LITERATURE REVIEW: FINAL ASSIGNMENT
OVERVIEW
A critical skill at the doctoral level is the ability to conduct scholarly research guided by clearly
articulated research 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 and developments in the process of strategy development and
execution?
3. How can my academic discipline (DBA Program Cognate), as a function within the organization, impact the process of business strategy development and execution?
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 your specific cognate in the DBA
Program.
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.
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.
Are there differences between plagiarism, paraphrasing, and quoting?
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.
Plagiarism is when the writer simply copies the words directly from the source without giving
credit with an in‐text citation and a reference. Plagiarism is not permitted.
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
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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.
Specific Instructions:
Follow the outline generated in the Literature Review: Outline Assignment to include any
feedback from your instructor.
Minimum of 24 pages not including introduction and conclusion
No less than 8 pages addressing each research question
Minimum of 18 sources not including course texts
No less than 6 sources for each research question
1 inch margins, Double Spaced, Maximum of 12 point font
APA current edition. Format to include Cover Page, Abstract, Table of Contents, and
Reference Section
Note: Your Literature Review: Final Assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin
plagiarism tool.
