Human Resource Management in Indiana Coca-Cola Company - Research Proposal Example

Research Methodologies & Methods Name Institution Professor Course Date Research Methodologies & Methods: Research in Human Resource Management in Indiana Coca-Cola Company Executive Summary One of the primary problems affecting the human resource management at Indiana Coca-Cola Company is the essence of excessive workforce. The main source of the problem is the merger between the four bottling operational firms (Hindustan Coca-Cola Bottling North, Hindustan Coca-Cola Bottling South West, Bharat Coca-Cola North East, and Bharat Coca-Cola South East entities). The potential outcome of the human resource problem is increase in the overhead costs or over expenditure in relation to addressing the demands and preferences of the employees as well as other relevant stakeholders. This is because of the lack of effective balance between the expenditure and the revenues or profit levels following the mergers. The report will cover the adoption and implementation of an effective research methodology with the aim of addressing the problem of excessive workforce affecting the Indiana Coca-Cola Company following the strategic merger for the achievement of the competitive advantage. This is through critical analysis of the potential research methodologies, methods, and tools for effective and efficient evaluation of the research problem as well as questions concerning the excessive workforce. The research will also focus on the examination of the effective and efficient approach towards implementation of the research methodologies for the acquisition of appropriate management of the human resource problem affecting the Indiana Coca-Cola Company. In addition, the research essay will concentrate on the presentation of key conclusions concerning the most effective methodology in addressing the demand and requirements of the research problem and questions for efficacy and appropriateness during the implementation stage. Introduction Human resource management comes out as one of the essential factors of success in the modern society. It is the obligation of the modern entities and companies to adopt and implement diverse techniques of human resource management of the achievement of competitive advantage against the rivals thus an increase in the revenues and profit levels at the end of the financial year. Nevertheless, business entities and company encounter critical problems in the course adoption and implementing human resource management concepts, mechanisms, and techniques. Indiana Coca-Cola Company is an illustration of how an organization can encounter a problem in relation to its human resource management and operations. One of the problems affecting the organization while limiting its revenues and profit levels is the essence of excessive workforce contributing to massive increase in the overhead costs as well as complexities in handling the needs and preferences of the employees. The organization should consider diverse techniques of handling the problem to aid its achievement of the goals and objectives in relation to competitive advantage in the market and industry of operation. In order to achieve this, it is essential for the organization to adopt and implement an appropriate research methodology for effectiveness and efficiency in the data collection process. In addition, the research methodology must be in line with the research question and problem with the aim of increasing efficacy during the collection and analysis of data. Some of the potential concepts that will be ideal in this research presentation include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research mechanisms aiding the study of the research problem and questions towards the implementation process or stage. Research problem & questions The main issue affecting Indiana Coca-Cola Company relates to its human resource department. Human resource department is one of the essential functional organs of a business entity focusing on the motivation and development of the employees with the aim of increasing their performance and efficiency in handling the needs of the organization as well as preferences and demands of the customers in diverse markets and industries of operation. In this research context, the main problem relates to the excess workforce affecting the operations at Indiana Coca-Cola Company following the strategic merger of the four critical business entities towards the increase in the market coverage as well as operation in the economies of scale. From this perspective, this research will focus on the following research questions: i. What is the optimum workforce that the Indiana bottling Company can work with adequately? ii. What are the potential and feasible solutions for dealing with the workforce/ iii. What is the best strategy that Indiana Coca-Cola Company can implement in relation to doubling the number of employees to its existing workforce? The main objective of the research is to establish an effective strategy with the aim of handling the doubled workforce of approximately 10,000 employees following the merger of the four business entities. In addition, the research aims to establish the estimated number of workforce vital for the efficient and effective operations of Indiana Coca-Cola Company. From this perspective, there is need to focus on the limitation of the influence of excess workforce on the operations and efficiency of handling the needs and demands of the customers in diverse markets. In addition, the research aims at conceiving an appropriate strategy that could lead to reduction of the employees or accommodation of the doubled number without increasing the overhead costs at the end of the fiscal year. In order to address these objectives in relation to the research problem, the research will focus on utilization of three critical research questions. In the first question, the research will seek to determine the optimum number of employees the Indiana Coca-Cola Company would work with adequately and efficiently. Secondly, the research will seek to evaluate the potential and feasible solutions for handling the human resource issue in relation to excess workforce. Thirdly, the research will focus on evaluation and assessment of the best strategy that Indiana Coca-Cola Company can adopt and implement concerning the doubling the number of employees with reference to the existing workforce. Research Methodologies There are three critical research methodologies: positivist paradigm, interpretive paradigm, and critical paradigm. These research methodologies have the ability to operate in diverse contexts as well as research problems and questions (Bouma, 2000). Positivist Paradigm The positivist paradigm comes out as one of the essential methodologies in the aspect of physical science. This is because of its ability to utilize a systematic as well as a scientific approach to execute an appropriate research. Some scholars note that the positivist paradigm sees the globe as undergoing substantial influence in relation to unchanging, universal laws, and knowledge of the universal principles (Cooper, 2014). From this perspective, understanding of the universal laws requires substantial observation as well as recording events and phenomena in a systematic manner. An example of the positivist paradigm is story in relation to the story of Sir Isaac Newton and the apple. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand that positivist paradigm does not only associate with the concept of scientific discovery. It also relates to the application of scientific methodology. This relates to exploration of the world and the events in relation to its functioning. This methodology focuses on the exploration of the social reality in relation to the concepts of observation and reasoning with the aim of understanding behaviour. The goal of positivist paradigm is to exploit quantitative data collection or acquisition and implement quantitative techniques for the execution of an extensive research process (Cooper, 2011). Interpretive Paradigm Another essential research methodology is the essence of interpretive paradigm. It is essential to note that the studying of human beings is impossible under the influence of the models for the physical science. This is because of the qualitative difference between the natural events and human beings in the course of studying. According to this research methodology, reality undergoes effective construction under the influence of the subjective perceptions thus making it difficult for the researchers to make valuable predictions in relation to the outcome of the collection and analysis of data processes and procedures. The researchers who focus on the utilization of this paradigm concentrate on the social construction of meaning. This is because of the essence that people have free will, goals, intentions, and purposes hence the need to study human beings as active agents rather than components of the physical science (Creswell, 2003). Individuals have the obligation of making decisions to act in accordance with the subjective understanding of diverse situations they encounter. In addition, social life consists of interaction processes in comparison to the structures thus the continuous changes. This paradigm also notes that people understand their experiences through the meanings in the symbols of their primary groups under the influence of the language as the potential important factor in the social life. Furthermore, self acts as the significant object with the aim of guiding social interaction with others within the society. Individuals have the obligation to act in relation to their interpretations concerning the relevant actions and objects in diverse contexts of social interactions and engagements within the society (Veal, 2005). Critical Paradigm Another critical element of the research methodologies is the essence of critical paradigm, which focuses on incorporation of some of the ideas and concepts of interpretive paradigm, but concentrates on the element of oppression (Leahey, 2007). According to these researchers, it is essential to understand the lived experience of real individuals in the diverse contexts. Individuals have the ability to perceive reality outside the contexts while representing the reality with the relevant language. In addition, it is possible to define the interaction between the knower and the critical known. The main objective of this methodology is to examine the social conditions while uncovering oppressive power arrangements thus the concept of the structure of social arrangement. In this context, one group’s political agenda has the ability and potentiality to struggle against culture and interests of another group (Myers & Avison, 2002). This relates to the concept of oppression thus lack of any free interest in relation to diverse facets of life. Furthermore, these researchers believe that some groups have the capacity to benefit from oppressing other hence the motivation to exist in contradiction. These research methodologies are vital in the generation of key research methods vital in the execution of the research process and questions towards realization of an effective implementation stage. Research Methods There are three critical research methods emanating from the three research methodologies: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods. Quantitative Research Method Quantitative research refers to the study method involving the use as well as analysis of numerical data under the influence of statistical techniques. In most cases, quantitative research method focuses on posing questions of who, when, what, how, where, how much, and how many. The main objective of the quantitative research method is to produce statistically reliable data with the ability to determine how many people do or think something in relation to the averages, ratios, and ranges (Neuman, 2006). The approach is normally applicable in executing a large scale needs assessment or the baseline survey. In addition, the research method is independent of the researcher thus the need to an individual to obtain a similar result in diverse contexts of the execution of the research. Furthermore, the approach is vital in the measurement of different trends. One of the potential benefits of the quantitative research method is its ability to address the demands of large quantities of data. Moreover, the result is quantifiable thus objective and generalizable in relation to the larger population (Marshall & Rossman, 2006). It is also essential in the development of changes overtime and quantitative indicators. The research method also has the ability to offer a clear quantitative measure applicable for the grants and proposals. Nevertheless, quantitative research method has diverse shortcomings. For instance, the researcher has the obligation of calculating the results with Excel, Access, and data analysis software in the form of SPSS, which might be inaccessible to diverse programs within the country. Besides, the approach is time consuming demanding the research to enter, clean, and analyse vital data. In larger samples, it takes more time for the researcher to have accurate information following an extensive data collection process. Finally, quantitative data ignores a very important human element thus the need to consider the situation prior to its adoption and implementation in the modern society (Walsham, 2006). Qualitative Research Method Another critical research method is the qualitative research method, which focuses on understanding the meaning in relation to social constructions. This is through understanding how human beings make sense of their world and experiences in diverse contexts. In addition, the approach focuses on incorporation of the interpretive research methodology as well as material practices with the aim of making the world visible. The practices have the ability to transform the world thus generation of diverse representations and social constructions. From this perspective, qualitative research approach is vital in interpretation of the meaning of the material practices to the individuals with reference to the influence of contexts on behaviours of the human beings. One of the potential benefits of qualitative research method is the flexibility in understanding diverse research questions and problem in comparison with the inflexibility in the case of quantitative research approach. The approach is also vital in utilization of the open-ended questions while probing the participants to respond in their own words rather than forcing them to choose from the fixed responses. Moreover, the research has the ability to exploit the flexibility in relation to probing the initial responses from the respondents with the aim of obtaining substantial information in relation to their reasoning. Nevertheless, it is impossible to quantify the research findings of qualitative research thus making it difficult of the research method to aid generalization of the key findings in the course of data collection and analysis. Mixed Research Method (Qualitative-Quantitative Research Method) The third possibility in relation to research methods is the essence of mixed research method. This is an expression of breed between quantitative and qualitative research methods in handling research questions and objectives. The main objective of this research is to examine and address the shortcomings of quantitative and qualitative research methods with the aim of handling the objectives of the research context. Researchers have the ability to adopt and implement this research method to handle large quantities of data requiring statistical analysis as well as social construction of human behaviour in diverse contexts. Nevertheless, the approach has the potentiality of suffering from adverse complexities because of the need for the researcher to adopt and implement diverse techniques and mechanisms in the collection and analysis of data. Selection & Justification of a Research Methodology In the execution of the research problem and questions, I will focus in the collection and analysis of data for effective implementation under the influence of the qualitative research method. This is through incorporation of the elements of the interpretive research methodology. In the first instance, the approach will be vital in uncovering more information about people’s experience thus illustrating why things are the way they are in relation to social construction. In addition, the approach will be vital in maximization of the flexibility in the collection and analysis of data (Phillips and Burbules, 2000). For instance, the approach is essential in utilizing open-ended questions with the aim of uncovering more information while following up on the outcome or responses of the respondents. In addition, the research method will be vital in understanding the research questions through informal relationship between the researcher and the respondents or the participants in the course of collecting and analysing data with the aim of adopting and implementing an effective strategy to aid human resource management in the case of Indiana Coca-Cola Company. The research will omit quantitative research methods because of lack of their ability to handle substantial information on the experience of the senior management on the human resource problems in relation to Indiana Coca-Cola Company. In addition, quantitative and mixed research methods would not be applicable effectively and efficiently in handling the research scope as well as research questions and objective thus their omission in the execution of this research. Implementation of the Chosen Research Methodology This research will focus on the adoption and implementation of qualitative research approach with the aim of investigating the reasons and actions of any decision-making process. In this context, the research method will be essential in the evaluation of the overview, observation, trend, and perceptions of relevant stakeholders to come up with valuable decision concerning the issue of excess consumers. Moreover, implementation of qualitative research method will be vital in the establishment of the best strategy with the ability to handle excessive number of employees (Skinner et al, 2000). The main research technique in relation to data collection in this process will be interview. In addition, the research method will focus on the observation and literature review as techniques for the collection of qualitative data (Gorman & Clayton, 2005). The approach will be vital because the method is both interactive and inductive with the ability to offer effective relationship between the independent and depend variables in understanding the strategy to reduce effects of excess workforce. Some of the variables in the execution of this data will include employees, productivity of the organisation, and strategy taken in relation to the existing workforce. Some of the possible actions include retrenchment, transfer of other employees to other branches, and remaining to work in the organization through accommodative approaches (Grix, 2004). From this perspective, the organisation should focus on the development and implementation of an extensive action for the well-being of the organization. The dependent variables have the ability to change in relation to the alteration of the action. This indicates that the human resource management must focus on the development and execution of an appropriate research for the achievement of substantial information on how to improvement of the output of the workforce without incurring extra cost. Research Instruments & Tools Implementation of the interviews, observation, and literature review during the data collection process will be essential in integration and exploitation of flexibility in the course addressing the needs and preferences of the consumers. Organization and execution of interviews will be essential in the generation of first-hand information in relation to the research questions and problem (Jankowicz, 2005). For instance, human resource management will be vital in the presentation of the key research findings in relation to the strategies for the management or reduction of overhead cost or massive influence of excess workforce on the operations of an organization. Interviews will also be vital for understanding of the vision, mission, and core values of the organization following the merger with the four critical entities for efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of services. In the utilization of the literature review, the research will focus on evaluation of the case studies of other entities in relation to implementation of downsize strategy for the reduction of the effects of excess workforce on the operations of an organisation. The approach will also be essential in the assessment of the dimensions of downsizing an organization (Picked, 2007). One is also able to evaluate the benefits and costs of the systems or strategies for the achievement of effectiveness and efficiency in the service and products delivery in accordance with the needs and preferences of the consumers. Conclusion There are three critical research methodologies: positivist paradigm, interpretive paradigm, and critical paradigm. These research methodologies have the ability to operate in diverse contexts as well as research problems and questions. The positivist paradigm comes out as one of the essential methodologies in the aspect of physical science. Another essential research methodology is the essence of interpretive paradigm. It is essential to note that the studying of human beings is impossible under the influence of the models for the physical science. Another critical element of the research methodologies is the essence of critical paradigm, which focuses on incorporation of some of the ideas and concepts of interpretive paradigm, but concentrates on the element of oppression (Silverman, 2005). There are three critical research methods emanating from the three research methodologies: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods. Quantitative research refers to the study method involving the use as well as analysis of numerical data under the influence of statistical techniques. Another critical research method is the qualitative research method, which focuses on understanding the meaning in relation to social constructions. This is through understanding how human beings make sense of their world and experiences in diverse contexts. In the execution of the research problem and questions, I will focus in the collection and analysis of data for effective implementation under the influence of the qualitative research method. This is through incorporation of the elements of the interpretive research methodology. One of the potential benefits of qualitative research method is the flexibility in understanding diverse research questions and problem in comparison with the inflexibility in the case of quantitative research approach. List of References Bouma, G 2000, The Research Process, 4th Edition, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne. Cooper, DR & Schindler, PS 2011, Business Research Methods, 11th Edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, New York. Cooper, DR & Schindler, PS 2014, Business Research Methods, 12th Edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, New York. Creswell, D 2003, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches, 2nd Edition, Sage Publications Grix, J 2004, The Foundations of Research, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Gorman, GE and Clayton, P 2005, Qualitative Research for the Information Professional. A practical handbook, 2nd ed London: Facet Publishing Jankowicz, AD 2005, Business Research Projects, 4th Edition, Thomson Learning, London. Leahey, E. 2007 Convergence and confidentiality? Limits to the implementation of mixed methodology. Social Science Research, 36, 149-158. Marshall, C and Rossman, GB 2006, Designing Qualitative Research 4th Edition, Sage Publications Myers, M and Avison, D 2002, Qualitative research in information systems, Sage Publications, London Neuman, WL 2006, Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative approaches, 6th Edition, Pearson Phillips, DC and Burbules, NC 2000, Postpositivism and educational research, Rowman & Littlefield, Lanh Picked, AJ 2007, Research methods in information, Facet Publishing, London Silverman, D 2005, Doing Qualitative Research: a practical handbook, 2nd Edition, Sage, London Skinner, D., Tagg, C. and Holloway, J. 2000 'Managers and Research: The Pros and Cons of Qualitative Research', Management Learning 31(2): 163-79. Veal, AJ 2005, ‘Qualitative Methods’, In Business Research Methods: A Qualitative Approach, Pearson Ed Walsham, G 2006, ‘Doing interpretive research’, European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 15, pp. 320-330. Part A, 'Assignment title', INF80011 Research Methods Assignment 2, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne Read More