KNOWLEDGE

EXCHANGE
PROJECT 1

Week 2
Research topic, research question, and research objectives
PRELIMINARY
RESEARCH
TEMPLATE
Preliminary Research Template

1. Company Name and Overview of the company

2. Business problems
3. Research Topic
4. Research Question(s)
5. Research Objectives
6. Literature review (at least 3 papers)
7. Variables (DV and IVs) and Research Model
8. Methodology method
9. Research Timeline
10. Proof of the contact
11. References

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COMPANY NAME
AND OVERVIEW
OF THE
COMPANY
Company Name and Overview of the company

1. Company Name:
• Clearly state the full and official name of the company.
• If you are focusing on any subsidiaries or divisions,
please specify which ones.

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Company Name and Overview of the company

1. Company Name:
• Clearly state the full and official name of the company.
• If you are focusing on any subsidiaries or divisions,
please specify which ones.

2. Founding and History:

• Provide a brief history of the company.

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Company Name and Overview of the company

1. Company Name:
• Clearly state the full and official name of the company.
• If you are focusing on any subsidiaries or divisions,
please specify which ones.

2. Founding and History:

• Provide a brief history of the company.

3. Industry and Sector:

• Identify the industry or industries the company operates
in.
• Discuss the sector it belongs to and how it positions
itself within the market.
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Company Name and Overview of the company

4. Products and Services:

• List and describe the primary products or
services offered by the company.

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Company Name and Overview of the company

4. Products and Services:

• List and describe the primary products or
services offered by the company.

5. Market Presence:
• Analyze the company's market presence,
market share, competition, etc.

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Company Name and Overview of the company

4. Products and Services:

• List and describe the primary products or
services offered by the company.

5. Market Presence:
• Analyze the company's market presence,
market share, competition, etc.

6. Financial Overview:
• Present key financial metrics such as revenue,
profit margins, etc.

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Business problem(s) and Research topic

Next you identify business problems and formulate a research topic along with
corresponding research questions aimed at addressing these challenges.

A well-defined business problem sets the stage for a compelling research study,
allowing you to contribute valuable insights to the business and management field.

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Business problem(s) and Business topic

Don’t forget this

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 RESEARCH
QUESTION(S)
Research Question(s)

After choosing a topic and gathering background information, add focus with a
research question.
Research Topic Research question

General description of what A focused, yet open-ended

you’re writing about. question that leads to your
research.

Example: Example:
Social media Is social media leading to an
increase in depression in
young people?

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Research Question(s)

Questions may be divided into ones that are exploratory, descriptive, explanatory
or evaluative. Any research question you ask is likely to begin with or include
either ‘What’, ‘When’, ‘Where’, ‘Who’, ‘Why’, or ‘How’.
5 W’s 1H

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Research Question(s)

Each of these will lead to an answer that is partly descriptive and sometimes
entirely descriptive, such as: ‘How much did the marketing campaign for the new
range of products cost?’

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Research Question(s)

Exploratory questions are likely to begin with ‘How’ or ‘What’.

For example, ‘How has the corporate rebranding strategy affected consumer
attitudes?’

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Research Question(s)

Questions that are evaluative are also likely to begin with ‘How’ or ‘What’.
For example ‘How effective was the marketing campaign for the new range of
products?’

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Research Question(s)

Questions that seek explanations will either commence with ‘Why’ or contain this
word within the question.
For example, a question may ask customers what they think about a new product
and why they like or dislike it.

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Common Research Question(s) troubles

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Common Research Question(s) troubles

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Common Research Question(s) troubles

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Common Research Question(s) troubles

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Research Question(s)

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Research Question(s)

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Research Question(s)

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Research Question(s)

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 RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES
Research Objectives

• Your research question is complementary ways of saying what your research is

about. However, it gives sufficient detail about the steps you will need to take to
answer your question.

• To do this you will need to devise a set research objectives.

• Once you have devised your research question, research objectives are likely to
lead to greater specificity.

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Research Objectives

Objectives can be general or specific.

• The general objective of your study states what you expect to achieve in
general terms.
• Specific objectives break down the general objective into smaller, logically
connected parts that systematically address the various aspects of the problem.

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Research Objectives

General format
To + Action verb

To examine
To investigate Name of
To explore variable,
Context
To discover construct, or
To understand concept
To describe
To compare

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Example

Research question: What are the specific effects of minimum wage increases on
small businesses?
General objective: To evaluate the effects of minimum wage increases on small
businesses.
Specific objectives:
+ To analyze cost structures, pricing changes, and profitability of small businesses
before and after minimum wage increases.
+ To survey small business owners on the strategies they employ to navigate
minimum wage increases.
+ To examine employment trends in small businesses in response to wage increase
legislation.

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Research Objectives

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Research Objectives

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Research Objectives

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Research Objectives

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Research Objectives

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Research Objectives

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EXAMPLES
Example 1

Research Question: What are the key factors influencing customer satisfaction in company
XYZ?
General Research Objective: To describe and understand the factors that contribute to
customer satisfaction in company XYZ.
Specific Objectives:
+ To evaluate the impact of the quality of products or services offered by company XYZ
on customer satisfaction.
+ To examine the role of customer service in influencing customer satisfaction in
company XYZ
+ To provide suggestions for company XYZ to enhance their customer satisfaction.
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Example 2

Research Question: How do organizational culture and leadership styles impact employee
productivity in company XYZ?
General Research Objective: To explore the relationship between organizational culture,
leadership styles, and employee productivity in company XYZ.
Specific Objectives:
+ To analyze the prevailing organizational culture within company XYZ
+ To investigate various leadership styles adopted by management in company XYZ and
their perceived influence on employee productivity.
+ To offer recommendations to company XYZ for improving employee productivity
through organizational culture and leadership styles.
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Example 3

Research Question: How can the implementation of lean production principles enhance
operational efficiency and reduce waste in company XYZ?
General Research Objective: To assess the impact of lean production principles on improving
operational efficiency and minimizing waste in the context of company XYZ.
Specific Objectives:
+ To evaluate the current production processes and identify areas of inefficiency, bottlenecks,
and waste within the manufacturing system of company XYZ.
+ To measure the changes in operational performance and waste resulting from the adoption
of lean production practices in company XYZ.
+ To provide recommendations to company XYZ on strengthening the impact of employing
lean production principles to enhance operational efficiency and reduce waste.

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