Brief Literature Review Draft

Conceptual and Theoretical Framework

Innovation

In the case of Mary Dixon & Paul Glasziou (2011), the theoretical framework is used to show the relationship between innovation and quality improvement. The article uses descriptive research in its analysis of the topic. The authors use three paradoxes to explain the complexity of the relationship. They use diffusion to show the limited value of some innovations due to the slowness of uptake. They also show how innovation can disrupt operations and lastly it shows how innovation which is dependent on change has new challenges. For the topic innovation in healthcare, a theoretical framework that uses a descriptive approach is appropriate in understanding the theories underlying the reasons why innovation works or fails to work in the healthcare industry. It however does not give quantitative evidence to support its claims rather tell us why innovation may not work. In this case therefore the theoretical framework is appropriate to highlight the nature of expected outcomes regarding innovation in healthcare.

Manish & Joydeep (2010) use exploratory research in trying to find out the relationships between the two concepts which are technological innovation and healthcare. They therefore employed the use of a cross sectional analysis of the effect of innovation on healthcare by measuring patient outcomes and the level of innovation. This type of conceptual framework illuminates the quantitative margins by which innovation can be measured against desired outputs. It does not tell us why the effect is as though and for which reasons. It fails to give a cause and effect relationship rather shows the correlation between the two concepts. The conceptual framework is appropriate for the innovation topic as it helps one visualize the effects of technological innovations in the healthcare industry.

John Bessant (2012) approaches the conceptual framework of his study through the use of exploratory research of a case study design. He seeks to show the relationship between many players offering healthcare solutions as opposed to one player. The conceptual framework of the study makes one hypothesize on the possibility of allowing many players access to the healthcare innovations. The framework is not complete in itself as it should also utilize a formal hypothesis in which the relationship is established through an explanation and prediction. This conceptual framework is therefore limited to a specific case and therefore cannot be generalized and therefore is not appropriate for the topic of innovation.

A similar case is used in Paulus & Steele (2016) who also use a case study in showing the effects of continuous innovations in healthcare. The conceptual framework is exploratory as it seeks to find out the effects of these continuous innovations in healthcare for a particular case. The major limitation with this conceptual framework is that the time period set for the case study may no longer be relevant and therefore the results may not be consistently relied upon. Also the research is limited to certain use of technological innovations that cannot be said to encompass the whole. The conceptual framework fails to provide a wider outlook of the whole matter. It may therefore not be appropriate in determining the relationship between innovation and healthcare. On the other hand, it shows how certain levels of innovation can bring about desired outcomes in the healthcare industry and therefore can be used in a larger research to extrapolate its results.

Corporate Social Responsibility in Business

In the case of Popa (2015), the research uses a conceptual framework to illustrate the relationship between CSR and nature of businesses. Though the use o an exploratory research design, the study uses quantitative data to show the percentage of the various size of businesses involved in CSR activities. This conceptual framework gives an insight on the correlation between the size of the business and the expected CSR activities. It however does not tell us why this kind of behavior occurs. It cannot therefore be relied on in showing the impact of CSR activities by businesses on the society.

Smith (2011) uses an explanatory approach in showing the interrelation between company revenues and the level of CSR activities that the company engages in. he first formulates a hypothesis which suggest that the two are positively correlated and then uses quantitative data to show this correlation. For this conceptual framework, it is easy to explain certain phenomena especially through the use of quantitative data. It however does not demonstrate the kind of CSR activities that are undertaken and their commensurate value. It therefore does not show the social impact of these activities and therefore may not be appropriate for the study of CSR because it is difficult to talk about CSR without highlighting the social impact that it has on the people tht it is meant to serve.

Sungwon & Lam (2013) use a descriptive conceptual framework to show the nature of deceptiveness between companies that produce alcohol and their approach on CSR. They used qualitative methods to identify the various tactics in use. In this regard, this conceptual framework can be used in building the theory for the pros and cons of CSR in the alcohol industry and formulation of policy thereof in relation to companies that seek to cheat the system. It is however limited to one industry and therefore may not be useful in the case of generalizations.

Fatigue and Performance

Caldwell (2008) uses a descriptive approach in his theoretical framework in which he gives strategies that can solve the problem of fatigue especially in long distance pilots. The theoretical framework can be appropriate in the case of looking for solutions concerning fatigue but it does not explain why the problem of fatigue exists in the first place. It can therefore be useful in making recommendations for the research topic but cannot be used wholly for the description of the problem of fatigue. On the other hand in his paper in 2012, the research uses an exploratory approach in the conceptual framework in which he highlights the relationship between sleep deprivation and fatigue as well as other flight problems. This method gives one a close up view o the situation at hand and can be used reliably to generalize the effects of sleep deprivation on pilots. In the research topic it can be used to explain some of the effects of fatigue on performance.

Hartzler (2013) also uses a descriptive approach in the conceptual framework that shows the relationship between the benefits of sleep and performance. In as much as the study gives a working hypothesis as to how the two concepts are related, it does not explain why the relationship is as though. This fact limits the usability of this research for the research topic. It is however helpful for policy recommendations.

Air congestion

Seigel (2012) uses an analytical approach in the conceptual framework of looking at the decisions concerning air congestion by the Air Transport Association of America. While the research gives detailed understanding of these decisions it does not show how on average these decisions eased or increased the nature of air traffic. It is therefore not appropriate for an exploratory study of the topic of air congestion in airports.

Letanovska uses a descriptive approach to the conceptual framework in the study in which she aims to show the instruments developed to ease congestion in airports. In as much as she recognizes these instruments, the study is not complete in itself as it does not show the effect of these instruments in the sense of their success or failure. This makes it unsuitable for an exploratory study which would want to show the correlation between innovations and air congestion.

Ricardo (2007) uses an exploratory approach in the conceptual framework that uses a working hypothesis to show the correlation between the size of the aircraft used by certain airlines and the frequency in air congestion incidences. The use of quantitative data gives this conceptual approach credibility as there is sufficient visualization of the relationship between the two concepts. This conceptual framework works in this topic because it gives a clear outlook regarding what can be done concerning the nature of relationship. An analytical approach would however give the reasons why this behavior is as such and which preventive measures can be taken in that regard.

References

Bessant J. (October, 2012). Opening up healthcare innovation. Retrieved from http://www.aimresearch.org/uploads/File/Publications/Executive%20Briefings%202/AIM_Healthcare_EB_FINAL.pdf on July 2nd 2016

Dixon-Woods M., Amalberti R., Steve, Goodman B. B. and Glasziou P. (2011). Problems and promises of innovation: why healthcare needs to rethink its love/hate relationship with the new. Retrieved from http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/20/Suppl_1/i47.full.html#cited-by on July 2, 2016