Selecting Your Small-Scale Project Subject

Assignment: Write two paragraphs Assignment: Selecting Your Small-Scale Project Subject To prepare for this Assignment, identify an applied business problem for the basis of your study. You are free to choose the problem for your project; however, you might consider choosing a problem related or similar to your proposed Doctoral Study problem, Problem: Procurement fraud is the second largest economic crime regarding losses, trailing only to theft (Price, Waterhouse, & Coopers, 2014). Political leaders and legislators in the federal government have faced difficulties fraud, waste, and abuse within public organizations as well as the private sector where procurement is rampant (US Office of Management and Budget, 2015). The political leaders only make unfulfilled promises to fight procurement fraud and organizations continue to struggle with fraud, waste, and abuse of limited resources. Fraud, waste, and abuse increase organizational spending and resources are lost in peoples’ pockets without constructive or significant use for the companies. Billions of dollars are lost every year to fraud, and a study that investigates procurement fraud by an experimental method focusing on employees and organizations would help in identifying the causes (Curry, 2017). The general business problem is that employees are not adequately encouraged to detect and report fraud, wastage, and abuse in the procurement process. The specific business problem is that federal and private organizational leaders lack effective strategies to identify the problem. Write a two-paragraph summary of the process by which you selected your business problem, your interviewees (two or more), and how you will gain access to your participants. A brief rationale for why you have chosen this topic and detailed information identifying why the interviewees are appropriate. Throughout this course, you will complete a small-scale research project by conducting a mock qualitative interview study. This project will include conducting and transcribing interviews with at least two participants, analyzing the data, and presenting the findings. This project will give you first-hand experience with conducting qualitative research and could also contribute to your Doctoral Study. Be sure to review the Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project Overview document provided in this weeks Readings for details and deadlines for each component of the project. Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project Task Timeline Week 1: Selecting Your Small-Scale Project Topic: Procurement fraud Week 2: The Interview Guide Week 3 & 4: Conducting the Interviews Week 5: Coding of the Interviews and Theme Analysis Week 6: Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project Write-Up
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Explain Principles and Methods of Qualitative Data Collection

A key requirement of the case study design is to collect data from multiple sources. Specifically, all Walden DBA independent scholars conducting case studies must collect data from at least two sources, interviews being one of those mandatory sources. Yin (2014) identified six sources of evidence to include (a) documentation, (b) archival records, (c) interviews, (d) direct observation, (e) participant observation, and (f) physical artifacts (p. 113). You will be required to select one source other than interviews to meet the data collection requirements. To prepare for this Discussion, review this weeks Required Readings and consider why the different sources of evidence are important to the work of a DBA doctoral researcher, including the role of triangulation within the qualitative data collection process. By Day 3 Post an analysis of sources and methods of data collection in the context of your DBA doctoral research question. In your analysis, do the following: Explain how the Four Principles of Data Collection from Yin (2018) support your ability to address your DBA doctoral research question. Explain the importance of utilizing multiple sources of evidence and triangulation within the data collection process. Be sure to address the specific types of data triangulation (data, investigation, investigator, methodological) and their relationship to data quality. Be sure to provide a scholarly example to support your explanation.

Small-Scale Qualitative Research ProjectThe Interview Guide

n Chapter 3 of his text, Yin (2018) referred to Level 1 and Level 2 questions when conducting case study research. Level 1 questions include specific interview questions, while Level 2 includes the overarching research question. Furthermore, well-crafted qualitative research questions are open-ended and typically restate the purpose of a study in specific terms. These questions should start with what or how instead of why. To prepare for this Assignment, review the Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project: Interview Guide Template, provided in this weeks Required Readings, and consider what type of research questions to ask. Keep in mind that your research question (Level 2) for this Assignment should be one that can be answered, at least in part, by the Level 1 questions asked in each interview. Questions that provoke a yes/no response are not permitted in a Doctoral Study interview guide. By Day 7 Submit your completed Interview Guide, including the following components: Primary Business Research Phenomenon Research Question (Level 2) Primary Research Goal(s) Initial Probe Questions Targeted Interview Questions (Level 1) Targeted Follow-up Questions Wrap-up Question Note: Be sure to use the Interview Guide Template to complete this Assignment. Also, refer to the Week 2 Assignment Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this rubric to assess your work.
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Discuss the various levels and types of strategies the firm may use to maximize its competitiveness and profitability

Identify one of the firms major competitors that you would consider working for. Research the corporation on its own Website, the public filings on the Securities and Exchange Commission EDGAR database (https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml), in the University’s online databases, and any other sources you can find. The annual report will often provide insights that can help address some of these questions. You will do a 15 minutes presentation to the Board of Directors of the corporation. Develop an eight to twelve slide PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes or record a video based upon Assignments 1 through 4. You may choose to compare your chosen corporation to a major competitor with whom you would like to work. You will make recommendations to the Board of Directors based upon your analysis and decision on why the corporation remains or is not a good fit for you. Determine the impact of the companys mission, vision, and primary stakeholders on its overall success as a competitive employer in the industry. Create a SWOT analysis for the company to determine its major strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Based on the SWOT analysis, outline a strategy for the company to capitalize on its strengths and opportunities, and minimize its weaknesses and threats. Discuss the various levels and types of strategies the firm may use to maximize its competitiveness and profitability.