Welcome

Research Methods for Business

Khalid Javaid Anwer

KJAN

Research Methods: Chapter 1

 You and me in Class … !!

 How I will Teach?

 Follow the book
 Multimedia presentation

 Handouts of class lectures

 Hardcopy – Copier
 Softcopy – Maintenance Section
 What I expect from you?
 Be regular and participative
 Submit Assignments on time

 Behave in mature manner

 Research Methods for Business

Prescribed Text Book:

Research Methods for Business: A Skill – Building Approach
5th edition
Sekaran & Bougie

Syllabus:

Chapters = 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10-11-12-14
Total = 12 Chapters
No of lectures available = 10
 Marks Distribution
Sessional Marks 50
 Quizzes 10
 Assignment 10
 Class participation/ Attendance 05
 Midterm test 25

End Term Exam 50

 Total 100
 Pass Percentage 50%

TERM WORKLOAD
 Quizzes : 4 (Avg. of best 3 will be graded)
 Assignments: 3 (Avg. will be graded)
Chapter 1

Introduction to Research

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Introduction to Research
TOPICS
 Definition of Research

 Applied and Basic Research

 Why Managers Should Know About Research?

 Managers and the Consultant-Relationship

 Ethics and Business Research

Research Methods: Chapter 1

 Customer Employees
switching Motivation

Sales Poor
decline Punctuality

Employee’s Poor
Turnover PROBLEM Performance
 Timings Training

Employees Product
Motivation Quality

Stocks Financial
Availability constraint

Sales
Decline Poor
High Price
Services
ISP
 Training
Career Skills
opportunity variety

Employees Rumors
Motivation

Manager Work
employee itself
relations

Low Employee’s
salaries Location
Turnover
 Problems in Marketing
 Advertising
 Product image
 Product pricing
 Sales promotion
 After-sales service
 Product packaging
 Product distribution
 Consumer preferences
 New product development

Research Methods: Chapter 1

 Problems in Accounting
 Depreciation
 Transfer pricing
 Taxation methods
 Budget control systems
 Inventory costing methods
 Time-series behavior of quarterly earnings

Research Methods: Chapter 1

 Problems in Finance
 Leveraged buyouts
 Yields on mortgages
 Optimum financial ratios
 Inter-corporate financing
 Mergers and acquisitions
 The behavior of the stock exchange
 The operations of financial institutions

Research Methods: Chapter 1

 Problems in Management
 Information systems
 Strategy formulation
 Human resources management
 Employee attitudes and behaviors
 Production operations management
 Impact of changing demographics on management practices

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What is Research?

 A process of finding solutions to a problem after a

thorough study and analysis of the situational factors.
 Managers make decisions…..
 Good decisions and the problem gets solved
 Poor decisions and the problem persists

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Introduction to Research
The Excitement of Research
 Modern technology and personal computer with any
means to an Internet connection has made research an
exciting.

 Decision making is merely a process of choosing from

among alternative solutions and research helps to
generate viable alternatives for effective decision making.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Introduction to Research
Business Research
 Business research can be described as a systematic and
organized effort to investigate a specific problem
encountered in the work setting, that needs a solution.

 Consisting of a series of steps designed and executed,

with the goal of finding answers to the issues that are of
concern to the manager in the work environment.

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Definition;

Business Research:
Business Research as an organized systematic, data
based, critical, objective, scientific inquiry or
investigation into a specific problem undertaken with
the purpose of finding answers or solutions to it.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Definition;

Scientific Research:

“Scientific Research focusing on solving problems

and pursues a step by step, logical, organized and
rigorous method to identify the problems, gather
data, analyze them and draw valid conclusions
there from”.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Why Scientific Research? Because

 Not based on guess, experience & intuition

 It is purposive and rigorous
 Findings are accurate and confident.
 Apply solutions to similar problems.
 It is more objective in nature.
 Enables all those who are interested in researching
and knowing about the same or similar issues to
come up with comparable findings when data are
analyzed.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Introduction to Research
Business Research: Phases
 To know where the problem areas exist in the
organization.

 To identify as clearly and specifically as possible the

problems that need to be studied and resolved.

 Gather information, analyze the data, and determine

the factors that are associated with the problem and
solve it by taking the necessary corrective measures.

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Distinction between Applied and Basic Research

Distinctions
The main distinction between applied and basic business
research is:

 Applied research is specifically aimed at solving a

currently experienced problem.

 Basic research has a broader objective of generating

knowledge and understanding of phenomena and
problems that occur in various organizational settings.

 Both types of research follow the same steps of

systematic inquiry to arrive at solutions to problems.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Introduction to Research
Types of Business Research
Research can be undertaken for two purposes:

1. To solve a current problem faced by the manager

in the work setting that is called applied research.

2. To generate a body of knowledge about how to

solve problems that could be occurred in
organizations. This is called basic research or
fundamental or pure research.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Introduction to Research
Examples of Basic Research
 University professors engage in basic research is an effort
to understand and generate more knowledge about various
aspects of businesses, such as:
1. How to improve the effectiveness of information
systems.
2. How to increase the productivity of the employees.
3. How to increase the effectiveness of small businesses.
4. What factors motivate employees at Preston university
 These findings later become useful for application in business
situations

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Introduction to Research
Managers and Research
 Managers with knowledge & without knowledge (advantage)
 Because of increasing complexity of organizations, and
the uncertainty of the environment,
 Knowledge of research and problem-solving process
helps managers to identify problem situations before
they get out of control.
 Minor problems can be solved by the manager, for major
problems the outside researchers/consultants are hired.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Introduction to Research
Managers and Research
 The manager who is knowledgeable about research can
interact effectively with the researchers.
 Knowledge about research process helps managers, to
determine whether or not the recommendations are
appropriate for implementation.
 When managers understand the research reports of their
organizations, they will be equipped to take intelligent,
educated, calculated risks with known probabilities
attached to the success or failure of their decisions.
 Research then becomes a useful decision-making tool.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Internal Versus External
Consultants / Researcher
 Some organizations have their own research department,
which might be called:
a. The management services department
b. The organization and methods department
c. R & D (research and development department)
 Such a department within the organization serves as the
internal consultant if it face certain problems n seek help.
 This unit would be useful in several ways

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Internal Researchers
Advantages
 The internal researchers have better chance of being
readily accepted by the employees.
 The team would require much less time to understand
the structure, the philosophy and climate and work
system of the organization.
 They would be available for implementing their
recommendations after the research findings are
accepted.
 The internal team might cost considerable less than the
external team.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Internal Researchers
Disadvantages
 They might have less fresh ideas and perspectives that
might be needed to correct the problems.
 There is scope for certain powerful groups in the
organization to influence or misrepresent certain facts.
 There is a possibility that the internal researchers are not
perceived as “experts” by the management, and hence
their recommendations do not get the consideration and
attention they deserve.
 Certain organizational biases of the internal research
team might make the findings less objective and less
scientific.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

External Consultants
Advantages
 They have a wealth of experience from having
worked with different types of organizations that
have had the same or similar types of problems.

 They might have more knowledge of current

sophisticated problem-solving models through their
periodic training programs.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

External Consultants
Disadvantages
 The cost of hiring an external research team is high.
 They need a considerable time to understand the
organization to be researched.
 They seldom get a warm welcome, nor are accepted
by employees.
 They charge additional fees for their assistance in
the implementation and evaluation phases.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Ethics and Business Research
Ethics
 Ethics in business research refers to a code of
conduct of behavior while conducting research.

 Ethical conduct applies to the organization and the

members that sponsor the research, the researchers
who undertake the research, and the respondents
who provide them with the necessary data.

Research Methods: Chapter 1

Ethics and Business Research
Ethics
 The members that sponsor the research should do it in
good faith, pay attention to what the results indicate, and
pursue organizational interest.
 Ethical conduct should be reflected in the behavior of;
 The researchers who conduct the investigation
 The participants who provide the data
 The analysts who provide the results
 The entire research team that presents the interpretation of
the results and suggests alternative solutions.

Research Methods: Chapter 1