For downloading PPT lecture slides, please visit:
http://ims.uob.edu.pk/ (Faculty--Mr. Furqan ul Haq--Uploaded Notes)
Chapter #
BBS (Evening) Program
6th Quarter 2013-2105
Friday, November 27, 2015
1
Introduction to
Business Research
References:
•Business
Research Methods (William G. Zikmund)
•Research Methods For Business (Uma Sekaran)
•VU BooK
•Internet
Resource Person: Furqan-ul-haq Siddiqui
Aim of the Course
This course is aimed at helping students to
understand importance of Business Research
and the means by which systematic research
can be conducted to describe, explain and
predict phenomena of interest pertaining to
various aspects of business.
2
How do managers make Decision
Experience based decisions
Decisions based on Sixth sense
Luck
Research based decision
?
3
What is Research…!
4
Research
Literally, research (re-search) -“search again”.
 Research is simply process of finding solutions to a
problem after a thorough study and analysis of
situational factors.
 Its series of steps designed & followed with the
goals of finding answers to the issues of concerns.

 The
entire process by which we
attempt to solve the problem is called
RESEARCH.
5
WHAT IS RESEARCH
Research is an organized, systematic, data-based,
critical, scientific inquiry or investigation into a
specific problem, undertaken with the objective of
finding answers or solutions to it.
6
What is the value of research?
Research offers the pleasure of solving a puzzle.
 Generating Theories – Models
 Identifies problems and their solutions
 Research helps to develop new methodologies.
 Modification, improvement, innovation &
rectification of old ones
 We are surrounded by research

7
Business Research

Business Research is a systematic and objective
process of gathering, recording and analyzing data
for aid in making business decisions.

Business research is conducted to resolve
problematic issues in the area of finance,
management, and marketing etc..

Research provides needed information that
guides managers to make “informed
decision”
8
Why is it important for managers to
know about research?
Diagnosis and assessment
 Solve problems
 Decision making tool
 Competition
 Risk
 Investment
 Hire and monitor researchers and consultants more
effectively

9
When Should Business Research be Undertaken?
Is sufficient time
available?
Yes
Is information
inadequate?
NO
Do not
undertake Business Research
Yes
High importance
of decision?
Yes
Research benefits
greater than costs?
Undertake Business Research
10
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Scientific Research focuses on solving problems and
pursues a step-by-step logical, organized and rigorous
method to identify the problems, gather data, analyze
them and draw valid conclusions. Scientific research is
not based on hunches, experience and intuition.
It is more objective than subjective
Science is a way to produce knowledge, involving
systematized observation and experiment having
universally accepted findings in similar environments
11
SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH
12
Hall Marks of Scientific Research
Purposiveness
 Rigor
 Testability
 Objectivity
 Replicability
 Gerenalizability
 Precision and
Confidence
 Parsimony

Each of these characteristics
can be explained in the context
of following example.
 “A researcher is
investigating about how
employees commitment to
the organization can be
increased”

13
Purposiveness
 Research
must have some definite purpose,
aim or/and benefit
 Focus be “increase in commitment of
employees”
 Increased commitment results less
turnover, less absenteeism, increased
performance
 Benefit to the organization
14
Rigor
 Good
theoretical base & sound
methodological design would add rigor to a
purposive study.
 Rigor means carefulness & thorough
 Rigorous research involves a good theoretical
detailed base & and a carefully thought out
methodology.
 Lets manager draws conclusions on the bases
on just by taking sample of 10 employees out
of 200
15
Testability
Hypothesis must be testable by applying certain
statistical tests to data collected.
 Several tests like Chi square test, T-tests etc.
 Hypothesis must be logical
 Eg. The researcher may hypothesize that those
employees who perceive greater opportunities of
promotion in organization are highly committed.
This hypothesis can be tested after data collection.

16
Replicability
The results are repeated & replicated in similar
circumstances
 Our hypothesis should not be supported by chance
 The more replicable the hypothesis results are, the
more authentic the results are.


Lets our research proves that greater opportunities of
promotion in organization leads to employee commitment,
if similar finding are drawn from other organizations in
similar circumstances then our research will be more valid.
17
Precision & Confidence
Precision refers to the closeness of findings to
the reality based on a sample
 Precision reflects the degree of accuracy or
exactitude of the result on the basis of sample.
E.g. Confidence interval in stats
 Confidence refers to the probability that our
estimates are correct. E.g. confidence level.

18
Objectivity
Conclusions must be based on the facts of findings
 Derived from actual data
 Not on our own subjective or emotional values
 The more objective the interpretation of data the
more scientific the research becomes.


Lets research proves that promotion chances has no relation
with organizational commitment even then if researcher
emphasis on it then research would not be valid.
19
Generalizability
 Scope
of applicability
 The wider the applicability more effective
and useful the research is
 Not many researches are generalizable
 Lets promotion chances are proven to be
true in a verity of organizations then
research may be called more generalizable
20
Parsimony




Simplicity in explaining the phenomena or problem
Avoid complex research models
Parsimony be achieved with good understanding of the
problem
Simplicity is always preferred to complex research
frameworks that unmanageable number of factors.
21
Obstacles to Conduct Scientific Research in the
Management & Behavioral Area




Problems in the measurement and collection of data in the
subjective areas like feelings, emotions, attitudes, and
perceptions.
Difficulties in obtaining a representative sample.
Its always not possible to conduct research that is 100%
scientific
The more hallmarks achieved by research, the
more it will be accurate
22
Research In Accounting
Budget Control Systems
 Practices & Procedures
 Inventory Costing System
 Accelerated Depreciation
 Time series behavior of Qtrly or yearly
earnings
 Transfer Pricing
 Cash Recovery Rates
 Taxation Methods

23
Research in Finance
Operations of financial institutions
 Optimum financial Ratio
 Mergers & Acquisitions
 Inter corporate financing
 Yield on mortgages
 Behavior of Stock exchange

24
Research in Management
Study of employees & their attitudes
 Human Resource management
 Human Behaviors
 Impacts of demographic changes on
management
 Production operation management
 Strategy formulation
 Information Systems

25
Research In Marketing
Product Image
 Advertising
 Sales Promotion
 Distribution
 Packaging
 Pricing

26