Name : Tichaona Raphael Muza

Course : MBA Part 3

Research Topic - Proposal

An analysis of the role of enterprise application system on

effecting business process reengineering , A Case for Zimbabwe
Revenue Authority – 2001 to 2005.

Supervisor : Dr Kabanda
3.0 Methodology

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Research Philosophy

In research, two approaches for research methodologies namely scientific empirical

tradition and the naturalistic phenomenological (Cooper and Schindler 2003) are
normally used. These approaches are also known as quantitative and qualitative research
approaches respectively. The two approaches meanings are that quality is the essential
character or nature of something, quantity is the amount. Quality is the what, quantity the
how much. Qualitative refers to meaning, the definition or analogy or model or metaphor
characterizing something, while qualitative assumes the meaning and refers to the
measure of it (Maanen et al, 1982: 37). Gay (1996:208) is more elaborate and defines
qualitative research as “the collection and analysis of extensive narrative data in order to
gain insights into a situation of interest not possible using other types of research.”

This research seeks to undertake a qualitative approach. According to Marshall and

Rossman (1989), qualitative research does offer several approaches which are adoptable
for exploratory investigations of management questions namely:

 In – depth interviewing (usually conversational rather than structured).

 Participant observation (to perceive first hand what participants in the setting
experience.).

 Films, photographs, and videotape (to capture the life of the group under study).

 Projective techniques and psychological testing (such as projective measures,

games, or role-playing).

 Case studies (for an in – depth contextual analysis of a few events or conditions).

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  Elite or expert interviewing (for information from influential or well informed
people in an organisation or community).

 Document analysis (to evaluate historical or contemporary confidential or public

records, reports, government records and opinions).

 Proxemics and kinesics (to study the use of space and body motion, respectively).

These approaches can be summarised into four exploratory techniques emerge

namely (Cooper and Schindler, 2003)

1. Secondary data analysis.

2. Experience surveys.

3. Focus groups.

4. Two-stage designs.

3.3 Deductive Reasoning

Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. Sometimes this is
informally called a "top-down" approach. The researcher begins with thinking up a theory
about our topic of interest. The researcher then narrows that down into more specific
hypotheses that can be tested. This is then narrowed down even further when we collect
observations to address the hypotheses. This ultimately leads researcher to be able to test
the hypotheses with specific data -- a confirmation (or not) of our original theories.

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Figure 3.1 Source Trochim (2006)

3.4 Inductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning works the other way, moving from specific observations to broader
generalizations and theories. Informally, we sometimes call this a "bottom up" approach.
In inductive reasoning, a researcher begin with specific observations and measures, begin
to detect patterns and regularities, formulate some tentative hypotheses that we can
explore, and finally end up developing some general conclusions or theories.

Inductive Reasoning

Figure 3.2 Source (Trochim , 2006)

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Inductive reasoning may involve generalisation. This kind of reasoning, a general
statement is made based on observation with specific members of a particular group. The
problem of using generalisation for inductive reasoning is the source for such
generalisation. This normally occurs when a conclusion is made with inadequate
information. Another error occurs when one has excluded some important facts in the
inductive reasoning process. Inductive reasoning can also be based on analogy, which is
coming to a conclusion based on similarities to other things or events. A false analogy
can result in events of hasty generalisations. Another type of inductive reasoning makes
use of statistical inferences in these instances; conclusions are made about a population
on the basis of findings on a sample. Problems arise out of unrepresentative sample used
to draw such a conclusion.

In practice, inductive reasoning is better than deductive as it allows for exploratory

thinking while deductive reasoning is more about confirming a hypothesis. In practice,
researchers often use the techniques of combination. This type of reasoning is known as
abdicative reasoning ( Trochin ,2006).

Research Methodology

Business Research is defined by Cooper and Schindler, 2003:5 as “a systematic inquiry

whose objective is to provide information to solve managerial problems”.

3.1 Review of Available Methodologies

In research, two approaches for research methodologies namely scientific empirical

tradition and the naturalistic phenomenological (Cooper and Schindler 2003) are
normally used. These approaches are also known as quantitative and qualitative research
approaches respectively. The two approaches meanings are that quality is the essential
character or nature of something, quantity is the amount. Quality is the what, quantity the

4
how much. Qualitative refers to meaning, the definition or analogy or model or metaphor
characterizing something, while qualitative assumes the meaning and refers to the
measure of it (Maanen et al, 1982: 37).

This research seeks to undertake a qualitative approach. According to Marshall and

Rossman (1989), qualitative research does offer several approaches which are adoptable
for exploratory investigations of management questions namely:

 In – depth interviewing (usually conversational rather than structured).

 Participant observation (to perceive first hand what participants in the setting
experience.).

 Films, photographs, and videotape (to capture the life of the group under study).

 Projective techniques and psychological testing (such as projective measures,

games, or role-playing).

 Case studies (for an in – depth contextual analysis of a few events or conditions).

 Elite or expert interviewing (for information from influential or well informed

people in an organisation or community).

 Document analysis (to evaluate historical or contemporary confidential or public

records, reports, government records and opinions).

 Proxemics and kinesics (to study the use of space and body motion, respectively).

These approaches can be summarised into four exploratory techniques emerge

namely (Cooper and Schindler, 2003)

1. Secondary data analysis.

2. Experience surveys.

3. Focus groups.

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 4. Two-stage designs.

Target Population and Sampling methods.

The population is the entire Zimbabwe Revenue Authority staff complement of around
two thousand staff. The staff is the ones who monitors and utilize the enterprise system in
effecting business processes.

Sample and data analysis techniques.

The research will focus on all key areas of Zimbabwe Revenue Authority operations.
Sample questionnaires will be sent to key operations of the authority. The questionnaires
will target two hundred respondents within Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. This is
reliable as this number does cover about 10 percent of the population. As ( Kotler, 1997 )
puts it , a target of less than one percent is often more reliable , however for Zimbabwe
Revenue Authority a target of one percent would be too small as this translate to only
twenty persons.

Questionnaire will capture both qualitative and quantitative data. Spreading samples
across the entire organisation would mean that the results would be reliable.
Questionnaires will be sent electronically and also by letters to members of the authority
staff. Graphs and charts would then be used to analyse findings.

References.

1. Alter,S. (1996). Information System and Management Perspective. Benjamin

Kumming Publishing Company.
2. Trochim, W, M,K (2002). Philosophy of research, available online- URL
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/philosophy.htm accessed on 10/20/2006