RESEARCH PROCESS

Professor D. N. P. Murthy
Division of Mechanical Engineering The University of Queensland Brisbane, Q 4072, Australia

RESEARCH CATEGORISATION
Basic Research Pre-competitive Strategic Research Applied Research Development Research Industrial Research

BASIC RESEARCH
Basic research is defined as experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, with the expectation of return in the long term form from the overall effort into basic research.

PRE-COMPETITIVE STRATEGIC RESEARCH

Pre-competitive strategic research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken with an applied goal ultimately in mind, but which is to be realised in the medium term. It differs from basic research in terms of research objectives and time frame and usually aims to help secure medium-term competitive advantages.

APPLIED RESEARCH
Applied research is defined as work carried out for the advancement of knowledge with a specific practical application in view and with the expectation that the research results will be of value in the short to medium term.

RESEARCH STRATEGIES
[Reisman (1988)]

Ripple Embedding Bridging Transfer of technology Creative application Structuring Statistical modelling

AVAILABLE / NEW KNOWLEDGE

Available knowledge based on past research

New knowledge encompassed by new research

(a) Ripple process

(b) The embedding process

(c) The bridging process

(d) The transfer of technology

(e) The creative application process

(f) The structuring process

(g) The statistical modelling process

RESEARCH STRATEGIES
Ripple: an extension of previous theoretical or applied type of research in a given discipline or sub-discipline. Embedding: the development of more generalised formulation or a more global theory by embedding several known models or theories

RESEARCH STRATEGIES
Bridging: the bridging of known models or theories resulting from the growth of the contributing and/or some initially unrelated field of knowledge. Transfer of technology: the use of what is known in one discipline to model problem domains falling in some other, perhaps disparate, discipline.

RESEARCH STRATEGIES
Creative application: the direct (not analogous) application of a known methodology to a problem or research question that was not previously so addressed. Structuring: the process of organisation and documentation of the organisational phenomena in the form of models.

RESEARCH STRATEGIES
Statistical modelling: models that arise from analyses performed on empirically obtained data. These models arise from statistical manipulations such as regression or cluster analysis rather than on logical derivations based on various assumptions.

Divergent disciplines, specialities, sub-, sub-disc. DISCIPLINE ORIENTED GROWTH

Convergent goals, problems, tasks. 1 MISSION ORIENTED GROWTH 2

A 3

5 4 Interdisciplinary crystallisation effect

B Disciplinary branching effect

Knowledge growth as combination of disciplinary branching and interdisciplinary crystallisation

Level 5. STATEMENTS Theory, inference, explanations, judgement Level 4. MODEL TO STATEMENT Verification technique, algorithms, rules of reasoning Level 3. MODELS Representation of reality in the model Level 2. REALITY TO MODEL Conditions of similarity, approximation, assumptions of modelling Level 1. REALITY Empirical data on reality, perceptions, description

Levels of knowledge (adapted from Mehrez et al. (1988)).

PROBLEM SOLVING
The methodology for research (basic or applied) and industrial problem solving are very similar. Problem solving and research activity have received a lot of attention and there is a vast literature on both topics.

PROBLEM SOLVING METHODOLOGY

Step 1: Problem Identification/Recognition Step 2: Problem Formulation Step 3: Methodology for solution
- Analytical (Mathematical modelling) - Experimental involving data collection

Step 4: Interpretation of Solution

- Limitations, extensions etc

ATTRIBUTES OF A RESEARCHER
Open minded [not to pre-judge] Good at thinking -- Different types of thinking is needed [See, next slide] Well organised -- efficient use of time and resource; proper planning etc Patience and dedication Keeping in touch with latest knowledge

TYPES OF THINKING
Deductive & Inductive Thinking Scientific Thinking Creative & Innovative Thinking Lateral Thinking Critical Thinking Convergent & Divergent Thinking

PROBLEM RECOGNITION
Research Problem
Critical evaluation of current literature Shortcoming and topics for new research Extending and generalising

Industry Problems
For improvement Process, Operational, Management etc.

PROBLEM FORMULATION
Starts with a vague and becomes more structured with better understanding Scope -- narrow to broad Contribution of the solution
Minor / Major

Framework needed for study Resource implications

PROBLEM SOLUTION
Methodology needed Relevant earlier literature Techniques to generate solutions
e.g., Brainstorming [creative and lateral thinking]

Evaluation of solutions
[critical thinking]

SOME THOUGHTS
RESEARCH [Masters / Doctoral]
Define the field for study Review of the relevant literature Define one or more topics for investigation Background needed for deeper study Carry out research Report research findings -- thesis, conference and journal publications

SOME THOUGHTS
RESEARCH [Masters / Doctoral]
Student gets exposed to the different stages of problem solving methodology Better understanding of the different types of thinking process needed Do some general reading on research, thinking, problem solving Entrepreneurial skills ??

SOME THOUGHTS
INDUSTRY CASE STUDIES
Understanding of the overall business Defining problems for study and ranking them in terms of importance Framework needed for the study of a problem [It can vary!] Review of relevant literature

SOME THOUGHTS
INDUSTRY CASE STUDIES
Data to be collected Data analysis Alternate solutions to the problem Ranking the solutions Implementation aspects Presentation to the managers, reports etc