Research Questions: Start with a problem and turn that into a question. (Economic Clusters)

The Hall of Bulls
Man (i.e. mankind) continuously seeks to understand
his/her environment and creates theories.
First theories were often rudimentary and magical based.
 Modern theories are highly analytical. Research
questions help us define the parameters
to focus on creating a level of supportable
 validity. To understand our environment accurately
we need creative and analytical processes to work together
to explore and define. 
 c. 16,000–14,000 B.C.E.  Lascaux, France

Research questions are the primary way in which we answer important questions about the world in which we live. A research question is drawn from everyday problems we face in life. It is beneficial from an organizational/societal perspective to ask fundamental questions that lead to advancement of a nation and its people.  

For example, in business we might have a question as it relates to a problem such as raising capital or perhaps in government where we may want to accomplish some objective but are unaware of how to proceed. Because we don't know how this happens we are unable to pass this industry-innovation challenge so we are stuck in older methods. Seminal research often creates branches of new knowledge (I'm not saying these questions but sometimes they end up doing just that.).

Thinking of examples that might apply to a nation that seeks to development in alignment with the needs of an increasingly digital oriented digital era advanced manufacturing nation (in theory)......

Let us say that we want more innovation in a number of industry sectors but have little idea on how to repeat a successful process that produces tangible measurable outcomes (Sorry, I'm working on something so its important to my work and it might be important to yours as well. Using "yours" as a general term with non-specific intent.). We might need to study the problem to develop an understanding and see how that leads to a possible resolution of that research problem.

Article Principle 1: Research questions are based on problems we experience in industry, government, or our lives.

In this example, we may start with some general problems that we can further narrow down over time as we conduct a literature search.

If one was conducting a relatively narrow study on one company, location, cluster, etc. they might consider a question like the one below (One can actually go down to smaller than a pin drop in focus.):

R1: How do we improve innovation in XYZ? (Not formatted correctly R1, R2, etc. nor is it fully developed as a question. Its a general idea to be written in the future specifically into a scientifically useful question. See further below.)

If one was conducting a wider arching study it might include some relatively broad questions like,

R2: How do we export the innovation discovered in XYZ into the supply chains of multiple participating industries/companies so as to maximize manufacturing and economic benefits of industry-government collaboration? (Researchers will rewrite these many times until they get it "right". This is very long and isn't enough to the point. If I wrote it 10X more times it would get better. The more you read the better, you can support your question.  )

At present we have two basic undeveloped research questions that would likely require two different interrelated studies (They could be one but it would have to be organized into multi sections. Sometimes they could run concurrently as data comes into one it will impact the other. A little risky but certainly if you had to get a preliminary study done in short order you could do it. A limitation would be the time frame and cataloging of the adjustments in the study to ensure practical knowledge within a truncated time frame. It would provide keen insight but would not be as well supported as follow up studies that seeks to justify or disprove the strength of validity of the study. You just have to state up front what those risks are and that it is designed to spark other studies as a somewhat mixed method design approach. In other words, the design is intended to give on accuracy to obtain practical utility. Specific aspects of the study may reach confidence levels but many aspects won't nor were they necessarily intended to. The goal was to explore in a relatively structured way the concept and then allow other studies and management techniques to follow up.  A type of quick sizing and framing of the problem and its most apparent broad solution. The experts are the one's who slice and dice, while the entrepreneurs think of ways to capitalize on such knowledge, investors think of ways to capitalize on entrepreneurial activities, while government seeks to maximize the benefit to society and its tax base. spark spark putter putter spark. Regional Economic Lightning Strike). 

Article Principle 2: Research questions start broad and then get more specific with literature search and rewrites.

The first being how to improve innovation (including metrics and catalyst factor isolation). In the second question we are thinking of wider supply chain functionality (manufacturing, production, economic benefit, etc.). One is considered how to do something and the other one is scalability of those findings through applied research and strategic implementation. We historically are good at creating knowledge but not necessarily good at applying it as quickly as we should. It involves risks and good old fashion business sense mixed with science to get over the hump. Risk and reward pendulum can be shifted by slowing aspects of the study when the structure isn't defined well.

Article Principle 3: The design of the study is based on the research question and the best way to solve that. 

I'm using economic clusters because I'm thinking of ways to improve American/National innovation in a way in which it can be pinpointed around specific targeted objectives. Yet to really be cutting edge, when compared to our competitors, we have to incorporate different ideas and concepts from multiple industries into specific achievement of research directives and then expand on it in ways that our competitors cannot conceive or easily copy without insight knowledge and broader environmental support (An element stamp that is unique to that cluster.). Its a type of pushing the process to obtain a result that has maximum butterfly effects in participating companies/industries (Yes, I'm skipping stuff because I can't write a 300 page report on it for just conversation sake. If it makes sense, then let us just go with it!! If you don't like it, post a better way with some detail that I didn't provide, or click off and just enjoy your day. Its reasonable in the way I see it at this moment. Ask me tomorrow, and if something changes, I might give you a different answer.)

Here are a few other related readings.

How to Write a Research Question

Examples of Research Questions

Formulating a Research Question