Research Methodology
Chapter 1: Introduction to research
Definition of Business Research:
Two Types of Research
 Research is the process of finding solutions to a problem
after a thorough study and analysis of situational factors.
 Research help managers in organization to make decisions.
 Business Research: Is an organized, systematic, databased, critical, objective, inquiry, or investigation into a
specific problem, undertaken to find answers or solutions
to it.
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Basic Research
Applied Research
 Basic Research: generating a body of knowledge by trying
to comprehend how certain problems that occur in
organizations can be solved.
 It is done to understand a phenomenon or gain better
understanding
 Research encompasses the processes of inquiry,
investigation, examination, experimentation.
 Example: Global Warming
Steps of Research:
1. Know where the problem areas exist in an organization.
And clarify as clearly as possible the problems that need to
be studied and resolved
2. Determine the factors that are associated with the
problem, gather information, analyze the data, develop an
explanation.
 Decision-making is simply a process of choosing from
among alternative solutions to resolve a problem and
research helps to generate viable alternatives for
effective decision-making
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 Applied Research: Solves a current problem faced by the
manager in the work setting, demanding a timely solution.
 You are taking action
 Example: Employees Leaving. Apple watch (New products).
Basic Research
Applied Research
• Purpose:
• Expand the knwoledge of
processes of business and
management
• Results in universal prinicples
relating to the process and its
relationship to outcomes
• Finding Significance and value to
society in general
• Purpose:
• Improve understanding of
particular business or
management problem.
• Results in solution to the problem
• New knowledge limited to
problem
• Findings of practical relevance and
value to managers in organizations
• Context:
• Undertaken by people based in
univesities
• Choice of topic and objectives
determined by the researcher
• Flexible time scales
• Context:
• Undertaken by people based in a
variety of setting including
organizations and universities.
• Objectives negotiated with
originator
• Tight time scales
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What type of data can I gather?
 Primary data: encompasses information directly sourced
through methodologies such as surveys, interviews,
experiments, or observations. Data at first hand.
 This data is tailored to the specific research inquiry or
objective under investigation.
 Secondary Data: it is available within various domains,
such as the company, industry, or archives, offers another
dimension to understanding
 It comprises information that has been previously
collected, analyzed, and documented by external parties.
 These data can be quantitative (data in the form of
numbers as generally gathered through structured
questions)
 Qualitative (qualitative data are data in the form of words)
which are gathered from the broad answers to questions in
interviews, or from responses to open-ended questions in
a questionnaire, or through observation or from already
available source on the internet.
Research can help in several fields:
 Accounting: Budget and Depreciation
 Finance: Stock Exchange
 Management: HR and employee attitudes
 Marketing: Product image and sales promotion
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How can Research help managers
1. Identify and effectively solve minor problems in the work
setting.
2. Know how to discriminate good from bad research
3. Take calculated risks in decision-making
4. Relate to hired researchers and consultants more
effectively
5. Combine experience with scientific knowledge while
making decisions
Why managers should know about Research:
1. Identify and effectively solve minor problems in the work
settings.
2. Know how to discriminate good from bad decisions.
3. Appreciate and be constantly aware of multiple influences
and multiple effects of factors that have an impact on a
situation.
4. Take calculated risks in decision making, knowing well the
probabilities associated with different possible outcomes.
5. Prevent possible vested interests from exercising their
influence in a situation.
6. Relate to hired researchers and consultants more
effectively
7. Combine experience with scientific knowledge.
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Internal Researcher Vs External Researcher:
External Researchers
• Advantages:
• Divergent and convergent
thinking (Creative)
• Experience from serval
situations in different
organizations
• Better Technical training
• Disadvantages:
• Takes times to know and
understand the organization
• Not easily accepted by the staff
• not available ofr evaluation and
implementation
• Costs are high
• Example: External Research
Agency.
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Internal Researchers
• Advantages:
• Better acceptance from staff
• Knowledge about organization
• Would be an integral part of
implementation and evaluation
on the research
recommendations (Available for
implementation and evaluation)
• They cost less than outsourcing.
• Disadvantages:
• Less fresh ideas
• Power Politics could prevail (I
can manipulate the results for
my desires)
• Bias
• Possibly not valued as expert by
the staff (why him, why not
me?)
• Example: R&D department
 The manager has to weigh the pros and cons of engaging
either before making a decision.
 If the problem is a complex one, or if there are likely to be
vested interests, it would be advisable to engage external
research.
 If the problems that arise fairly simple if time is of the
essence in the problem, or if there is a system-wide need to
establish procedures and policies of a fairly routine, the
internal team would be the better option.
Ethics:
 Code of conduct or expected behavior while conducting
research.
 The whole process from collecting data to analyzing it
needs to be confidential specifically If the topic is
sensitive.
 Ethical behavior pervades each step of the research
process.
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