Task

- Respond to your colleague with additional ideas about the research example they have posted, adding further insights or expanding on their recommendations for alternative ways of studying the same research question.

- Comment on the relationship between data collection, interpretation and drawing conclusions.

Evaluating Research Tools and Methods

One management research article relevant to my work which was also used in my critical literature review was Sabir et al (2014) on ‘the impact of training on productivity of employees: A case of electricity supply company in Pakistan'. This article tried to evaluate the relationship between training and employee productivity. It looks at the various forms of training such as on-the-job training and off-the job-training and how it impacts on the employees output in terms of performance and productivity. It also examines other factors such as work environment, compensation, job involvement and its propensity to affect productivity and organisation performance in the electricity company of Pakistan.

Methodology of the Study

The study deployed the quantitative method of research that involved the use of survey method of data collection through the instrument of questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using regression analysis for independent variables and SPSS for dependent variables and the results presented in graphical and tabular presentations.

An alternative methodology could have being the narrative methods which involve the use of both ontological and epistemological elements (Easterby-Smith, 2012). While the ontological aspect deals with myths and stories, which is an element of organisational reality, it is however incomplete as the epistemological position complements by gathering insights through observation and interviews. The narrative method provide a well -rounded view on organisationalbehaviour, useful for developing social histories of identity and development and also useful in the analysis of the relationship between individuals and the larger organisations as well as initiates values into the research process. However this method is not without its shortcomings as it has been criticised for failure to provide any distinctive value different from what qualitative research methods provides.

The data collection in this method could be the semi-structured interviews (Easterby-Smith, 2012) of employees selected from different departments within the electricity company on the effect of training on their output which can be used to validate the position of the research that a nexus exists between training and employee performance.

Reference

• Easterby-Smith, M., R. Thorpe, & P. Jackson, (2012) Management Research, 4th Edition, London: SAGE Publications