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Learning Outcomes Students should be able to describe what research is and how it is defined, and explain the scope of business research

Outlines Definition of business research Type of business research: applied and basic The use of research in business The hallmarks of scientific research Characteristics of scientific research The building blocks of science in research Key questions in planning research Examples of research areas in business The role of information technology in business research

Research Isn’t Research isn’t information gathering: Gathering information from resources such books or magazines isn’t research. No contribution to new knowledge. Research isn’t the transportation of facts: Merely transporting facts from one resource to another doesn’t constitute research. No contribution to new knowledge although this might make existing knowledge more accessible.

What Research Is Research can be described as organized and systematic inquiry or investigation which provides information for solving a problem or finding answers to a complex issue (Uma Sekaran, 2003)

Business Research Is: an Organized, Systematic, Data Based, Critical, Objective, Scientific inquiry or Investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or solutions to it. (Uma Sekaran, 2003)

Types of Business Research Applied research A study which is undertaken to resolve current problem Xerox is insular and isn’t ready for the increasingly competitive, high-tech world. Xerox sill relies on old-fashioned and slow- selling analog copiers for more than half its revenue and despite its double-digit growth in digital products and services, its sales rose just 4%. Basic (pure/fundamental) research A study to generate scientific knowledge for future use Research into the causes and consequences of global warming will offer many solutions to minimize the phenomenon, and lead to further research concerning if and how global warming can be averted.

Other Types of Research Case studies: involve in-depth, contextual analyses of similar situations in other organizations, where the problem happen to be the same as experienced in the current situation. A study of what contributes to the successful installation of a good MIS in organizations similar to the one that is planning to install the system as well. Action research: undertaken to initiate change processes in organizations The vice president of BCD Co., wants to introduce a new system of bookkeeping and meet some resistance from the Accounting Department. Therefore, he seeks a solution to the problem of employee resistance.

Examples of Research Areas in Business Problems of Absenteeism Communication Motivation Productivity Morale Make or buy decisions Advertising effectiveness Test marketing Budget allocations Accounting procedures

The Hallmarks of Scientific Research Purposiveness Rigor Testability Replicability Precision and Confidence Objectivity Generalizability Parsimony

Research Sequence Explore situation identify problem exists Explore situation identify problem exists Develop research design Develop research design Collect data Analyze data Interpret results Analyze data Interpret results Evaluate results see if research questions has been answered Evaluate results see if research questions has been answered Decide next steps Implement or more research. Decide next steps Implement or more research.

What is Good Research….? The purpose of the research or the problem involved, should be clearly defined The research procedures used should be described detail The research design should be carefully planned to yield results as objective as possible The research should report the result and estimate their effect upon the findings Analysis of the data should be adequate to reveal its significance and the methods of analysis uses should be appropriate Conclusions should be confined the research data Greater confidence for experienced researcher

The Building Blocks of Science in Research

Explanation……. The process of observation is sensing the phenomena around us is what gets most of the research started. Then, problem identification calls for some preliminary data gathering. Integration of the information obtained, helps to determine that a problem exists, thus it formulates a conceptual model or theoretical framework. Several hypotheses can be generated and tested to determine if the data support them. Concepts are then operationally defined so that they can be measured. A research design is set up to decide on how to collect further data, analyze and interpret them, to finally provide answers to the problems.

Planning your Research: Key Questions What do you want to know? How do you find out what you want to know? Where can you get the information? Who do you need to ask? When does your research need to be done? Why? (Getting the answer)

Step 1: What? What do I want to know? When developing your research question, keep in mind: Who your research is for; What decisions your research will inform; What kind of information is needed to inform those decisions. Conduct a local information scan Take another look at your research question

Step 2: How? Where? Who? How do I find out what I want to know? Where can I get the information I need? Who do I need to ask? Choose your methodology quantitative or numbers information qualitative in-depth explanatory information case studies site visits or observation participatory research

Step 3: When? When do all the different parts of the research need to be done? List all your research work areas Map them against a timeline Develop a work plan

Step 4: Why? Getting the answer Collect your data Keep returning to your research question Organize your research results to answer the question Keep in mind who you are doing the research for Focus on what research results do tell you Be creative, methodical and meticulous

The Role of IT in Business Research The use of internet Electornic mail ( ) Intranet Browser Web sites Digital whiteboards Video conferencing Information gathering Data analysis

Information Systems in Organization Data Warehousing Data Mining Decision Support System Management Information System Executive information System Expert System Operations Research