1. The Broad Problem Area
Earlier in this book we have described business research as a systematic and organized effort to investigate a specific problem encountered in the work setting. Indeed, managers have to be alert and responsive to what is going on, both within their organization and in its environment in order to take effective decisions and develop effective courses of action. The origin of most research stems from the desire to get a grip on issues, concerns, and conflicts within the company or in its environment. In other words, research typically begins with a problem.
A “problem” does not necessarily mean that something is seriously wrong with a current situation that needs to be rectified immediately. A problem could also indicate an issue where finding the right answers might help to improve an existing situation. Thus, it is fruitful to define a problem as any situation where a gap exists between the actual and the desired ideal states. This is examples of problems that the manager may encounter in the work setting.