Master Degree in Business Management ****2021**** 1

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 Basic foundation to research:
Introduction to research in management
Sub-Topics
1. What is research? For what?

2. Basic terminology in the Research

3. Types of research

4. Typical version of scientific method in

research
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 After the completion of this handout, you will
be able to:

◦ Describe the the basic requirement of

research.

◦ Demonstrate the familiarization with the

basic terminology in the research.

◦ Explain the applicability of research in the

management discipline.

◦ Explain the nature of scientific research. 4

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 Problems ……. Solutions…..

 Studying and analyzing issues…. Research

….decisions.

 Good decisions….. Problem gets solved.

 Poor decisions….. Problem persists… get

stuck…

 How to go about making a right decision….

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 How managers go about decision making
process…..

◦ Where exactly the problem lies….

◦ Correctly recognize the factors needing

investigation….

◦ What type of information needed, how to

gather….

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 ◦ How to use information, draw conclusions,
make right decision….

◦ How to implement the decision/result to

solve the problem….

 Essence of research….process of finding

solutions to a problem.

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 Business research….. Problems encountered in a
business setting…..ways of finding a solution…

Intuition

Sources of
knowledge/
information Authority/
Experience
(Decision expertise
making)

Research

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 Know where the problem areas exist in the
organization.

 Research helps to generate viable

alternatives…. Effective decision making…..

 Knowledge of research enables us to solve

problems that we encounter as managers,
etc….

 Knowledge of research / problem solving

process : advantage over those without.

 Understand , predict , control events.

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 Trouble shooting in the workplace: identify
problem situation before they go out of control.

 Can handle the problems with success at

considerable cost savings.

 Difference between using common sense and

research in decision making…..

Systematic inquiry into the matter.

Describe / explain / predict based on data

carefully collected.

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 Being knowledgeable about research helps
mangers to:

▪ Effectively solve problems

▪ Be aware of multiple influences of factors
affecting on a situation.
▪ Know attached probabilities of success or
failure of decisions- calculated risk.
▪ Prevent vested interest.
▪ Combine experience with scientific knowledge.
Sekeran & Bougie

 Knowledge of research enhances decision

making skills of managers.
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 Research

◦ ‘A detailed study of a subject or an aspect of a

subject’.

◦ ‘A systematic attempt to find a solution for a

problem’.

◦ ‘A systematic activity to find answers for

specific questions in relation to a particular
problem that has been identified clearly’.

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 ◦ ‘Systematic activity’ – a methodical series of
steps/a series of steps done in a careful
way/a particular order.

 Scientific research

◦ ‘A systematic, controlled, empirical, and

critical investigation of hypothetical
propositions about the presumed relations
among phenomena’. (kerlinger,1973).

◦ Main characteristics of Scientific research…

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◦ Purposive : Definite aim/purpose

◦ Rigor : Having good theory base and methodology

◦ Testability : Having testable hypotheses

◦ Replicability: Similar results in similar

circumstances

◦ Objectivity: Results based on facts/data

( subjective/ emotions)

◦ Generalizability : Applicability of findings more

than one setting
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◦ Parsimony : Simplicity in explaining the
problem and applying the solution.

◦ Precision and confidence: findings closer to the

reality(Precision), probability that estimations
are correct(confidence).
Sekeran & Bougie,2014

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 Body of knowledge: A set of theories that describes
and explains phenomenon in a particular subject
area (Davis & Cosenza,1985).

 Method of inquiry/Scientific Method: A systematic

process of inquiry for solving decision making
problems, which is commonly referred to as the
scientific method(Davis & Cosenza,1985).

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 Observations : a perception of reality/ act of
noting some object / occurrence of some
phenomenon.

 Facts : a thing/phenomenon which is believed

as true. State what you perceived….

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◦ Facts can be collected from:

 Direct observation / sensing /experimental

results.

 Direct inference from other data.

 Original document.

 Report / publications.

 Questioning of individuals.
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 Concepts :

◦ A concept is an idea generalized from certain

facts perceived from reality through
observation.

◦ Creations of human mind, used in

classification and communication.

◦ Basic building blocks of theory.

◦ No concepts- no theory.

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 Constructs :

◦ Specific types of concepts

◦ Higher level of abstraction

◦ Invented for special theoretical purpose

◦ Not directly observable …..

◦ Inferred by indirect methods

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 Variables :

◦ Symbol or concept that can assume any one

of a set of values(Davis & Cosenza,1985).

◦ Attributes/characteristics or levels of
persons/ things/ events.

◦ Empirical counterpart of a concept.

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 Hypotheses and Laws:

◦ Tentative answer for a research question.

◦ Educated guess about a solution…..

◦ Laws are well-verified statement of

relationships.

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 Theories : An interrelated set of statements of
relationship whose purpose is to explain and
predict.

 Model :
◦ Formalized representation of a theoretical
network.

◦ Usually designed through the use of symbols

or other such physical analogues.

◦ Model provides a theoretical framework in

order to test and analyze it.

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◦ Basic research/fundamental/pure research.
 Something we did not know before.

 Try to understand how certain problems may

occur.

 No literature

 No empirical evidences

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  Knowledge is generated to understand a
phenomenon of interest to the researcher.

 Knowledge is applied later for solving

problems.

◦ Applied research

 Solve a current problem, need a timely

solution.

 A problem is not currently being faced, but to

improve something further.
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 Limitations to scientific research in management.

◦ Scientific investigation: Hallmarks of science.

• Purposiveness, rigor, testability, replicability,

precision and confidence, objectivity,
generalizability, parsimony.

◦ Investigations in management research are not

100% scientific- results are not error free.

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 Problems in quantifying human behaviour.

◦ Subjective nature:

• Feelings
• Emotions
• Attitudes
• Perceptions

◦ Representative sample.

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 Hypothetico – deductive method (Karl Popper).

 A systematic approach to solve managerial

problems.

 It includes seven steps.

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i. Identify a broad problem area
ii. Define the problem statement
iii. Develop hypotheses
iv. Determine measures
v. Data collection
vi. Data analysis
vii. Interpretation of data

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 Drop in sales.

 Drop in production.

 Customer switching.

 Lack of employee motivation.

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 Scientific research starts with a definite
aim/purpose.

 General objective of the research

should be developed.

 Narrow the broad problem area.

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 Why/how the problem occurs.

 Associations are identified.

 E.g. Loosing customers: high

price, quality drop…

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 Measuring variables.

V. Data collection
• Collect data….

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 Test hypotheses using
statistical analysis….

vii. Interpretation of data

• E.g.
• High price negatively related
to loosing customers.
• More discounts will reduce the
loosing customers.
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 A problem-solving technique.

 In-depth analysis, contextual analysis.

 Qualitative rather than quantitative.

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 A method of initiating change process.

 Begins with a problem already identified.

 Gather data to provide a tentative solution.

 Solution is implemented, expecting

consequences.

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