Overview

A critical skill at the doctoral level is the ability to conduct scholarly research guided by

clearly articulated questions that address a specific issue or problem. For this literature

review, your research will be guided by the following three Research Questions:

1. How do individual and group decision processes aid or impede business decision

making?

2. What are the newest directions in the process of strategy development and

execution?

3. How can my academic discipline, as a function within the organization, impact the

process of business strategy development and execution of an effective allocation of financial resources?

The first two questions are explored from a broad business perspective, while the third

question gives you the opportunity to change your frame of reference to allocation of financial resources.

The purpose of this research project is for you to create a scholarly piece of doctoral

level research and writing which conforms to current APA format. Competency in the

current APA format is required of all Business graduates, as set

forth by policy of both the Graduate Faculty and the Administration.

What are we looking for in this literature review?

A literature review discusses published information in a particular subject area and

sometimes information in a particular subject area within a certain time period. This

literature review will be more than just a simple summary of information from various

sources as it will include an organizational pattern that combines both a summary and

synthesis of information. Please keep in mind that a summary is a re-encapsulation of

the important information found in the source, while a synthesis is a re-organization and

combining of that information to present a more complete picture. Finally, the literature

review will evaluate the sources and advise the reader of the most pertinent or relevant

points.

Paraphrasing is when you take a source or someone else’s idea and say it in your own

words or even combine the ideas of several authors as well as your own. When you

paraphrase, you will still give the author credit through the use of an in-text citation

connected to the idea as well as a reference at the end of the paper.

On the other hand, a direct quote from a source has quotation marks around the quote

or if 40 words or more, it must be set in block quotation format. You can refer to the

APA guide for more information on this.

At the doctoral level, you should be relying almost exclusively on the use of

paraphrasing to allow synthesis of the original author’s views with your own. A direct

quotation should only be used in this literature review (or most other documents you will

produce) when paraphrasing would change the author’s intended meaning. In other

words, you should only use a quotation when it is the only way to convey what the

author intended to convey.

Literature Review Outline Instructions:

Your outline will include a minimum of 2 levels of indentation below each Research

Question.

Introduction

Level 1 – RQ1

Level 2 – Sub heading 1

Level 2 – Sub heading 2

Etc.

Level 1 – RQ2

Level 2 – Sub heading 1

Level 2 – Sub heading 2

Etc.

Level 1 – RQ3

Level 2 – Sub heading 1

Level 2 – Sub heading 2

Etc.

Conclusion

This is a scholarly document and must be submitted in APA format.

 Minimum of 26 pages not including introduction and conclusion

 No less than 9 pages addressing each research question

 Minimum of 20 sources not including course texts

 No less than 7 sources for each research question

 1 inch margins, Double Spaced, Maximum of 12 point font

 APA 6th ed. Format to include APA Cover Page, Abstract, Table of Contents, and

You will have an opportunity to submit your Literature Review to SafeAssign for

evaluation. A matching score of more than 10% in the content area of the paper will not

receive a passing grade. A well written and properly paraphrased Literature Review

should score 10% or below. Keep in mind that it is expected that headings and

references will be the same so they are not included in the content that is evaluated.

Note: The SafeAssign evaluation process can take up to 24 hours so plan that into your

schedule!

Course textbooks

Gamble, et al., Essentials of Strategic Management (6th ed., 2019).

Keller, T., Every Good Endeavor (2012).

Krogerus & Tschäppeler, The Decision Book: 50 Models for Strategic Thinking (Revised ed., 2018).

Rumelt, Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters (2011).