Problem Solving in Organizations: A Methodological Handbook for Business Students

by Joan Ernst van Aken , Hans Berends , Hans van der Bij

• ISBN13: 9780521869768
• ISBN10: 0521869765
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-03-12
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This concise introduction to the methodology of Business Problem Solving (BPS) is an indispensable guide to the design and execution of practical projects in real organizational settings. The methodology is both result-oriented and theory-based, encouraging students to use the knowledge gained on their disciplinary courses, and showing them how to do so in a fuzzy, ambiguous and politically charged real life business context. The book provides in-depth discussion of the various steps in the process of business problem solving. Rather than presenting the methodology as a recipe to be followed, the authors demonstrate how to adapt the approach to specific situations and to be flexible in scheduling the work at various steps in the process. It will be indispensable to MBA students who are undertaking their own field work.

Author Biography

Hans Berends is Assistant Professor in the Department of Organization Science and Marketing of the Faculty Technology Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands.

Table of Contents

List of figures	p. ix
List of boxes	p. x
Preface	p. xi
Fundamentals	p. 1
Scope and nature of this handbook	p. 3
Objectives and target audience	p. 3
Design-focused and theory-based business problem-solving	p. 4
How to use this handbook	p. 5
Problem-solving projects in organizations	p. 7
The nature of business problem-solving projects	p. 7
The basic setup of a problem-solving project	p. 12
Quality criteria for problem-solving projects	p. 15
Design-focused business problem-solving	p. 17
Introduction	p. 17
Characteristics of design-focused business problem-solving	p. 17
Problem-solving strategies	p. 19
Choosing a problem-solving strategy	p. 21
Designs and designing	p. 22
Designing social systems	p. 27
Paradigmatic starting points	p. 30
Theory-based business problem-solving	p. 33
Theory-based problem analysis and solution design	p. 33
Solution concepts for business problem-solving	p. 34
Developing knowledge for business problem-solving	p. 36
The problem-solving project	p. 39
Intake and orientation	p. 41
General setup	p. 41
The intake process	p. 42
The orientation process	p. 45
Describing the problem context	p. 46
Problem definition	p. 46
Assignment and deliverables	p. 50
Project approach	p. 51
Project costs and organization	p. 55
Problem-solving projects in different formats	p. 56
Example	p. 58
Theory-based diagnosis of business problems	p. 63
Introduction	p. 63
Empirical exploration and validation of the business problem and its causes	p. 64
Theoretical analysis	p. 70
Process-oriented analysis	p. 75
The diagnostic story	p. 78
Alternative approaches	p. 79
Final remarks	p. 81
Solution design	p. 83
Introduction	p. 83
The deliverables of the problem-solving project	p. 83
The design process	p. 84
Solution design	p. 87
Solution justification	p. 90
Solution design: the International Imaging Systems case	p. 92
Change plan design and the actual change process	p. 98
The timing of change plan design	p. 98
Change plan design	p. 99
The change process	p. 104
Change plan design: the International Imaging Systems case	p. 106
Change plan design: the importance of developing organizational support	p. 110
Evaluation, reflection and termination	p. 113
Introduction	p. 113
Project-oriented evaluation	p. 114
Learning for the future	p. 119
Scientific reflection	p. 122
Personal and professional development	p. 124
Project termination and reporting	p. 125
On methods	p. 127
Qualitative research methods	p. 129
Qualitative versus quantitative	p. 129
Unit of analysis	p. 130
Case selection	p. 133
Qualitative data collection methods	p. 134
Qualitative methods of analysis	p. 137
Selecting a method	p. 141
Searching and using scholarly literature	p. 143
Introduction	p. 143
Types of publications	p. 144
Focusing a literature review	p. 148
Searching literature	p. 149
Integrating ideas and findings	p. 152
Quality criteria for research	p. 155
Introduction	p. 155
Controllability	p. 157
Reliability	p. 158
Validity	p. 163
Recognition of results	p. 166
Concluding remarks	p. 167
Conclusion	p. 169
Concluding remarks	p. 171
References	p. 174
Index	p. 181
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