Overview 

A critical skill at the doctoral level is the ability to conduct scholarly research guided by clearly articulated 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 in the process of strategy development and execution? 3. How can my academic discipline, 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 business specialization. 

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. Competency in the current APA format is required of all Business graduates of Liberty University, as set forth by policy of both the Graduate Faculty and the Administration. 

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 differneces between 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 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. 

Literature Review Outline Instructions: 

Your outline will include a minimum of 2 levels of indentation below each Research Question. 

Introduction Level 1 – RQ1 Level 2 – Sub heading 1  Level 2 – Sub heading 2 Etc. Level 1 – RQ2 Level 2 – Sub heading 1 Level 2 – Sub heading 2 Etc. Level 1 – RQ3 Level 2 – Sub heading 1 Level 2 – Sub heading 2 Etc. Conclusion 

This is a scholarly document and must be submitted in APA format. You must paste your text directly into the message window in Blackboard and attach a word document (.docx). 

Literature Review Outline – Due Sunday of Week 6 by 11:59pm (Eastern Time) 

Literature Review Instructions: 

 Follow the outline generated in Week 6 updated 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 6th ed. Format to include APA Cover Page, Abstract, Table of Contents, and Reference Section 

You will have an opportunity to submit your Literature Review to SafeAssign for evaluation. A matching score of more than 20% in the content area of the paper will not receive a passing grade. A well written and properly paraphrased Literature Review should score 10% or below. Keep in mind that it is expected that headings and references will be the same so they are not included in the content that is evaluated