Understand . . .

what business research is, similarities with and differences from other research Trends and Drivers of business research the distinction between good business research and research that falls short of professional quality the value of learning business research process skills

 What is BR? A process of determining, acquiring, analyzing, synthesizing, and disseminating relevant business data, information, and insights to decision makers in ways that mobilize the organization to take appropriate business actions that, in turn, maximize business performance BR is not necessary unless the ff: Can information be applied to a critical decision? Does it improve managerial decision-making? and Are sufficient resources available?

New Research Perspectives Stakeholder Influence

Growth of Internet

Greater Computing Power Business as a discipline

Factors
Competition Government Intervention
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Complex Decisions

Organizational Mission

Business Goals

Business Strategies

Business Tactics

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Natural Science: Biology, physics, chemistry, etc. Social Science: studies and the collection of methods applied by researches to produce a scientifically based knowledge about the social world. Also known as soft science or Pseudoscience. It is uses the ideas or information clothed in the jargon and outward appearance of science to win acceptance. Examples: behavior, practices, beliefs, etc.

Research may be:

Create knowledge for intellectual purposes or Corroborating practices or shaping policies Neither for academic or application purposes (new) Adopts scientific methods: ideas, rules, techniques, approaches, etc. used to create and evaluate knowledge Has ontological or epistemological assumptionsscientific attitude (how the world in observed, measured and interpreted).

Deductive or Inductive Reasoning

Clearly defined purpose Detailed research process Thoroughly planned design

High ethical standards

Limitations addressed Adequate analysis Unambiguous presentation

Conclusions justified
Credentials
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Direct observation Clearly defined variables Clearly defined methods

Empirically testable Elimination of alternatives

Statistical justification Self-correcting process
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Where will you position Business Research? Explain Answer: Business or management is multidisciplinary What do you think is the contributions of Business Research?

See earlier slides

Sometimes used interchangeably.

Technically, the methods are concerned with how data is collected and information generated, and methodology relates to ones attitude and understanding of research and the strategy to choose to achieve given objectives. Both methods and methodology are influenced by some assumptions, reasoning and paradigms

An epistemological approach organizes and explains knowledge in the form of theories. For example, an epistemological approach to a theory of leadership might be based on exploring what we can observe about effective leadership in the real world. So effective leadership might be observed as being associated with the possession of certain traits or characteristics on the part of the leader.

The ontological approach is based on suggestions about the nature of phenomena.

For example, an ontological approach to developing theories of leadership would consist of views on the nature of effective leadership with or without reference a knowledge base.

Epistemology: what is the relationship between the inquirer and the known- the nature of knowledge and the process by which knowledge is acquired and validated
Ontology: what kind of being is the human being. Ontology deals with the question of what is real.

Types of Discourse

Exposition

Argument

Deduction

Induction

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Deductive research develops hypotheses or theories and then tests them out through empirical observation.
It is essentially a set of techniques for applying theories in the real world in order to test and assess their validity. Deductive research is the most widely used research approach in the natural sciences.

Inductive the researcher develops hypotheses and theories with a view to explaining empirical observations of the real world.
These empirical observations can be based on many factors, for example, they can simply be based on personal experience.

Inner-city household interviewing is especially difficult and expensive This survey involves substantial inner-city household interviewing The interviewing in this survey will be especially difficult and expensive
2002 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., McGraw-Hill/Irwin

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Why didnt sales increase during our promotional event?

Regional retailers did not have sufficient stock to fill customer requests during the promotional period A strike by employees prevented stock from arriving in time for promotion to be effective A hurricane closed retail outlets in the region for 10 days during the promotion

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Deduction

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Positivist paradigm the object of study is independent of researchers; knowledge is discovered and verified through direct observations or measurements of phenomena; facts are established by taking apart a phenomenon to examine its component parts.

The naturalist or constructivist view knowledge is established through the meanings attached to the phenomena studied; researchers interact with the subjects of study to obtain data; inquiry changes both researcher and subject; and knowledge is context and time dependent

Using your own experiences in organizations, suggest a hypothesis or theory that might serve to explain a particular phenomenon you have noted from your experiences. Example: Phenomenon noted: Older employees in an organization seem to find it more difficult to adapt to new procedures. Hypothesis/theory: In an organization age is a key factor affecting resistance to change. Now select your own phenomenon and suggest a hypothesis that might explain that.

Concepts

Constructs

Conceptual schemes Operational definitions

Models

Terms used in research

Theory Propositions/ Hypotheses

Variables

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Success of Research

Clear conceptualization of concepts

Shared understanding of concepts

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How can we define the variable class level of students?

Freshman Junior Senior

< 30 credit hours 30-50 credit hours 60-89 credit hours > 90 credit hours

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Event

Act

Variable

Characteristic

Trait

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Dichotomous

Male/Female Employed/ Unemployed

Discrete

Ethnic background Educational level Religious affiliation

Income Temperature Age

Continuous

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Independent Variable (IV) Predictor Presumed cause Stimulus Predicted from Antecedent Manipulated

Dependent Variable (DV) Criterion Presumed effect Response Predicted to. Consequence Measured outcome

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Moderating Variables (MV) Extraneous Variables (EV) Intervening Variables (IVV)

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The loss of mining jobs (IV) leads to acceptance of higher-risk behaviors to earn a family-supporting income (DV) particularly among those with a limited education (MV). Among residents with less than a high school education (EV-control), the loss of jobs (IV) leads to high-risk behaviors (DV), especially due to the proximity of the firing range (MV). A promotion campaign (IV) will increase savings activity (DV), especially when free prizes are offered (MV), but chiefly among smaller savers (EVcontrol). The results come from enhancing the motivation to save (IVV).
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Must be Generalizable:
Brand Manager Jones (case) has a higherthan-average achievement motivation (variable). Brand managers in Company Z (cases) have a higher-than-average achievement motivation (variable).

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Descriptive In Ghana, the best performing shares for the month of September stands at 50.00%. European countries are experiencing budget difficulties.

Research Question What is the market share for of the best performing shares on GSE? Are European countries experiencing budget difficulties?

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Correlational Young women (under 35) purchase fewer units of our product than women who are older than 35. The number of suits sold varies directly with the level of the business cycle.

Causal An increase in family income leads to an increase in the percentage of income saved. Loyalty to a grocery store increases the probability of purchasing that stores private brand products.

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Guide the direction of the study

Identify relevant facts

Suggest most appropriate research design

Provide framework for organizing resulting conclusions
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Adequate A Strong Hypothesis Is Testable

Better than rivals

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