‘研究哲學是一個涵蓋范圍廣泛的術語，有關發展的知識和自然發展的知識’桑德斯（2009）。因此，本文的研究主要是通過在定量測量儀器的‘科學標準’的指導下，系統地收集證據，使得更有可靠性和透明度，研究者也將采用‘實證主義’。

本篇研究是描述性的。為了我們的研究的目的，我們將會研究兩個性質相近的行業在對公司治理的基礎上，確定他們全球的存在、市場的價值和人力資源額實踐。

本篇研究將嘗試兩大目標：

為影響業績潛力和實際業績表現水平的管理風格、技能和其他因素提供一個評估模型。

根據我們的研究，潛力和實際表現之間的差距可以預計，這將有助于改善組織的整體績效。

樣本的選擇

這個研究項目由一個印度的產業群所承擔，而管理人員的選擇是基于隨機選擇的方法。這些行業的管理者會被采訪。數據是基于他們對于管理的觀念和態度，特別參照不同的風格。

 

‘Research philosophy is an over-arching term relating to the development of knowledge and the nature of that knowledge’ Saunders et al, (2009). Since, the research is guided primarily by the ‘scientific criteria’ of the measuring instruments of quantification, systematic collection of evidence, reliability and transparency, researcher adopted ‘positivism’.

The study is descriptive nature. For the purpose of our study two industries of similar nature would be identified on the basis of their corporate governance, global presence, market value and HR practices.

This study would attempt two major objectives namely:

to provide a model to assess managerial styles , skills and other factors that are responsible for their performance potential and the levels of actual performance .

Based on our study the gap between the potential and the actual performance can be estimated which would help in improving the overall performance of the organization.

Selection of sample

The research project was undertaken at a group of industries in India and management professionals were selected based on the random selection method. The managers in these industries were interviewed. Data was generated based on their perceptions and attitude towards management especially with reference to different styles.

About 200 managers were interviewed. The group included both managers who are trained or have previous experience and managers who are not trained. The study adopts a pure descriptive approach. Data on the demographic information of the study sample were done based on the following criteria: whether the managers included in the study were married or single, whether they were professionally trained or not, the experience of the manager greater than or less than 10 years.

The sample selected was then classified based on the following criterion namely,

the nature of the enterprise,

size of the business,

turnover per month/ per capita,

organizational structure.

The sample selection for the two industries required for this study will be carried out by the stratified random sampling method. Further the assessment tool (which is the questionnaire) would be given to managers who are selected on a random basis for the study.

Pilot study

A preliminary study was steered erstwhile to the main study to ensure that the tool for the research study was decipherable, content wise exhaustive, and ambiguous. Small sample group was interviewed on many different places and the study was to generate data by evaluating managerial styles on a list of topics to the same relevant subject. The final scale consisted of 41 items in which assessments were done based on a five-point Likert-type self-report rating scale ranging from “positive” to “negative” views on the subjects under question (1 to 5).

Data Collection

Deductive and Quantitative study

Research on management styles was vast and thus in order to further strengthen the findings researcher adopted quantitative deductive approach where theories are tested through empirically. Data was collected through pre-determined instrument to obtain numerical data which can be analyzed statistically.

The methods adopted for the data collection process for this study involves two steps namely:

Primary data collection

Questionnaires

Structured interviews

Secondary data collection

Case studies

Previous publications

Primary data would be gathered from the sample individuals with the aid of individual questionnaire. Apart from this, structured interviews with top management will be undertaken to get a deeper understanding of the company.

A desk-based approach was also adopted for the research where the data in collected from academic publications, journals, news-papers, government publications, policies, annual reports, and company websites.

The secondary data would be gathered from the published reports of the Export Promotion Council, Department of Industrial Promotion, CRISIL, published books and articles, etc.

Our study would also adopt case study approach (both successful and failure cases) to analyze the process of managerial styles of the respective industries over the years and to understand the role of socio-cultural factors in shaping the management styles in the industries. This study would also administer Likert scale and pictogram to assess the managerial traits of the individuals in the respective industries to link it to the performance. Pilot testing of the field instruments will be carried out before finalizing the tools of data collection for the study.
 

PREDICTOR VARIABLES

It is vital that the participants fill in a detailed biographical questionnaire that gives information on the gender, marital status, experience as these demographics are predictor variables on the different management styles adopted.

Research Tool:

The Questionnaire was developed in such a way that it helped assess in a comprehensive manner about the management styles adopted by the respective managers in the two organisations in terms of the following criteria namely:

Time management and prioritising

Setting goals and standards

Planning and scheduling work

Identifying and solving problems

Making decisions and weighing risk

Thinking clearly and analytically

The interviews on the other hand were designed in such a way so as to help assess the following parameters:

The effect of personality traits of the managers on the management styles adopted

The effect of sociocultural factors on the management styles adopted in each case.

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE:

The demographic profile of the managers assessed was also taken into account. Hence the age, gender (male/ female), marital status (single/ married/ divorcee), educational qualification (graduate/ post-graduate/ technical/ other) experience in years and number of promotions, actual salary drawn in the last month and the religion (Hindu/ muslim/ Christian/ others) are taken into account as background information for the survey.

Procedure of Data Administration

Permission from the respective industry authorities was obtained and the instrument for data analysis was administered. The respondents were gathered together at one place and the questionnaire was administered. The instruction for filling the questionnaire was read out before the beginning of the interview. The questionnaire was properly filled and returned after the exercise. The return rate was also assessed to ensure that no case of loss of items happened.#p#分頁標題#e#

Design

The survey was conducted in accordance to the eight conditions proposed by Snow (1974) so that the design can be more representative namely:

This survey was conducted in the actual work environment of the participants.

Geographic and socioeconomic variations were considered as a holistic input could then be obtained.

All the participants were observed during the pilot study and during the actual study.

At least three visits were made per industry to observe the social context.

Brief, easily understandable instructions were given so that strict protocol was followed for the study.

Customary approaches were used so that the process is easily understandable.

Time Horizon

Cross-sectional technique was adopted where data collected at one point of time and due to its inexpensive to conduct.

Research tool:

The design of the questionnaire was done in such a way as to cover relevant fields of interest under each management criteria such that the responses can be given on a five point likert scale (Strongly agree/ Agree/ Cant decide/ Disagree/ Strongly Disagree).

The questionnaire is devised in such a way that it can be easily understood and can be easily filled without consuming much time so that variabiliies both external and internal can be effectively avoided. The questions are listed under categories with boxes corresponding to the appropriate responses so that the manager can mark the appropriate response.

PART I

Part I of the questionnaire deals with the time management concepts and the concept of prioritising work. The managing styles with reference to time and priority management were assessed based on the responses to the following questions:

Tasks are to be prioritised as per their importance.

Scheduling a task at a stretch will help the Organization.

Dependency on a single person is not a healthy trend for the Organization.

Does distribution of task among employees help bring competitiveness.

Conflicts can arise due to distribution of tasks among very few employees.

Timely discharge of duties by your sub-ordinates in time will improve more productivity.

Completing tasks as per schedule helps the industry.

PART II

Part II of the questionnaire deals with the goals and standard setting concepts of management work. The managing styles with reference to setting standards and goals to be accomplished were assessed based on the responses to the following questions:

The Setting of targets to the sub-ordinates will bring the competitiveness in the organization.

Taking action against employees, if they do not reach the target will produce the desired result.

Setting standard of a product gives a boost to the quality of products .

Six sigma will bring benefits to the organization.

PART III

Part III of the questionnaire deals with the process of identification of problems and finding solutions to problems identified. The managing styles with reference to the identification and solving of problems encountered in a business setting were assessed based on the responses to the following questions:

Solving a problem in a stipulated time will help the Organization.

Identifying a Priorities and problem is the key for success.

When faced with an urgent problem you should act in time.

When faced with a complex problem, you should discuss the complexities and find a solution.

When faced with a difficult problem suggesting various available alternatives is necessary.

PART IV

Part IV of the questionnaire deals with the process of making decisions and weighing risk factors identified. The managing styles with reference to the making of decisions by
weighing the risks involved in a business setting were assessed based on the responses to the following questions:

Before making any important decision thinking through the consequence under each option will help.

For making an important decision you should have good awareness of the current position or existing situation.

Quantitative factors are supporters for decision making.

Qualitative factors are supporters for decision making.

A timely decision will lead to cost effectiveness.

Group decision making will help the Organization.

Knowledge base will give additional advantage to the industry in competing with the peers.

Generation of creative ideas will give motivational support to the employees concerned.

Experienced employees’ ideas are given weightage to overcome critical problems.

PART V

Part V of the questionnaire deals with the socio-cultural factors that may have an effect on management styles. The managing styles with reference to the socio-cultural environment of a business setting were assessed based on the responses to questions under two subheadings namely:

Attitude

Personality traits

PART V A

The managing styles with reference to the attitude of the manager in a business setting were assessed based on the responses to the following questions:

Role of family in an Organization has an impact on the development of business.

Role of Government in the matters of organization will have an impact on the business.

Role of religion will have an effect on the Organization.

Environment where your industry is situated is a factor of success.

Working environment in your Organization is directly related to productivity of the organization.

Whether your views are helpful in decision making?

An analysis made by you will cause cost benefit analysis?

Analytical thinking gives positive result to the Organization.

PART VB

The second part of the questionnaire assesses the management styles based on the personality traits of the managers. The managing styles with reference to the personality traits of the managers involved in a business setting were assessed based on the responses to the following questions:

Your anger affects the decision making.

Emotional reactions will affect the business.

Positive emotions develop group cohesiveness

Subordinates happiness will improve the productivity.

Agreement between you and your top management will bring better decisions.

Too much of control will have a negative impact on productivity.

Following the rules and regulations will improve better practices.

Well organized facilities like housing, health, Nutrition and the support from the Management will have bearing on development.

Reliability, validity issues

The reliability and validity of an instrument will be done through pilot study and face and content validity measures.#p#分頁標題#e#

Validity

Irrespective of the research design selected, factors that could affect the validity of the design must be considered. Validity must be assessed in terms of both internal validity and external validity. Emphasis on the validity types may vary depending on the research question under investigation. In this study the questionnaire is designed to be descriptive in nature and hence, external validity receives greater emphasis. The factors jeopardizing representativeness are hence more relevant to this study.

Internal validity is used to determine if there were any differences in an experiment due to the treatments used (Campbell & Stanley, 1966). Eight types of extraneous variables are considered to be controlled in the design used so that their effects don’t confound the data from the experiment. This list was further expanded by Cook, T. and Campbell (1979) to include 12 extraneous variables. These variables are reviewed to assess their relevance in the study namely,

instrumentation,

history,

testing effects,

statistical regression,

maturation effects,

differential selection,

selection-maturation interaction,

experimental mortality and

compensatory rivalry.

Instrumentation:

Changes that can occur in the measuring instrument, observers, or scorers used, can produce changes in the obtained measurements. These are controlled for by using the same tool (questionnaire), with carefully designed guidelines, rules and interpretations and personally done by the researcher so that experimenter bias and treatment fidelity were consciously avoided.

History:

The events that happen between the first and second measurement apart from the experimental variable are called history (Campbell & Stanley, 1966). The participants may have undergone new experiences between the pilot and the actual study and that may affect their input in the study. In this study the effect of history was controlled as only 10 participants had attended both studies.

Testing effects:

The effects of taking a test upon the scores of a second testing are denied by testing effects (Campbell and Stanley, 1966). In our design only one test is used and the participants of the pilot study were not asked to take the test again.

Statistical regression:

When groups are selected on the basis of extreme scores, there is a problem of statistical regression. However, this is irrelevant to our study as one test alone was conducted, and selection was done based on experience and availability and not test scores.

Maturation effects:

The physical or psychological changes within the participants that are variable with time are termed maturation effects (Campbell & Stanley, 1966). Participants hunger, tiredness, etc that may happen within the survey period are included in this criteria. The maturation effects were controlled for in this study as the design was adapted in such a way that the survey is completed in less than 5 minutes.

Differential selection:

When differential selection is done there is a chance for bias among the comparison groups (Campbell & Stanley, 1966). In this study, differential selection was not considered as a significant threat because there were no comparison groups.

Selection-maturation interaction:

Depending upon the nature of the group selected there may be differences in the test outcome during the time span of the experiment (Campbell & Stanley, 1966). However in our study there is no threat to the design because of selection maturation interactions as the study was conducted over a wide range of respondents within a very short period of time. Further, there was only one group of managers assessed no groups exist.

Experimental mortality:

Experimental mortality stands for the differential loss of respondents from the comparison groups (Campbell & Stanley, 1966). In our study, the experimental mortality was controlled for because no comparison groups exist and the study was a very short one. There is a possibility that some of the participants might be absent during the time of the study but this was unavoidable and the study was done with available resources.

This being a study on a representative group, the input of one eligible person would be considered same as another similarly eligible person.

Experimental treatment diffusion or compensatory rivalry (John Henry effect):

The nominal compensatory equalization and resentful demoralization is termed as experimental treatment diffusion or compensatory rivalry. This effect is popularly termed as the John Henry effect (Cook, T. & Campbell, 1979). In this study though, extraneous variables were immaterial because no control group was used.

External Validity

The process of the possibility of generalization from the data obtained in one context to broader populations and settings is termed as external validity (or representativeness) (Cook, T. & Campbell, 1979; Bickman, 1989; Hedrick, Bickman, & Rog, 1993).

Generalization can be done strictly only among the population from which the sample of our study is drawn. The population must be compared in several critical aspects so that the population can be deemed similar. The examination must also include environmental conditions. There are several factors that Campbell and Stanley (1966) listed that could affect external validity namely, the interaction effect of testing, selection, experimental arrangements and multiple treatment interference.

Interaction effect of testing:

The reactive or interaction effect of testing is an important factor that can affect external validity (Campbell & Stanley, 1966). This occurs when the conduct of a pre-test might result in the increase or decrease in a participant's responsiveness to the experimental variable. This might result in the pre-tested population's results unrepresentative of the effects of the experimental variable.

In this design however, this threat is considered to be minimal because there was no pre-test before the actual survey.

Hence we can say that the population used may better represent the un-pre-tested universe from which the respondents were selected.

Interaction effects of selection.

“The limitation of the effects of the experimental variable to that specific sample and the possibility that this reaction would be untypical of the more general universe of interest for which the naturally aggregated exposure group was a biased sample” refers to the interaction effects of selection (Campbell and Stanley, 1996).

The realities of life such as funding, availability of participants, variability in human behavior represent the variables of selection. It is hence impossible to control all such variables of selection. For this reason, controls were added.

The sample size was increased to 200 participants so that intact groups are represented and randomization or matching was not possible. Further, managers serving varied socioeconomic and geographical locations were included and explicit description of the sample population and study framework was provided.

The study design and instrument were cautiously fashioned. The cover letter operationalized the definitions used for the survey's terminology, the survey was devised under specific guidelines, particular criteria were set for the participants, application and scoring of the survey was regimented, and bias of data interpretation was knowledgeably avoided.

Furthermore, throughout the study, the researcher was cautious not to generalize any findings beyond the intended manager population of the two industries selected for the study.

EXPERIMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS:

‘The confounding effects of the experimental arrangements might also jeopardize external validity’- (Campbell & Stanley, 1966). When the experimental setting seems artificial and the participants know that they are taking part in an experimental evaluation it threatens the representativeness of the group and the generalization of the results.

In this study however, our approach with self-administered questionnaires and assurances of confidentiality help reduce this threat. All participants were provided with the same materials, information, and considered equally.

MULTIPLE TREATMENT INTERFERENCE:

The confounding effect of multiple treatments was controlled in this design as there was no pretesting. A single survey was taken and no repetitions existed between the pilot and the actual studies. The pilot test was used strictly to pilot the survey instrument and process. The results were not used in the study.

Any risk of the application of the interview survey in addition to the initial self-administered survey, changing the participants' behavior and therefore the results were also controlled by the design. The choice to select the interview participants randomly, from the entire population being studied, greatly reduced this threat, and enhanced the validity of the study's findings.

Statistical analysis

The data will be analyzed using excel. Descriptive statistics are used to analyze continuous and categorical data and presented in the form mean, standard deviation and percentage. To measure the significance, students T-test was performed.