Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Training Process in the Saudi Electricity Company - Research Proposal Example

3.0 Methodology 3 Introduction The literature review in the preceding chapter has categorized the diverse determinants of training needs, evaluation and growth at the Saudi Arabia Electric Company while the background in the introduction gave a preamble of the various congruent factors that influence training activities in diverse organisations. This chapter aims at describing the methodology applied to gather specific details within the Saudi Arabia Electric Company. This chapter will therefore illustrate the data collection methodology used to answer our research questions. The methods and scope of the topic will therefore be researched as depicted below. 3.2 Aims and objectives of the Study The primary aim of this study is evaluate the training methods or techniques undertaken at the Saudi Arabia Electric Company, the effectiveness on the staff improvement, organisation and also how the employees regard the application and effectiveness. The study is therefore principally focussed on the specific methods applied, frequency, level of employees trained, initial training and location or venue used to conduct the training sessions. According to Anderson (2004), methodology is related to planning of research with the objectives to identify the target of this research and to choose the most suitable method to do this research successfully. Moore (2000), described the function of research methodology as essential, and stated that the researcher should choose the method correctly to achieve the aims of the research. Training is one of the most important tasks of any organization as part of the human resource development process that aims to give the trainees all the information and skills, which help them to improve. This improvement will reflect on the organisation and lead to increasing the productivity and profitability. Therefore, many organisations spend a huge amount of money for the training process. 3.3 Research Philosophy and Approach According to Crotty (1998) in establishing a research methodology, there is need to observe some fundamental issues including ‘methods, methodology, theoretical perspective and epistemology.’ He defined methods as, ‘the techniques or procedures used to gather and analyze data related to some research question of hypotheses. Figure 1 Quantitative research, which is based on collected statistics from sampled cohorts in structured questionnaires, aims at computing the gathered information for investigation, and unearths a conclusive means for further improvement. Golafshani (2003: 597) asserts that quantitative research enables a researcher to disseminate the hypothesis to be premeditated, and possibly produce proposition to be examined. The research methodology applied was through an initial secondary research technique whereby a qualitative analysis of all the current relevant literature was undertaken. This paved way for the main field study primary study that involved a quantitative analysis of the data collected. The methodology thus encompassed both a descriptive and comparative research methodology. The primary study utilized the random sampling procedure in distributing questionnaires to the employees of the Saudi Electricity Company in order to get the required higher accurate results. The questionnaires were designed beforehand requested personal information, position, job experience and labour responsibilities among others; the next part regards rationale and objective of the tutoring programs in the company. 3.4 Selecting of Sample According to Saunders et al (2007) there are five main techniques which can be used to select a probability sample: simple random; systemic; stratified random; cluster and multi-stage. Sampling is an important technique to conduct a scientific study. Also, it is important to note that the researcher should select the most suitable sampling design for his study, and the most common being random sampling. Random sampling asisit researchers achieve their objectives, hence identify the accurate responses. This study thus used a random sampling procedure in distributing questionnaires to the employees of the Saudi Electricity Company to elicit the most accurate results. 3.5 Research Strategy and Methods According to Anderson (2004:104), there are two kinds of research methodology that can be used to collect data, quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative is the phrase set to statistics that can be computeq, while qualitative indicates the data that is ‘expressed through words and language’. The secondary/qualitative approach undertaken in this study was through a preliminary review of the relevant literature on the topic, while the main primary/quantitative research involving targeted questionnaires to sampled staff within the company. The primary research thus involved distributing the questionnaires using specially premeditated enquiry method aimed at interrogating the training needs, methods and evaluation techniques at the Saudi Electricity Company. 3.5.1 Secondary Research The theoretical or secondary approach was in line with the study questions and the proposed research methods illustrated previously. This formed the underpinning for the resultant study and the literature review. The theoretical outlook instigates the backdrop for the process, bedrock for its analysis and standard (Crotty, 1998). For the secondary research, wide-ranging internet listed sources particularly the peer reviewed electronic journals and textbooks available in our university library. In conducting the secondary research, Morgan (2007) premise of six stages for a structured literature review (SLR) was used. This process recognize the worth of existing research and try to unify the outcome from all applicable studies via the use of a plainly designed questions that utilises rational and explicit procedures to establish, select and positively appraise valid primary research, and to extract and scrutinize information from the studies that are included in the review (Held, 2007). 3.5.2 Primary Research The primary research methodology encompassed a field study with specially structured research questionnaire questions that were designed to elicit responses from the cohorts from our study company – Saudi Electricity Company distributed to the sampled employees. A semi-structured investigation was used for this study. It has been established that semi-structured queries present the researcher the chance to scrutinize responses made in instances where there is a need or aspiration for the respondents to elucidate more or add on their response (Cambridge Distance Education Consultancy, 2002). The survey instrument or questionnaires consequently comprised nine sections: personal information; training procedures; reason for participating in the training programmes; information related to the employees; opinions about training methods followed in your training; overall satisfaction; the effectiveness of the training programs; benefits from the training; and obstacles encountered in the training regime. The questionnaires distributed had a series of open-ended survey questions that required the sampled employees to indicate through a grading scale of 1 – 5 Richter scale of importance ranging from strongly agree; agree; not sure disagree; and strongly disagree. This enabled the researcher to establish through the textual analysis the prevalence of responses that were examined concurrently from other respondents using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel statistical analysis software. The approach for this study therefore involved an initial assessment of the pertinent literature on the theme in addition to primary research linking targeted structured questions to the employees of the target company – the Saudi Electricity Company. These approaches was aimed at interrogating the four main research questions as well as determine the best approach that can be formulated for training needs among firms in the developing countries and the Middle East in particular. 3.6 Pilot Testing An initial pilot study was undertaken using select fourth year human resource students at the university to test the veracity of the questionnaire design and relevance. Afterwards the results were analysed and a few adjustments were mad especially where there seemed to be duplicity in the questions as well as the phrasing. Some intrusive questionnaires relating to personal details were also struck out hence laying the groundwork for the real survey at the subject company. 3.7 Data Access/Ethical Issues There are two things that researcher must take it into account that are confidentiality and anonymity. This requires fully guaranteeing that the data will be discreet, used in the right way and will not be shared with unauthorised parties. Also, the participants must not be identified Anderson (2004). In my study I will be very careful to adhere to these ethical requirements, and when I design the questionnaire I will not ask about any personal questions. 3.8 Conclusion This chapter has outlined the methodology and approach undertaken in this study. The approach was essentially through an initial preliminary qualatative secondary research and a subsquent primary research which formed the major testing of the hypothesis aim of the research. Thus the stages are as outline below: qualitative literature review, designing the questionaires, distributing the questionaires, data analysis of respondent’s answers and report compilation. Figure 2 Read More