Research methodology – chapter-2

Defining the Research

Problem

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad

K L University
 Research Problem

• Some e.g.
• Domestic violence in India.
• Credit facilities for SMEs.
• Export potentiality of Mangoes from India.
• The factors which affect the demand for close-up
• Employability of MBA graduates.
• The successful factors behind Reliance fresh.
• The consumers perception towards AirTel
• The working capital Management at KCP sugars.
• The leaderships styles at TCS
• The performance appraisal system at Wipro.

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 The factors which affect the Demand for Close-up
tooth paste.

• Ingredients of the tooth paste

• Taste of the tooth paste
• Selling price per unit
• Size of the population
• Income level of the people
• Number of the competing brands
• Location of the consumers

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 Research Problem
• A research problem, in general, refers to
some difficulty which a researcher
experiences in the context of either a
theoretical or practical situation and wants
to obtain a solution for the same.

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 Research Problems in
Management
• Business executives in each of the
functional areas of management, viz.,
marketing, production, finance, and human
resource management, are confronted
with several interacting decision-making
problems in their day-to-day operation.

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 Research Applications in Functional Areas of
Management
Research problems in HRM
•HR policies
•Job and Manpower requirements
•Job Evaluation
•Recruitment, Selection, Placement, Training and
Development
•Promotion and Transfer
•Wage and Salary Administration
•Labor Relations
•Industrial Disputes
•Job Enrichment Programs
•Health, Safety and Working Conditions etc…
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Research problems in Marketing
•Marketing Policies – pricing, advertising,
inventory, customer relations, service, channels of
distribution etc.
•New Product Development – new product ideas,
improvements, packaging, brand name, customer
preferences etc.
•Market Forecasting – economic forecasts,
industry forecasts, sales forecasts, technology
forecasts etc. Sales management
•Channels of Distribution
•Advertising and sales – media selection, copy
testing, sales promotion etc.

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

Research problems in Production
•Equipment Purchase and Replacement
•Performance Improvement
•Work simplification
•Inventory Control
•Product Design
•Process Improvement
•Quality Control etc.

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

Research problems in Finance
•Ratio analysis
•Capital budgeting
•Portfolio management
•Inflation and deflation study
•Multi product BEP analysis
•Capital Structure Decisions
•Acquisition, Mergers, Liquidation
•Acquiring, Assessing, and Allocation of funds
•Opportunities for Profit
•Management of Funds
•Management of Assets
•Financial Markets and its regulations etc. (derivatives)
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Components of Research Problem
• There must be an individual or a group
which has some difficulty or a problem
• There must be some objective to be attained
• There must be some alternative course of action
• There must remain some doubt in the mind of a
researcher with regard to selection of alternative
• There must be some environment to which the
difficulties pertain

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 Selecting the problem
• The research problem undertaken for the
study must be carefully selected. The task
is a difficult one, although it may not
appear to be so. A problem must spring
from the researcher’s mind like a plant
springing from its own seed.

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

Observations in selecting a R.P subject
• Subject which is overdone should not be
normally chosen
• Controversial subject should not the choice of
the researcher
• Too narrow or too vague problem should be
avoided
• The subject should be familiar and feasible for
the research
• The selection of a problem must be preceded by
preliminary study

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 Questions to the Researcher
• Whether he is well equipped in terms of his
background to carry out research?
• Whether the study falls within the budget he can
afford?
• Whether the necessary cooperation can be
obtained from those who must participate in
research
• If the subject for research is selected properly by
observing the above mentioned points the
research will not be a boring drudgery, rather it
will be love’s labor.

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 Zest for Work is a Must
• In fact, zest for work is a must . The
subject or the problem selected must
involve the researcher and must have an
upper most place in his mind so that he
may undertake all pains needed for the
study.

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 Necessity of defining the problem
• A problem clearly stated is a problem half
solved. The problem to be investigated
must be defined unambiguously.
• In fact formulation of a problem is often
more essential than its solution.
• The ill-defined problem is often more
essential than its solution

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 Techniques in defining the RP
• Defining a research problem properly and
clearly is a crucial part of a research.
• Define the research problem in a general
way (pilot survey)
• Understand the nature of the problem
• Surveying the available literature
• Developing the ideas through discussions
• Rephrasing the research problem into a
working proposition
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
 An illustration
• “Why is productivity in Japan so much
higher than in India”
• In this form the question has a number of ambiguities
such as:
• what sort of productivity is being referred to?
• With what industries the same is related?
• With what period of time the productivity is being talked
about?
• In view of all such ambiguities the given
statement is much too general to be amenable
to analyze

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P

 An illustration
• “What factors were responsible for the
higher labor productivity of Japan's
manufacturing industries during the
decade 1971 to 1980 relative to India’s
manufacturing Industries?”
• What factors were responsible for the
productivity differentials between the two
countries by manufacturing industries for
the current decade?

Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P