I am doing a Action Research Project on a problem within my company that I am employed with. The problem is using manual time sheets and how to resolve this issue. What I need is to find companies that have had problems with manual paper time sheets and find out how they resolved this issue within their company.

Any help with this will help me out a lot because I need to have at least 15 resources and I am having a hard time finding companies that had a problem with this.

You may have to search and research, but once you learn some good sources and methods, you should have success. In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library. Libraries these days subscribe to enormous research databases, and they are often usually more useful than Internet searches. Ask your librarian if you have access to EBSCOHost -- it has several databases within it, including a huge one for academic research, at least three for health sciences, one for military and government, and others.

For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.

My favorite way to search is to use Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section (above) will help you best.

Learning to use Google or other search engines can save you time and help you learn to find information efficiently. Here are some websites that can teach you how:

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/searchtips.html

http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/index.html

http://websearch.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true&COB=home&PM=112_100_T

... and one to help you judge whether a particular website's information is worth your time:

http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/evaluate.html

Happy searching.

=)

Thank you for the information, but I already have the stratrgies to use for searching the internet, but I'm not coming up with anything from companies that have had using manual (hand written) time sheets as a problem.

To find companies that have had problems with manual paper time sheets and how they resolved the issue, you can follow these steps:

1. Start by conducting a literature review: Review academic articles, books, and research papers related to time tracking and management systems. Look for studies or case studies that discuss the challenges faced by companies using manual time sheets and how they overcame them.

2. Use online databases: Search through online databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, ResearchGate, and other academic platforms. Use keywords such as "manual time sheets," "electronic time tracking," "time management systems," or similar terms to find relevant studies in your area of interest.

3. Explore industry-specific forums and communities: Visit professional forums, industry-specific communities, and social media platforms. Look for discussions, threads, or posts related to time tracking issues or time sheet problems within companies. You can ask for recommendations or seek advice from people who have faced similar challenges.

4. Contact professional organizations and associations: Reach out to industry-specific organizations or associations related to your company's field. Inquire if they have any resources, case studies, or contacts that can provide insights into solving the problem with manual time sheets.

5. Attend industry conferences or seminars: Look for conferences, seminars, or workshops focused on time management, human resources, or workforce management. By participating in such events, you can network with professionals from various organizations who may have dealt with similar issues.

6. Conduct interviews or surveys: Within your own company, interview colleagues or employees who have experienced challenges with manual time sheets. Seek their input on potential solutions or any companies they are aware of that have already solved this problem. Additionally, consider surveying staff within other companies in your field to understand their experiences with manual time sheets and how they addressed them.

7. Search for case studies or success stories: Look for case studies or success stories from companies that have openly shared their experiences with transitioning from manual time sheets to electronic time tracking systems. These can often be found on company websites, industry publications, or business journals.

Remember to document all the resources you find and cite them appropriately in your action research project. This will not only give credibility to your findings but also allow others to refer to these sources for further information.