...Writing a Literature Review What is a Literature Review? A literature review is a survey and discussion of the literature in a given area of study. It is a concise overview of what has been studied, argued, and established about a topic, and it is usually organized chronologically or thematically. A literature review is written in essay format. It is not an annotated bibliography, because it groups related works together and discusses trends and developments rather than focusing on one item at a time. It is not a summary; rather, it evaluates previous and current research. Purpose A literature review is written to highlight specific arguments and ideas in a field of study. By highlighting these arguments, the writer attempts to show what has been studied in the field, and also where the weaknesses, gaps, or areas needing further study are. The review should therefore also demonstrate to the reader why the writer’s research is useful, necessary, important, and valid. Audience Literature reviews can have different types of audiences, so consider why and for whom you are writing your review. For example, a lot of literature reviews are written as a chapter for a thesis or dissertation, so the audience will want to know in what way your research is important and original. Highlighting the gap in knowledge which your research aims to fill is particularly important in this instance because you need to convince the reader that there is an opening in the area of study. A literature review...
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...Business Leadership Name Institution Business Leadership Abstract This research examines developments made in the leadership studies, beginning with the early theories made to try explaining the concept of leadership in business. Secondary materials were used as the main sources of data in this research paper. The objective of this research is to discuss leadership literature, the success of different writers work on the topic and its impact on business organizations. The literature review starts with a brief history of leadership and the key developments made during its evolution. The literature review then discusses the first phase of the business, which was before the 20th century followed by what was written in the second phase, which is normally called the neo-classical period. The review ends by giving the most recent developments in the field and the impact they have had on business organizations. The paper looks at leadership styles as the most discussed sub-section of leadership in its literature. This paper ends with a conclusion summarizing the research followed by possible recommendations. The importance of this research is to get data relevant to organizational leadership by analyzing literature development over the years. Introduction The concept of leadership is as old as civilization itself. It started from the ancient times when the organization became an entity and many people started getting together to achieve a certain objective. A leader is...
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...14:81–95 DOI 10.1007/s10209-014-0348-1 LONG PAPER Technology acceptance model: a literature review from 1986 to 2013 ´ ´ Nikola Marangunic • Andrina Granic Published online: 16 February 2014 Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014 Abstract With the ever-increasing development of technology and its integration into users’ private and professional life, a decision regarding its acceptance or rejection still remains an open question. A respectable amount of work dealing with the technology acceptance model (TAM), from its first appearance more than a quarter of a century ago, clearly indicates a popularity of the model in the field of technology acceptance. Originated in the psychological theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behavior, TAM has evolved to become a key model in understanding predictors of human behavior toward potential acceptance or rejection of the technology. The main aim of the paper is to provide an up-to-date, wellresearched resource of past and current references to TAMrelated literature and to identify possible directions for future TAM research. The paper presents a comprehensive concept-centric literature review of the TAM, from 1986 onwards. According to a designed methodology, 85 scientific publications have been selected and classified according to their aim and content into three categories such as (i) TAM literature reviews, (ii) development and extension of TAM, and (iii) modification and application of TAM. Despite a...
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...The transition from being a “learner” to a “critical thinker” requires the doctoral student to ascertain an individual perspective of how best to obtain and synthesize knowledge for the purpose of creating new knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to determine how important developmental social networks (both academic and non-academic) and critical thinking are to new doctoral students. Weidman and Stein (2003) analyzed the effect of the social climate between students and faculty at academic departments on the overall development of professional identity among Ph.D. students. Baker and Lattuca (2003) analyzed developmental network theory and the theory of sociocultural perspectives on learning to theorize that an interdisciplinary approach of learning and socialization was the best model for promoting positive professional identity development. Visser, Visser and Schlosser (2003) examined the importance and impact of social networks in the development of critical thinking skills among students by contrasting distance learners with traditional classroom learners at the university level. Comparison of Research Questions In their studies, the authors tackle how doctoral students can best prepare for a doctoral education and how developing social relationships and networks within their chosen academic programs helps doctoral students with developing a professional academic identity. Visser et. al. (2003) analyzed the first part of that journey – the pre-doctoral program preparation...
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...Studies on Manufacturing (Vol.1-2010/Iss.1) Jain et al. / Supply Chain Management: Literature Review and Some Issues / pp. 11-25 Supply Chain Management: Literature Review and Some Issues Jinesh Jain*, G. S. Dangayach*, G. Agarwal*, Soumya Banerjee** *Department of Mechanical Engineering, Malaviya National Institute Technology, Jaipur(India) Email: jineshjain1234@rediffmail.com, dangayach@ gmail.com, agarwal.drg@gmail.com **Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra (Ranchi) Email: soumyabanerjee@bitmesra.ac.in Submitted: 10/12/2009 Accepted: 31/01/2010 Appeared: 16/01/2010 ©HyperSciences.Publisher Abstract: Supply chain Management has assumed a significant role in firm's performance and has attracted serious research attention over the last few years. A literature review reveals a considerable spurt in research in theory and practice of SCM. Combining and informing on features of Supply Management and distribution Management. This integration has resulted in the concept of extended enterprise and the supply chain is now manifest as the collaborative supply chain across intercompany borders to maximize the value across the entire supply chain. A large number of research papers have been published in various journals in last two decades. In this paper an attempt is made to review the status of literature on Supply Chain Management. A literature classification scheme is proposed. A total of 588 articles from 13 refereed academic...
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...Abstract By charter, national Greek organizations (ie, fraternities and sororities) place an emphasis on upholding personal integrity, academic scholarship, and development of campus leaders. Recent concerns, however, assert that the drinking behaviors of members of Greek organizations are antithetical to the mission of their universities. Objective: The author's purpose in this review was to systematically examine scientific literature addressing the effect of Greek affiliation on alcohol-related beliefs and behaviors. The internal and external influences affecting Greek members' alcohol-related beliefs and behaviors are organized into a frame-work of various health behavior theories, based on the ecological perspective's levels of influence.Results: Results provide a broad perspective into the individual characteristics, social peer network, and environmental aspects influencing alcohol-related behavior among Greek members. Findings suggest that Greek members comprise a subgroup that consumes alcohol in greater quantities, underscores and misperceives the risks of alcohol abuse, and emulates a social environment and culture in which drinking alcohol is a key part of life. Problem drinking during the college years is a significant public health concern. The goal of the current review was to examine the primary psychosocial factors that predict problem drinking in college students. Variables examined included demographic variables, personality, drinking history, alcohol expectancies...
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...Development Of A Conceptual Framework Accounting Essay ‘Developing a conceptual framework is an impossible possibility ‘it is hard to say that this statement is wrong or not. First, there is no accurate or definitive view of what constitutes a conceptual framework, but there is no doubt that conceptual framework helping a development of academic theory, meanwhile, it is also provide a great deal of prescription. Developing a conceptual framework is feasible and promising. In this issue, I explain what is the conceptual framework? Who needs them? And list the importance of conceptual framework to financial report prove my view. NEED FOR A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK Why do we need to develop a conceptual framework? Of course, it is be useful, the body of concepts should to make rules and relate to financial report; a soundly developed conceptual framework enables the IASB to issue more useful and consistent pronouncements over time. It means a coherent standard should result. So, if framework have no a soundly development, the guidance by it will influent standard-setting based on individual concepts. In other words, standard-setting cannot base on personal conceptual frameworks; it will lead to wrong conclusions about identical or similar issues than it did previously. As a result, past decisions is not treat as future ones, standards cannot be consistent with one another. Furthermore, the conceptual framework should be paying attention to users’ understanding about financial reporting...
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...Corporate Reputation Review Volume 12 Number 4 A Systematic Review of the Corporate Reputation Literature: Definition, Measurement, and Theory Kent Walker Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ABSTRACT A systematic review of the corporate reputation literature is conducted. The final sample of 54 articles (and one book) consists of well-cited papers, and papers in journals that have published high quality work in corporate reputation. The sample is then analyzed and the three fundamental problems in the reputation literature are addressed – the need for a comprehensive and well-accepted definition, the difficulty in operationalizing corporate reputation, and the ongoing need for more developed theory. Two main findings evolve from this analysis: (1) reputation may have different dimensions and is issue specific, and (2) different stakeholder groups may have different perceptions of corporate reputations. The implications for future research are discussed. Corporate Reputation Review (2010) 12, 357–387. doi:10.1057/crr.2009.26 KEYWORDS: corporate reputation; definition; operationalization; organizational identity; organizational image; systematic review INTRODUCTION There are many reasons why organizations and researchers should care about corporate reputation. The relationship between reputation and a sustained competitive advantage is widely acknowledged in the literature (eg, Fombrun and Shanley, 1990; Fombrun, 1996;...
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...explores. The learning organization literature that this paper explores is defined as the role of an institution in setting up a successful union of individuals to create learning to improve an individual and the institution as a whole (Calvert, Mobley, Marshall, 1994). This, of course, is a basic definition, and as the literature is explored, the reader quickly learns that learning organizations are as varied and diverse as the institutions within which they exist. The literature concerning learning organizations is also varied and diverse; ranging from simple, clear, and concise books and article to very detailed, in-depth, complex, and rigorous academic studies. Although the literature is exhaustive and at times overwhelming, by organizing the literature into common core areas, a reader can efficiently and effectively learn all there is to know about the learning organization, how to create a learning organization, and maintaining a successful learning organization. By thoroughly examining the literature in these three areas, an individual or institution will be able to thoroughly understand the entire scope of learning organizations. The common core areas that the majority of learning organization literature can be categorized into are foundation/founders of the concept, turning the theory into strong foundations, and learning organization application and evaluation. Foundation/Founders of the Concept By beginning with the literature that introduced and defined the...
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...materials and resources on how companies should measure and report their impact on society’ (Business Impact, 2000). It lists twenty such initiatives in various areas of furthering corporate social responsibility, not including its own report. Similarly, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD, 1999) seeks to develop a clear understanding of corporate social responsibility, including a matrix of corporate social responsibility indicators. But what is meant by Corporate Social Responsibility (‘CSR’)? Responsibility for what and to whom and who is calling for firms to be socially responsible? This article examines the broad development of the ideas behind CSR within the literature and some of the current attempts to define the social responsibilities of business. It starts by examining the debate about the nature of corporate social responsibility and current attempts to define CSR. It then looks at some theories to explain how and why business might undertake CSR –stakeholder theory, social contracts theory and legitimacy theory. The article concludes by describing ways of assessing corporate social performance – from industry and also from the academic literature. The need for companies to undertake activity that might be...
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...Downloaded from org.sagepub.com at Sheffield Hallam University on January 18, 2014 Article Organization 18(1) 23–44 © The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: sagepub. co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1350508410372151 http://org.sagepub.com Ways of constructing research questions: gap-spotting or problematization? Jörgen Sandberg Mats Alvesson UQ Business School, University of Queensland, Australia Department of Business Administration, University of Lund, Sweden Abstract This article examines ways of constructing research questions from existing literature, which are likely to promote the development of interesting and influential theories. We review 52 articles in organization studies and develop a typology of how researchers construct their research questions from existing literature.The most common way across paradigmatic camps is to spot various ‘gaps’ in the literature and, based on that, to formulate specific research questions. The dominance of gap-spotting is surprising, given it is increasingly recognized...
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...Nursing http://jsn.sagepub.com/ Literature Reviews as a Research Strategy Julia Muennich Cowell The Journal of School Nursing 2012 28: 326 DOI: 10.1177/1059840512458666 The online version of this article can be found at: http://jsn.sagepub.com/content/28/5/326 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of: National Association of School Nurses Additional services and information for The Journal of School Nursing can be found at: Email Alerts: http://jsn.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://jsn.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav >> Version of Record - Sep 25, 2012 What is This? Downloaded from jsn.sagepub.com by guest on August 26, 2013 Editorial The Journal of School Nursing 28(5) 326-327 ª The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permission: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1059840512458666 http://jsn.sagepub.com Literature Reviews as a Research Strategy Literature reviews have long been important strategies to assess the state of the science. As early as 1993, Broome (1993) recommended literature reviews as a strategy to assist in the development of concepts. Many graduate students in nursing and other sciences learn about synthesizing literature throughout their academic programs using a variety of guides including Cooper’s (1998) Synthesizing Research: A Guide for Literature Reviews as a common reference or Fink’s...
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...Synthesis of Bariatric Surgery and the Effects on Comorbidities Abstract This synthesis of literature provides a summary of the data that has been collected over the years through experimentation, literature reviews, qualitative research, and the results that have been construed from that data will be presented. It discusses the concept of the effects of bariatric surgery and answers the question - do people who have the surgery have better health outcomes, specifically with hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus, than those who do not? A summary of research reveals that there is a significant reduction and/or total remission of both of these co-morbidities that were often life long. Other benefits, such as quality of life, social standings, and healthcare cost reduction are examined and positively reported. Review of current data to include strengths and weaknesses, conceptual frameworks, and the current state of knowledge reveal that bariatric procedures have shown the efficacy and safety in the treatment of morbid obesity and have gained wider acceptance in the medical world. Synthesis of Bariatric Surgery and the Effects on Comorbidities For years people have turned to diets in an effort to lose weight and get healthier. At no time has that been more the case than in America today. People spend billions of dollars a year trying to lose weight and the numbers are not encouraging. The prevalence in obesity with related Type...
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...Direct Contact and its impact on challenges facing adopted children: A Literature Review. Table of content: 1) Abstract …………………………………………..3 2) Introduction and research question ………... 3 3) Methodology and Method……………………... 8 4) Key Findings……………………………………... 16 5) Analysis and Discussion………………………. 25 6) Limitations………………………………………... 28 7) Conclusion and recommendation…………….. 29 8) Bibliography………………………………………. 30 1) Abstract This literature review explores the concept of direct contact, and what impact it has on the challenges that face adopted children. It begins by discussing adoption, contact and the meaning of these concepts. The key findings are then analysed and discussed in correlation to social work practice. From the literature analysed it would seem that direct contact has a positive impact on the challenges facing adopted children. These include, identity development,attachment development and reduced feelings of loss. Recommendation for future practice and research; although there is much to be learnt from research that has been carried out to date, simple formulas and rules cannot be applied; decisions made around contact require case by case assessment of the risks and benefits. Furthermore, long...
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...students within the OBHR major will craft a program of research that is built upon rigorous theory as well as strong methodological skills that are both necessary for effective scholarship. We encourage collaboration with OBHR faculty that has a proven track record of publishing within a variety of top outlets (Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Labor Research, Harvard Business Review; Human Resource Management; Industrial and Labor Relations Review; Sloan Management Review). Organizational Behavior/Human Resources Management Behavior Systems and Management Thought The objective of this course is to explore the evolution and development of management theory with particular emphasis on the design of behavioral systems in organizations. It is a core premise of the course that the design of systems to manage people in organizations is based on a set of assumptions about humans that are part of the managerial theory that guides the formation and operation of complex organizations. Management theory and the models of human beings that are incorporated in them need not be formally articulated statements. They are often implicit as values, assumptions and beliefs that form the basis for organization and action. This seminar will examine a range of formal and informal management theories and the various models of human beings that are explicit and...
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