Research?

Research
• When some one talks about research it comes in
mind as:
– Laboratory
– Aprons
– Chemicals etc

• It is not all that but it is more than that

Research is:
“Systematic and Objective process of
generating information for making
decisions”.

[William G. Zikmund ]
• Research is a hard nut to crack.

• It is not some thing mysterious/puzzling

and even not a piece of cake either.

• It is not entirely an academic; rather it is an

Art as well.
 Research

Problem Identification Research Problem Solving Research

(when we do not know about any issue) (when we need to find the solution
of known issue)
 The Role of Business Research

Uncontrollable
Controllable
Variables Factors
Business
Research • Economy
• Product • Technology
• Pricing • Laws & Regulations
• Promotion • Social & Culture
• Distribution • Political Factors
etc
A professor of sociology, while assigning research
topics to his students at a university in India,
proposed one group to conduct its study exploring
the future of 60 students who were studying at a
suburban school. These children belonged to
struggling segments of society and that school was
being run under problems. The students
concluded their research with their findings that
“these kids have no future and they will not be
able to bring any change in their lives or their
families.”
• Twenty years later another professor at the same
university while finalizing topics for the students’
research projects had a look at the previous
reports in the library, he came across this report
on the school and asked his students to conduct a
follow up study to see if the results drawn by the
first report were valid. The students carried out
the research and managed to locate 56 of those
students to learn “they were all well placed and
managed to bring a change in their lives and were
leading a successful life.”
• Do you understand what research is ?
 Major points of the definition:
Research consists of:

- Objective,

- Systematic and

- Scientific process

- to Identity the problem or

- to solve PROBLEM

- which helps in decision making.

 Research in a laymen language is:

Identification of Problem/s

Solution of Problem/s

Answer of Question/s
Which one from the following is a researchable Question?

Candidates applied for admission in IoBM during the

current year?

Girls appeared for admission test in BBA program in

IoBM during the current year?

Candidates applied from diff provinces in admission?

Cause of unrest among the students of Karachi

university?

Causes of unrest among the students of Public

Sector Universities?

Avoiding/control over natural calamities?

 Types of Problem/s Questions/ …..

Solvable Problem Unsolvable Problem

Ordinary Researchable
Problem/Q Non Factual
Problem Problem
Consider the following Research Problems:

1. How many students are there in MBA Day?

2. How many students are there in SZABIST?

3. How many Universities are there in Pak?

4. How to define the term Research?

5. Cause of 90% failure result in Karachi Board?

6. What is the ultimate destiny of a man?

7. Influence over Natural disasters?

 Q- 5: qualifies for research question.

We can say that the cause may be:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
a. Lack of facilities

b. Mismanagement

C. Communication Gap

d. Lack of Faculty Interest

e. Lack of Teaching Faculty

f. Outdated Curricula in Classes etc

 Manager and research.
• Solve problems
• Decision making tool
• Competition
• Risk
• Investment
• Hire researchers and consultants more
effectively
Hypothesis:
These hypotheses have to be proved against the
facts through the data and proper analyses to
confirm the situation.
 How to Opt for Research Question/s?

1. Am I unaware about the answer?

2. Am I interested? [Relevance of field/area]
3. Can I have the accessibility of information?
4. Will I benefit from my Research?
[Degree/Prestige/Advancement]

5. Will it benefit the Society?

6. Can I afford it?
- Time
- Money
- Approach [Methodology]
- Other Botherations
 1.3.Types of Business research.
• 1.Applied research
• Is to solve a current problem faced by the manager in
the work setting,demanding a timely solution.
• 2.Basic research (fundamental, pure)
• Is to generate a body of knowledge by trying to
comprehend how certain problems that occur in
organizations can be solved.
• The findings of such research contribute to the building of
knowledge in the various functional areas of business.
 Basic Research
• Basic (fundamental or pure ) research is
driven by a scientist's curiosity or interest
in a scientific question. The main
motivation is to expand man's
knowledge , not to create or invent
something. There is no obvious
commercial value to the discoveries that
result from basic research.
 Applied research
• Applied research is designed to solve
practical problems currently being
experienced by the organization
 The Basic–Applied Continuum

Figure 1.1 Basic and applied research

Source: Authors’ experience, Easterby-Smith et al., 2002, Hedrick et al., 1993
 1.5 Ethics and business research
• Ethics in business research refers to a code of
conduct or expected societal norm 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.
 Theory and Practice
1. Business and management research need to
provide findings that advance knowledge and
understanding.
2. It needs to address business issues and
provide a process for solving managerial
problems.
3. You may satisfy your intellectual curiosity but
you must also consider the practical
implications of your findings.