURE REVIEW AND PROJECT PLAN …………………………………….27 2. l. Int

2.4 Follow the layout DBA

CAPSTONE

TEMPLATE

GUIDE

SECTION 2:LITERATURE REVIEW AND PROJECT PLAN …………………………………….27

2. l. Introduction….27

2.1.1. Applied Framework …27

2.2. Method for Discovering Literature..27

2.2. l. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria…27

2.2.2. Search Strategy ..28

2.3. Review of Scholarly and Practitioner Literature ..28

2.3.1. Historic and Current Business Problem Trends ….28

2.3.2. Previous Efforts to Address the Problem…..28

2.4. Summary of Literature…28

2.5. Recruitment……28

2.6. Project Study Protocol …29

2.6.1. Data Sources ..29

2.62. Data Collection ..29

2.6.3. Data Analysis Plan and Presentation ….29

2.6.4 Validity and Reliability/Trustworthiness ….30

2.6.5 Ethical Considerations ………………………………………………………………………..30

2.7. Overview of the Project Study Plan……30

2.8. Summary and Conclusion….30

DBA

CAPSTONE

TEMPLATE

GUIDE

DBA

CAPSTONE

TEMPLATE

GUIDE

1

26

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SECTION 2: LITERATURE REVIEW AND PROJECT PLAN

2.1. Introduction

You should describe the project study protocol (i.e., method, design, population and industry or organization) in one to two sentences (e.g., This capstone project will use a mixed set of study techniques, including a survey and interviews, of employees and managers of a Ford dealer in the Midwestern United States).

You should define or identify your project and briefly point out overall trends in what has been published about the topic issues, gaps in practice, foundational scholarly or practitioner studies and articles, or theory, etc. You should also establish your position — or argument – for the need for the project and the organization of the review of literature. [1-2 pages].

Rubric alignment: For MS 2, the entire Sections I and 2 must be proficient or better. The comments list the MS# and rubric# for clarity. Note that writing, transitions, logic, etc. will apply throughout including any introduction, summary, front/end matter, or other unmarked sections.

MS2 [10] Write with logic, flow, structure, and content focus to cohesively, comprehensively, and clearly explain the capstone topic and deliverable.

and

MS2 [11] Write with proper grammar, usage, and APA format and style.

and

MS2 [12] Write with proper paragraph development, transitions, and academic tone.

2.1.1. Applied Framework

Identify key business concepts found in the literature, relevant to your work. When were the concept(s) introduced? How has the study of the concept(s) evolved? What is the relevance of the concept(s) to addressing the problem anchoring the project? Who raised the concepts and how has that individual or group of individuals contribute to the framework? Cite at least 15 articles in the scholarly and/or practitioner literature — with at least half of them having been published in the last five years. [7 to 9 pages].

Rubric alignment: MS2[4] Describe the theoretical basis for the capstone, drawing on theories appropriate to the specialization.

2.2. Method for Discovering Literature

Include a brief introduction to this section.

Rubric alignment: MS2 [5] Complete a preliminary literature review that includes an appropriate scholarly and critical analysis of relevant theories and practices. (Includes all parts of 2.2).

2.2.1. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Explain your inclusion and exclusion criteria for selecting and evaluating articles, providing a description of each criteria. These criteria should closely align with the scope of the specific business problem, project objectives, and project questions. [half to 1 page].

2.2.2. Search Strategy

Identify databases used such as EBSCO, ABI, IBIS World, Nexis Uni, Google Scholar and a description of your search strategies including keywords and search terms. Identify your most important publication sources for scholarly and practitioner articles. Describe how you identified relevant literature concerning your topic. Show that you recognize the significance of experts in your specialization. [Note to learner committees: saturation or exhaustion of the literature is not the goal of the Capstone literature review]. [half to 1 page].

2.3. Review of Scholarly and Practitioner Literature

As always, provide a brief introductory paragraph which separates section 2.3 header from the next header. Give the reader an overview of what is coming next. A thesis sentence always helps.

Rubric alignment: MS2 [5] Complete a preliminary literature review that includes an appropriate scholarly and critical analysis of relevant theories and practices. (Includes all parts of 2.3).

2.3.1. Historic and Current Business Problem Trends

Describe how the scholarly and/or practitioner articles provide an overall historic and current view of the trends about the topic/problem. Explain how knowledge of the problem has grown and changed over time. Cite to at least 10 articles published over the last five years, and an additional five to eight articles published over the last five to 20 years. If you use multiple headings under this, mark them 2.3.1.1, 2.3.1.2, 2.3.1.3, etc. Do not include those in the TOC. [5 to 6 pages].

2.3.2. Previous Efforts to Address the Problem

How has the problem been addressed? What degrees of success or failure? Evaluate areas of agreement, disagreement, and conflicting positions addressing the business problem. Cite to at least 10 articles in the scholarly and/or practitioner literature showing the conflicting positions or varying types of examinations. If you need multiple headings here, use 2.3.2. l, 2.3.2.2, etc. Do not include them in the TOC. (Follow this rule throughout the project). [2 to 3 pages].

2.4. Summary of Literature

Summarize the current state of the art and gaps in practice for addressing the problem. Establish your position — or argument for what the project will add to the field. At least two citations of your most relevant supporting study or practice-based literature should be included (should be no more than five years old). [l page].

[Strive for at least 30 references in your literature review sections — this means that at least 5 can overlap among the sections, which is normal].

Rubric alignment: MS 2 [2] Explain the background and significance of the proposed capstone, including the rationale for undertaking the capstone and the potential impact.

2.5. Recruitment

Define the sample frame for the project, how and why it was selected, who will likely participate, and how you will elicit participation. Describe the eligibility criteria for study participants, and the anticipated characteristics of the selected sample. [l to 2 pages].

[After the completion of data collection and analysis, place into past tense for the final project, and provide any variations which occurred. Variations to this plan will be provided here but explained and justified in Section 3.]

Rubric alignment: MS 2 [1] Define a clear and comprehensive target audience or site.

2.6. Project Study Protocol

Remind the reader briefly why this project is important based on your problem statement and literature review. Articulate what you hope to find out by doing the project. Include a description of the data analysis technique(s). Provide justification for using the technique to achieve anticipated outcomes, which derives logically from the problem statement and project questions for the project. Define the data collection requirements for the project. [2 to 3 pages].

[Note that after conducting the planned study, you will revise this and other sections to state what you did, instead of what you planned to do].

Rubric alignment: MS 2 [6] Identify a methodology suitable to the topic and deliverable with corresponding rationale. (All parts of 2.6 included here).

2.6.1 Data Sources

Include a transitionary, explanatory introduction paragraph (at least two sentences) to orient your reader to the data sources you used, and why.

2.6.1.1. Preliminary sources of data expected. Include a preliminary list of data sources you intend to incorporate in the project report, including scholarly and practitioner based published or proprietary articles, technical reports, online data sources, etc. Be as clear and detailed as possible. If you will be collecting your own data, explain how (e.g., interview questions, survey, etc.). The data collection and analysis techniques, purpose of the study, project objectives, project questions, and data to be collected must all align. [l to 2 pages]

2.6.1.2. Instrumentation and data collection tools. Present descriptions of instrumentation or data collection tools to include name of instrument, type of instrument, concepts measured by instrument, processes needed to complete instruments by participants. For quantitative techniques includes a detailed description of data that comprise each variable in the study. If survey instruments were used previously, cite the previous uses and provide statistical reliability data (i.e., Cronbach’s alpha). For qualitative techniques, explain the process and details; for example, if interviewing, include the interview guide as an Appendix and describe how it was constructed and reviewed and tested; if a modified Delphi is to be used, the process for finding experts and the question series should be established. These are just examples; for your particular process, describe it, provide the tools for the technique, and cite the source(s) supporting their use. [l to 2 pages].

2.6.2. Data Collection

Provide a step-by-step explanation of how the data will be collected. The discussion should be sufficiently detailed to permit replication by someone else. Identify how findings will be presented in tables or charts when appropriate. Do not use word clouds. [2 pages].

2.6.3. Data Analysis Plan and Presentation

Explain how you will analyze the data. For each project question, provide a description of the techniques to be used for data processing & analysis (such as coding, classification, categorization, tabulation, 0/0, & statistical techniques, etc.). Define your approach for how you will present the final deliverable, which includes outcomes, findings, and recommendations to your appropriate target audience or site. Specify who that target audience (or site) will be. [l page].

Rubric alignment: [8] Define an approach for presenting a final deliverable, including outcomes, findings, and recommendations to an appropriate target audience or site.

2.6.4 Validity and Reliability/Trustworthiness

For quantitative techniques, be sure to note any reliability and validity issues and the implications for interpretation of findings. For qualitative techniques, be sure to note any trustworthiness issues related to data collection and analysis and the implications for interpretation of findings. [half page].

2.6.5 Ethical Considerations

Identify any ethical concerns in applying the project methodology. Explain in detail privacy, confidentiality, and data security procedures and concerns. Discuss the measures to be taken for protection of participants’ rights. [half page].

[Any changes or problems arising during the pendency of the project should be reflected in Section 3.].

2.7. Overview of the Project Study Plan

Provide timeline of project phases inclusive of data collection, analysis, report preparation. Identify key resources to support the implementation of the project and key stakeholders, if any to be involved. Discuss the feasibility of the plan, and any anticipated barriers or challenges to the plan. [l to 2 pages].

[Note that after conducting the planned study, you will revise this and other sections to state what you did, instead of what you planned to do].

Rubric alignment: MS 2[7] Provide a detailed and feasible work plan and timeline for completing the capstone.

2.8 Summary and Conclusion

Provide a recap of the business problem, gap in business practice, purpose of the study, and technique to attempt to better understand the problem, gap, or achieve the study’s purpose here. [half page].

[Note to learners: the project’s sections I to 2.13 will be revised into past tense after you conduct the study and write Section 3]

Rubric alignment: These rubric items apply to the entire Sections 1-2, Milestone 2 including the Introduction and Summary sections:

MS 2[10] Write with logic, flow, structure, and content focus to cohesively, comprehensively, and clearly explain the capstone and present the deliverable, and MS 2[11] Write with proper grammar, usage, and APA format and style, and MS 2[12] Write with proper paragraph development, transitions, and academic tone.

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