Ethics - Rights and Obligations

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Ethics - Rights and Obligations

• The respondent
• respect privacy, avoid deception, inform about
  purpose
• The researcher
• be honest objective, keep promises, report
  accurately
• The client
• mutual respect, openness, commitment, no hidden
  agenda

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Problem definition
Analyst
Interpretation
Extraction
Decision Maker
Problem
Decision
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Problem definition
1. Ascertain the decision makers
objective 2. Understand the background of the
problem 3. Isolate and identify the problem
rather than its symptoms 4. Determine the units
of analysis - Who do we ask? 5. Determine the
relevant variables - What? 6. State the research
questions /hypothesis and research objectives 7.
Write down a research proposal (R. design in
writing) 8. Anticipate the outcome (presentation)
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Influences of definition
Feedback
Specific Objective I
Statement of Problem
Broad Research Objectives
Specific Objective II
Research Design
Results
Exploratory Research (Optional)
Specific Objective III
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Problem definitionCreativity techniques
Analytical Intuitive Progressive
abstraction Associations/Images Interrogatories
(5WsH) Wishful thinking Boundary examinations
Brain storming Analogy/metaphor
Individuals vs. groups
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Problem definitionGAP analysis
Unintended situation
Normal situation
Ideal situation
Problem definition
Definition of opportunities
Disturbing problems
Entrepreneurial problems
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Problem definitionProgressive Abstraction
Technique
1. Basic description of the problem 2. Gradually
moving towards a higher level of
abstraction (until a usable definition has been
reached) - the problem is automatically
extended, new definitions may show up - new
definitions can be evaluated regarding
applicability - when a higher level of
abstraction has been reached, it is often
easier to identify solutions 3. The decision
maker/analyst is forced into a systematic way of
searching for substructures and relationships
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Problem definitionBoundary examination technique
1. Purpose to restructure the assumptions
and to develop new ways of looking at the
problem 2. Procedure - describe the problem, as
it looks at the moment - identify key elements
in the definition and examine them to reveal
underlying assumptions - analyse each assumption
and identify its causes and effects - redefine
the problem based on the deeper understanding of
the elements achieved during this
process 3. Advantages - provocative definition
of the problem - reveals limits which are
difficult to identify - stresses the need of a
flexible definition of the problem
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Problem definitionInterrogatories WsH(who,
what, where, when, why, how)
1. Purpose To make sure that all aspects of the
problem has been considered 2. Procedure -
construct questions for each of the 5 WsH -
answer the questions - evaluate the proposed
answers - if an improvement shows up is it
cost efficient? if so change
accordingly 3. Very efficient technique which
can be applied in any phases of the problem
definition
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Problem definitionWishful thinking technique
1. Purpose To isolate the process of defining
the problem from non-recognized but irrelevant
alternative assumptions 2. Procedure -
formulate questions, targets, situations or a
problem - accept that everything is possible -
use imagination to formulate statements like I
would like to.. or If I could choose -
examine each statement and apply it as a
stimuli - return to reality and formulate
statements like Even if I cant do it, then
I can - repeat the last three steps if needed
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Problem definitionBrain storming
1. Purpose To generate as many ideas as
possible 2. Procedure - select a problem,
which all participants have some
knowledge/experience about - describe the
problem in a neutral way - write down all
suggestions on a board, so everybody can see
them - evaluation must not start until all ideas
have been mentioned - try to force more ideas -
strive for as many ideas as possible so quality
can be extracted from quantity - accept all
ideas - even the most absurd - stimulate
associations and extensions of generated ideas
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Problem definitionDiagram techniques
1. Affinity diagrams 2. Relation diagrams 3. Tree
diagrams 4. Matrix analysis 5. Etc.
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Problem definitionBrain storming and affinity
diagrams
Brain storming concerning generation of waste in
a major city area - pedestrians - sports
events - Sunday picnics - fast food - open
trucks - car drivers - shops - public transport
systems
leisure time sport events Sunday picnic
the city pedestrians shops fast food
vehicles car drivers open trucks publ. transp.
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Problem definitionRelation diagram(waste
generation)
Low availability of facilities
Sources
Lack of facilities
Waste and pollution
Lacking know- ledge and education
Lack of motivation to act and react
No rules
Low awareness
Messy environment