Once a problem is sensed and an investigation is decided on, it is necessary to inform all employees—particularly those who will be interviewed for preliminary data gathering through structured and unstructured interviews—of the proposed study. Though it is not necessary to acquaint them with the actual reasons for the study (because this might bias responses), letting them know that the research is intended to help them in their work environment will enlist their cooperation. The element of unpleasant surprise will thus be eliminated for the employees. It is also
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necessary to assure employees that their responses will be kept confidential by the interviewer/s and that individual responses will not be divulged to anyone in the organization. These two steps make the employees comfortable with the research undertaken and ensure their cooperation. Attempts to obtain information through deceptive means should be avoided at all costs as they engender distrust and anx- iety within the system. In essence, employers have the right to gather information relating to work, and employees have the right to privacy and confidentiality; but respondent cooperation alone assures good information.
We could draw lessons from the fact that Johns Hopkins University ran into ethical problems for allegedly using human beings for riskly scientific experi- ments. The Maryland Court of Appeals took issue with the prestigious university for its research in the 1990s when it exposed hundreds of poor and minority infants and toddlers to major health risks without alerting their parents. Some of the children, according to newsprint reports, now suffer learning disabilities and cognitive impairments akin to lead poisoning.
More recently, in June 2001, the same institution practiced deliberate decep- tion on asthma patients to enable doctors to chart the effects of certain medicine.
In the process one patient died. In both cases, failure to observe ethical stan- dards brought discredit to this prestigious research organization. The moral of this is quite clear—experiments on human beings may sometimes become worthwhile as a matter of necessity in the larger interests of promoting the health and well being of people, but it is imperative that these should be undertaken only with the full knowledge and unqualified and specific approval of the par- ticipating subjects.
SUMMARY
In this chapter, we learned about the first three steps in the research process: identifica- tion of the broad problem area to be researched, preliminary data gathering through inter- views and literature survey, and problem definition. In particular, we discussed how managers could identify the broad problem area through observation, how preliminary data can be collected through unstructured and structured interviews and literature sur- vey, and how the problem can be honed. We defined the term problem as any situation where a gap exists between the actual and desired states. We also touched on the ethical issues confronting researchers.
The Appendix to this chapter offers information on (1) online databases, (2) biblio- graphical indexes, (3) APA format for references, and (4) notes on referencing previous studies and quoting original sources in the literature review section.
In Chapter 5 we will examine the next two steps in the research process: theoretical framework and hypotheses.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND POINTS TO PONDER
1. How would you describe the research process?
2. Explain the preliminary data collection methods.
3. Why is it important to gather information on the background of the organization?
ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGES OF INVESTIGATION 73
4. Should a researcher always obtain information on the structural aspects and job char- acteristics from those interviewed? Give reasons for your answer with examples.
5. How would you go about doing a literature survey in the area of business ethics?
6. What is the purpose of a literature survey?
7. Why is appropriate citation important? What are the consequences of not giving credit to the source from which materials are extracted?
8. ―The problem definition stage is perhaps more critical in the research process than the problem solution stage.‖ Discuss this statement.
9. Why should one get hung up on problem definition if one already knows the broad problem area to be studied?
10. Offer a clearly focused problem statement in the broad area of corporate culture.
11. After studying and extracting information from all the relevant work done previously, how does the researcher know which particular references, articles, and information should be given prominence in the literature survey?
12. Below is the gist of an article from Business Week. After reading it, (a) identify the broad problem area, (b) define the problem, and (c) explain how you would proceed further.
While Chrysler‘s minivans, pickups, and sport utility vehicles take a big share of the truck market, its cars trail behind those of GM, Ford, Honda, and Toyota. Quality problems include, among other things, water leaks and defective parts.
13. Comment on the following research:
From 1932 to 1972, a research study was conducted in Tuskegee, Alabama, to chart the effects of withholding treatment to African American men with syphilis.
14. What is the problem statement in the following situation?
Employee Loyalty
Companies benefit through employee loyalty. Crude downsizing in organizations during the recession crushed the loyalty of millions. The economic benefits of loy- alty embrace lower recruitment and training costs, higher productivity of workers, customer satisfaction, and the boost to morale of fresh recruits. In order that these benefits are not lost, some companies while downsizing try various gimmicks. Flex leave, for instance, is one. This helps employees receive 20% of their salary, plus employer provided benefits, while they take a 6 to 12 month sabbatical, with a call option on their services. Others try alternatives like more communication, hand holding, and the like.
15. How would you define the problem in the following case?
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Accounting Gets Radical
The GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) do an unacceptable job of accounting for the principle activities of the information age companies. Today, investors are in the dark because the acounting is irrelevant. The basic purpose of accounting is to provide useful information to help investors make rational invest- ment, credit, and similar decisions, but today‘s most important assets and activi- ties—intellectual capital and work knowledge—are totally ignored.
Professor Robert A. Howell wants to reform the accounting system with the goal of making clear the measurement of how companies produce cash and create value.