Foundations of Research

 Definition of Research, Need of business research, Characteristics of

scientific research method,
 Typical Research applications in business and management.
 Questions in Research: Formulation of Research Problem –
Management Question – Research Question – Investigation Question.
 The process of business research: Literature review - Concepts and
theories - Research questions - Sampling - Data collection - Data
analysis - Writing up - The iterative nature of business research
process,
 Elements of a Research Proposal.
 Practical considerations:Values – researcher & organization. Ethical
principles - Harm to participants, Lack of informed consent, Invasion
of privacy, Deception, Reciprocity and trust, Affiliation and conflicts of
interest.
 Legal considerations - Data management, Copyright.
What

Where

When *Curiosity
How

Why
 Purpose of Research
• Extension of knowledge of human beings, social life and
environment

• Bringing to light information that might never be discovered

fully during the ordinary course of life

• Establishment of generalizations and general laws and

contribution to theory building in various fields of
knowledge

• Verification and testing of existing facts and theory

• Making reliable predictions of events yet to happen

• Better understanding of world in which we live.

Why is research a valued source of
knowledge?

 Common ways of knowing…

◦ personal experience/intuition

◦ experts/traditions/authority

◦ scientific method
 Scientific Research Methodology…
◦ the ways one collects and analyzes data
◦ methods developed for acquiring trustworthy
knowledge via reliable and valid procedures
 • What is Research -
• Search for facts
• Answers to questions
• Solutions to problems
• Purposive investigation
• Organized inquiry
• Seeking to find explanations to unexplained
phenomenon to clarify doubtful facts
• Correction of the misconceived facts
• Scientific investigation
• A journey from known to unknown.
Definitions
 “a careful investigation or inquiry specially
through search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge”.

 Redman and Mory defines research as a

“Systematized effort to gain new
knowledge”.

 Search for knowledge through objectives and

systematic method of finding solution to a
problem is research.
Characteristics of Scientific Research
 Objective
 Precise
 Verifiable
 Parsimonious (clearly defined)
 Empirical (experimental)
 Logical
 Probabilistic (based on possibilities)
What is Business Research?

• Research provides the needed information that

guides managers to make informed decisions to
successfully deal with problems.

• The information provided could be the result of a

careful analysis of data gathered firsthand or of
data that are already available (in the company).
Definition
• Business Research may be defined as the
“systematic and objective process of
gathering, recording and analyzing data
for aid in making business decisions”
(Zikmund, Business Research Methods, 2002, p. 6)
 Selected Examples of Real-Life Situations in
Which Business Research Methods are Used
 A firm wants to produce and market a new product but first wants to
ascertain if there is a potential consumer demand for this product in markets
x,y and z
 a multinational firm wants to establish a production facility in another
country after determining its technical and economic feasibility
 A government agency wants to ascertain the satisfaction level of its
employees, the causes for any possible discontent, and propose a scheme for
enhancing this level
 A financial institution wants to invest in commodities and commissions a
study to determine the past trends and forecast future returns in a portfolio
of commodities
 The CEO of a firm wants to undertake a SWOT-Analysis as part of his plan
to redefine his organization’s priorities
When Should Business Research be Undertaken?
Is sufficient time
available?

Yes

Is information
inadequate? NO Do not
undertake Business Research
Yes

High importance
of decision?

Yes

Research benefits
greater than costs? Undertake Business Research
 1.3.Types of Business research.
• 1.Applied research
• Is to solve a current problem faced by the manager
in the work setting, demanding a timely solution.

• 2.Basic research (fundamental, pure)

• Is to generate a body of knowledge by trying to
comprehend how certain problems that occur in
organizations can be solved.
• The findings of such research contribute to the
building of knowledge in the various functional areas
of business.
Example: Study of consumer behavior
Example: study of consumer behavior for FMCG products.
Common Business Research Methods &
Techniques
 Surveys
 Interviews
 Observation
 Experiments
 Archival and Historical Data
 Qualitative Analysis
 Quantitative Analysis
Fields Where Business Research is Often Used
General Business Conditions and
Corporate Research Financial and Accounting Research

 Short- & Long-Range Forecasting,  Forecasts of financial interest rate

 Business and Industry Trends trends,
 Global Environments  Stock,bond and commodity value
 Inflation and Pricing predictions
 Plant and Warehouse Location  capital formation alternatives
 Acquisitions  mergers and acquisitions
 risk-return trade-offs
Management and Organizational  portfolio analysis
Behaviour Research  impact of taxes
* Total Quality Management  research on financial institutions
* Morale and Job Satisfaction  expected rate of return
* Leadership Style  capital asset pricing models
* Employee Productivity  credit risk
* Organizational Effectiveness  cost analysis
* Structural ssues
* Absenteeism and turnover
* Organizational Climate
Fields Where Business Research is Often Used
Sales and Marketing Research Information Systems Research

 Market Potentials  Knowledge and information needs assessment

 Market Share  Computer information system use and
 Market segmentation evaluation
 Market characteristics  Technical suppot satisfaction
 Sales Analysis  Database analysis
 Establishment of sales quotas  Data mining
 Distribution channels  Enterprise resource planning systems
 New product concepts  Customer relationship management systems
 Test markets
 Advertising research Corporate Responsibility Research
 Buyer behaviour  Ecological Impact
 Customer satisfaction  Legal Constraints on advertising and
promotion
 Website visitation rates
 Sex, age and racial discrimination / worker
equity
 Social values and ethics
 Questions in Research
Formulation of Research Problem
Management Management Question
Dilemma
Choice of
The symptom of
an actual purposes or Research Question
problem, objective
Ex. Quality issue, Generation &
Fact oriented,
information
Investigative Question
High cost, Less evaluation of gathering
solutions specific pieces of
demand etc. question information Measurement Que.
Troubleshooting Set Objective,
or control Must ans. For
conclusion Respondents
situation Develop
Questions,
Hypothesis Based on
Ex. Quality area? Observation area,
Ex. To Study Attitudinal, Report analysis
Cost Area? etc. mfg. process Behavioral, etc.
To Examine performance
issues Ex. No. of T & D
Ex. value chain sessions held?,
Ex. Machine? Maintenance
People? Place? Frequency? Etc.
 1. Define Research
THE Problem

RESEARCH 2. Review of Literature

PROCESS
3. Formulate
Objective/Hypothesis

4. Prepare Research
Design

5. Data Collection

6. Data Analysis

7. Interpretation and
Report Writing
STAGE 1. SELECTION OF TOPIC

1. A crucial stage, as an inappropriate topic or question will

often lead to irretrievable difficulties later in the research.

2. It is unlikely that you will develop a final question and set of

objectives at this stage of the research process, and stages
2 and 3 are important in developing and assessing your
question more fully.
STAGE 2. LITERATURE REVIEW

• A literature review essentially consists of critically reading,

evaluating and organising existing literature on the topic to
assess the state of knowledge in the area.

• During this stage you should aim to become an ‘expert’ in

your field of research.

• Generally done alongside the development of the

theoretical and conceptual frameworks (stage 3 of the
research process).
STAGE 4. FORMULATE OBJECTIVES/ HYPOTHESIS

Initial research questions are chosen, investigated and

often rejected for a number of reasons, for example:

• The question lacks sufficient focus.

• The conceptual framework has identified problems in
either defining and/or measuring the appropriate concepts.
• There are too many moderating or intervening variables.
• The project is unfeasible in terms of complexity, access,
facilities or resources.
STAGE 5. RESEARCH DESIGN –
Research design constitutes the blueprint for the
collection, measurement and analysis of data.

• What data do I need to collect to answer this question?

• What is the best way to collect this data?
• What overall research design should I use? For example,
a cross-sectional, experimental or longitudinal design?
• Will I need to collect primary or secondary data?
• What methods, for example interviews, questionnaire
surveys and so on, will be best to collect the primary data?
• Who should participate in the research?
• How will I gain access to them?
• What are the exact procedures that I should adopt in
my data collection to ensure reliability and validity?
• Are there any ethical issues associated with the
research?
• Time frame, scope and limitations of research.
STAGE 6. DATA COLLECTION

You have to consider

• which methodology to choose, and
• which methods to utilise.
STAGE 7. DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF THE
FINDINGS
1. The data you collect in stage 6 needs to be analysed to
provide answers to your research question.
2. In your discussion of the results, reference should also
be made back to the literature reviewed in stage 2, for
example
• How do the findings add to this literature?
• Do they support the literature?
• If not, what are the possible reasons why?
STAGE 8. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

• Conclusions should relate back to the focused research

question.
• You can evaluate how successful you have been in
achieving your research objectives, and highlight the
strengths and weaknesses of the research.
• You may also want to make recommendations for further
research.
SUMMARY
1. Research is not just about the collection of data. Data
collection is important, but it is simply part of a wider process
– the research process.
2. The research process follows 8 steps: selection of topic,
literature review, Theoretical Background, clarifying your
research question, Research Methodology/ Design, Data
Collection, Data Analysis, and Conclusion with Suggestions.
3. Relating your project to the research process will allow
you to develop and answer your research question in a
logical and systematic manner.
Research Proposal
Document that is typically written by a
scientist or academic which describes the
ideas for an investigation on a certain
topic . It also known as research plan.

The research proposal outlines the

process from beginning to end and may
be used to request financing for the
project, certification for performing
certain parts of research of the
experiment.
The purpose of research proposal
 To present the research question’s purpose
and relate its importance.

 To discuss the research efforts of others who

have worked on related subject.

 To suggest the data necessary for solving the

questions and how the data will be gathered,
treated and interpreted.
 How to prepare a research
proposal?
 Normally a proposal should be between 1500 and 2000 words
and will include the following:
1. A working title of the topic area
 This should do more than convey the key words
associated with the proposed research.
2. General overview of area
 This should take the form of a brief abstract of the
general area of study and identify the discipline(s)
within which it falls. You might also refer to the way
in which your own background gives you
competences in your chosen area.
3. Research Problem formulation -
 In this section you should focus on identification of
research problem from general problem, conversion of
problem into management / research question is
expected.

4. Literature Review-
 In this section you should develop your proposal to
demonstrate that you are aware of the debates and
issues raised in relevant bodies of literature.
 References to key articles and texts should be made to
show that you appreciate their relevance to your
research area.
5. Purpose/ Objectives & Hypothesis
 Since you need to demonstrate that the topic can be completed
within the normal time period allowed, you need to demonstrate
that it is manageable, and so focus on key points within your niche
area.
6. Significance/ utility of the study
 It includes importance of research from practical and academic
point of view. It considers expected contribution of research work
in social, corporate world.
7. Research Methodology
 You need to demonstrate an awareness of the methodological tools
available to you and show some understanding of which would be
suitable for your research.
 It may be that qualitative methods, including the analysis of
interviews, is appropriate. Alternatively your approach may involve
forecasting or statistical, financial or econometric modelling.
 In other cases you may be combining methodologies. You need to
specify the approach you feel will be most appropriate.
8. Timescale/research planning
 You need to demonstrate an awareness of the need for
planning and the timescale of the research.

9. References-
 You should include a short list of references to key articles
and texts included in the application.
 Questions
 1.If you want to set up a coffee shop near the
Institute, what is your research topic?
 2.Identify the problem statement.
 3.Identify the objectives
 4.The hypotheses
 5. The research methodology.
 6. The examples of the questionnaire.
Tips for successful proposal writing
 Make it simple
◦ Avoid pretentious language, unnecessary jargon, and double
speak by cutting down every unnecessary word.
 Read your work loud
◦ A sentence that is difficult to say will be difficult to read.
 Revise , revise, revise.
 Put an end to it
◦ The faster you finish the proposal and submit it the less
time you have wasted thinking about writing it.
 Practical Considerations
Practical consideration Description

Time How much time required to conduct research?

Availability of time for study of specific problem

Cost / Money How much needed?

Who will offer?
Existence of literature Testing OR Building theory?

Topic Sensitivity Highly sensitive and Socially disturbing topic etc.

Access to data Required permissions, willingness of participants

collection etc.
Personal Skills, Knowledge, Education, Post, Motivation,
Characteristics Expertise, Age, Gender etc.
(ability)
 Ethical Considerations
Ethical Descriptions
Considerations

Harm to Research participants should not be subjected to harm in any

participants ways whatsoever.

Maintain Respect for the dignity of research participants should be

Dignity prioritized.

Informed Full consent should be obtained from the participants prior to

consent the study.

Safeguard The protection of the privacy of research participants has to be

Privacy ensured.

Confidentiality Adequate level of confidentiality of the research data should be

ensured.
 Ethical Considerations
Ethical Descriptions
Considerations
Anonymity Anonymity of individuals and organizations participating in the
(Privacy) research has to be ensured.
Deception Any deception or exaggeration about the aims and objectives of
(Cheating) the research must be avoided.
Affiliation and Affiliations in any forms, sources of funding, as well as any possible
conflicts of conflicts of interests have to be declared.
interest
honesty and Any type of communication in relation to the research should be
transparency done with honesty and transparency.

Unbiased way Any type of misleading information, as well as representation of

primary data findings in a biased way must be avoided.
 Legal Considerations
Ethical Descriptions
Considerations
Violation of Privacy Full and clear consent of participant is essential
right Should not violate any privacy of participants

Authorship rights Author, Co-author, false authorship to a manuscript

Plagiarism & Use of others research should mention in reference, direct copy of content is
References illegal.
Commercial Use The copyright protection- protecting their work from any commercial or
noncommercial use. The authors and the publishers should define and sign the
copyrights.
Sponsors rights The sponsors should be clearly identified and acknowledged.
and Any other person who contributed in any form to the research should also be
Acknowledgement acknowledged in the research.
Govt., Pvt. Org. or University sponsorship should be mentioned in report.
Fraud Fraud by deceiving the publication body, the audience, and the sponsors.
A fraud in research can be the publication of someone else’s work by your
own name. A fraud can also be the publication of someone else’s research
findings or experimental data in your research. The researcher can also
fraud by duplicate publication of almost same research in different journals.