Business research script

When writing a research proposal, keep in mind that You have to come up with a document that has an impact on
the reader.

Therefore, you must write your proposal clearly and well-structured so your message gets across quickly. Your
proposal must explain the study’s purpose and the problem’s definition.

TYPES OF PROPOSAL

an internal proposal is generated from A company’s experienced staff or research department to suit company
needs. An external proposal is either solicited or unsolicited.

A solicited proposal is often made in response to a ‘request for proposal (RFP) by a client or organisation , that
outlines the research objectives, scope of work, budget, and timeline. The proposal is
then developed in response to the RFP and must address the specific requirements
outlined by the client, this proposal will likely compete against several others for a contract or grant.

An unsolicited business research proposal, on the other hand, is a proposal that is

developed by a researcher or research team without a specific request or invitation.
The proposal is typically developed based on the researcher's own interests,
expertise, and observations of potential business research opportunities. The
proposal is then submitted to organizations or clients who may be interested in the
research findings or services offered.

In both cases, the business research proposal should include a clear statement of the
research problem, objectives, methodology, timeline, budget, and expected
outcomes or deliverables. However, a solicited proposal should be tailored to meet
the specific requirements outlined in the RFP, while an unsolicited proposal should
focus on demonstrating the researcher's expertise and ability to address a particular
research problem or issue.

Approval proposals refer to a written document that is written before doing the actual research. On the
other hand, a funding proposal refers to a written document that seeks research funds.

A research proposal should be persuasive to persuade potential supervisors and funders of the importance of the
research work and communicate the researcher’s intentions and research plans to those who approve or allocate
funds

COMPONENTS
There are different templates for a business research proposal, depending on the type of proposal and its scope
and purpose, however here are the basic components of a business research proposal.
1. Title – should clearly reflect the main focus of the research proposal. Title should also be catchy and
interesting as this is the first thing the readers see and so it creates an initial impression of the research
 proposal, title should be able to grab the attention of the readers and make them interested to read
further.

2. Intro – READ SLIDES, Introduction represents the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it concisely
explains what you want to do and why. The introduction is important for because it provides a roadmap
for the rest of the proposal, outlining the key sections and highlighting the main points that will be
addressed and it sets the tone for the proposal and helps to engage the reader, encouraging them to
continue reading and considering the proposed research project.
Overall, the introduction is an essential component of a business research proposal, as it provides a
foundation for the proposal and helps to establish the rationale and significance of the proposed research
project.

3. Background – read slide. The background provides an overview of the context and historical or theoretical
background of the proposed research project. It is an important component of the proposal because it
helps to establish the relevance and significance of the research problem and the need for the proposed
study. It aims to establish the relevance and significance of the research problem and the need for the
proposed study by summarizing the existing research and literature related to the research problem or
topic.

background and introduction sections may contain some similar information, but they serve different
purposes. The background section provides context and establishes the relevance and significance of the
research problem, while the introduction section provides an overview of the proposed research project
and sets the context for the study.

4. Problem Statement – read slide. Convince the reader to continue reading the proposal, The problem
statement should be described clearly to present a context for the study and identify the area to be
investigated.
What is the problem you aim to solve, and why is it important enough to be investigated?

The problem statement summarizes the topic of your planned research and reviews how your research
will affect others. Here you are asking the funder to pay more attention to your proposal because the
problem you address is worse than others or the proposed solution makes more sense than others

5. Objectives – read slides – Objectives should be clearly linked to the research question and should be
designed to address the key issues or problems identified in the proposal. The objectives of a business
research proposal are typically based on the research questions or hypotheses and are intended to guide
the research process. They provide a clear direction for the study and help to ensure that the research is
designed and conducted in a way that will achieve the desired outcomes.

The objectives should be specific and measurable so that they can be evaluated at the end of the study.
They should also be achievable given the resources and time available for the research. Whether to use
research questions or hypotheses will depend on the type of research. Exploratory or descriptive research
does not involve hypothesis testing however, analytical research must clearly state the hypothesis. The
research objective section is the basis for judging the remainder of the proposal and, ultimately, the final
report.

consistency of the proposal can be verified by checking to see that each objective is discussed in the
research design, data analysis and results section.

Here are some key points that should be discussed in the objectives section of a business research
proposal:
Research question: The objectives section should begin by clearly stating the key research question(s)
that the study aims to answer. The research question should be specific, well-defined, and focused.

Purpose statement: The purpose statement should describe the overall purpose of the study, including
the main issues or problems that the research will address. This should be written in a way that clearly
communicates the relevance and importance of the research topic.

Hypotheses or research aims: This section should outline the specific research goals or aims that the
study will seek to achieve. These should be formulated as testable hypotheses or specific research
questions that will guide the research process.

Variables and measures: The objectives section should describe the key variables that will be studied and
the measures that will be used to assess them. This should provide a clear explanation of the concepts
and constructs what the study will investigate. - A variable is any characteristic or attribute that can be
measured or manipulated in a research study. In a business research proposal, variables might include
things like customer satisfaction, employee engagement, market share, sales revenue, or any other aspect
of a business that is relevant to the research question.

Measures are the specific tools or techniques that are used to quantify or operationalize variables.
Measures can take many forms, depending on the nature of the variable being studied. For example,
measures might include surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, or secondary data sources such
as company financial reports or industry databases.

When doing a business research study, it is important to carefully define the variables of interest and to
choose appropriate measures to capture those variables. This involves making decisions about what
aspects of the business are most important to study, how to measure those aspects, and how to ensure
that the measures are valid, reliable, and sensitive enough to capture meaningful differences or changes.

Methodology: This section should describe the research methods that will be used to collect and analyze
data, including any sampling techniques, data collection tools, and statistical analyses that will be
employed. The methodology should be appropriate for the research question and objectives.

Expected outcomes: The objectives section should describe the expected outcomes of the study,
including any potential contributions to theory, policy, or practice. This should provide a clear explanation
of the potential impact of the research and how it will advance knowledge in the field.

Overall, the objectives section of a business research proposal should provide a clear and compelling
justification for why the research is necessary, what it aims to achieve, and how it will be conducted.
Mixed method - This methodology involves the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods in the
same study. This can help to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research question by
combining the strengths of both approaches.
Original data collection or primary and secondary source analysis –
PRIMARY- new data or information collected directly – ex, interviews, surveys
SECONDARY – existing information collected by others ex. Publications, government statistics.
 this section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your
research problems /objectives. Examples are Recruit participants and send out questionnaires or
Conduct semi-structured interviews with selected participants

Probability sampling involves selecting participants or data points from a population using a random
selection method. In this approach, every member of the population has a known chance of being
included in the sample.

Non-probability sampling involves selecting participants or data points from a population based on
criteria other than random selection Non-probability sampling methods are often used in exploratory or
qualitative research.

6. Methodology
7. Significance of the research - The significance section should create a perspective for looking at the
problem. It should point out how your study relates to the larger issues and uses a persuasive rationale to
justify the reasons for your study.
8. Literature Review - literature review is an important section of the business research proposal because it
provides the foundation for the proposed research, and enables the researcher to identify the research
gap, build a strong argument for the research problem, and justify the research design and methodology.
9. Research Design- research design is a critical component of a business research proposal, as it helps to
ensure that the study is rigorous, well-defined, and focused. By carefully selecting the research design,
researchers can control for extraneous variables, ensure that the data collected is valid and reliable, and
provide meaningful insights into the business phenomena being studied.

There are three main types of research design that are commonly used in a business research proposal,
which are:

Exploratory research design: This research design is used when the research question is not clearly
defined, or the researcher has little knowledge about the topic. The purpose of exploratory research is to
explore and gain a better understanding of the research problem and generate initial ideas and
hypotheses. It is often conducted through qualitative research methods such as interviews, focus groups,
and observation.

Descriptive research design: This research design is used to describe the characteristics of a population or
phenomenon. It is often conducted through quantitative research methods such as surveys, and the data
is analyzed using statistical techniques. The purpose of descriptive research is to provide a detailed picture
of the research problem and identify patterns or trends.

Causal research design: This research design is used to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between
two variables. It involves manipulating one variable (the independent variable) and measuring the effect
on another variable (the dependent variable). It is often conducted through experimental research
methods, and the data is analyzed using statistical techniques. The purpose of causal research is to test
hypotheses and theories and identify the underlying mechanisms that explain the relationship between
variables.

In addition to these three main types of research design, there are also other specialized research designs
that may be used in business research, such as longitudinal research design, cross-sectional research
design, and case study research design. The choice of research design should be carefully considered
based on the research question, data requirements, and other factors, and it should be justified in the
research proposal.
 10. Presentation of data - Presentation, analysis, and interpretation of data is the process of organizing,
summarizing, and analyzing the data collected during the research study. This step is important because it
allows the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions from the data and answer the research questions
or objectives.
Organize and summarize the data: Start by organizing the data and summarizing it in a way that is clear
and easy to understand. This might involve creating tables, charts, or graphs to help visualize the data.

Choose appropriate statistical techniques: Depending on the nature of the data, you may need to use
different statistical techniques to analyze it. For example, if you are analyzing survey data, you may use
descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations to summarize the data. If you are looking for
relationships between variables, you may use inferential statistics such as correlation analysis or
regression analysis.

Interpret the results: Once you have analyzed the data, it is important to interpret the results and draw
conclusions from them. This involves looking for patterns or trends in the data and considering what they
might mean in relation to the research question.

Relate the results to the research question: Make sure that you connect the results of your analysis to the
research question. Explain how the results support or refute the hypotheses or research questions that
you formulated at the beginning of the study.

Discuss the implications of the findings: Finally, discuss the implications of your findings for the business
or industry that you are studying. Consider how the results might inform decision-making or help to
address practical problems.

It is also crucial and important because It also helps to enhance the credibility and reliability of the
research findings, and support decision-making in the business context.
11. Timeline and Budget - Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project or forecast
what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While this is not always required, be sure to
check the requirements of your project.

If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your
estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.

Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:

 Cost: exactly how much money do you need?

 Justification: why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
 Source: how did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

 Travel costs: do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much
time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
 Materials: do you need access to any tools or technologies?
 Help: do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will
you pay them?

12. References - Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you
have used, compiled in a reference list. Should be by alphabetical order by last name
13. Appendix - The appendix is important because it provides additional evidence and details that support the
research proposal.

a research proposal is an evolving document as it can change over time, and the final research proposal is
often radically different from the one originally prepared.
A good proposal should be forward-looking. It should also state how the research will be communicated to the
wider community.