In this section we have sought to provide a brief overview emphasizing the need for clear and consistent positioning in research. The mapping approach is one way to help explore these issues and one which allows a flexible and iterative process to be used thereby continually reviewing and charting the progress of the research and your ideas. Whilst it may seem simply enough here it is a challenging process as it requires you to continually frame and bound areas of literature which themselves are continually evolving. However its main contribution is that it provides a way of making your ideas more explicit and thereby open to reflection by yourself and discussion with your peers. In summary the mapping process involves five key stages as follows:
- State your research question and map out your literature domains.
- Be clear about the nature of the phenomenon you are interested in and the importance of context.
- In your literature search focus on the overlaps between the domains, and be clear about the areas of the domains which are not relevant to your question.
- Focus down by identifying your conversants and your relationship to them
- Continually review and if necessary amend the relationship between your research question, literature domains and conversants as your ideas develop.
The text on this page was reproduced with permission from Professor Mark Jenkins, Cranfield School of Management. The ideas are based on teaching sessions with PhD and DBA students at Cranfield School of Management, and draws from ideas on writing developed by Anne Huff.