Week 1.1

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

CBEB 2105 - Week 1Introduction to the course and

business and management research – Chapter 1

Week 1.2

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Introduction to CBEB 2105

• Lecturer

• E-learning at http://adec.um.edu.my/main or http://spectrum.um.edu.my/

• Course content

• Assessment

• Online student resources http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/saunders

Week 1.3

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Introduction to the research process

Things to consider

• Realities and pitfalls of research

• Approaches, strategies and methods

• Techniques and procedures for data collection and analysis

• Appropriate use of information technology

Week 1.4

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Terminology

Methods -

The techniques and procedures used to obtain data

Methodology -

The theory of how research should be undertaken

Saunders et al. (2009)

Week 1.5

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

The nature of researchDefinition:

‘Something that people undertake in order to find things out in a systematic way, thereby increasing their knowledge’

Saunders et al. (2009)

Characteristics:

• Data are collected systematically

• Data are interpreted systematically

• There is a clear purpose to find things out

Week 1.6

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Features of business and management research (1)

• Managers draw on knowledge from other disciplines

• Managers are more likely to allow access if they seecommercial or personal advantage

• Managers now tend to be as educated as the researchers

• Managers require research to have some practical consequence

Easterby-Smith et al. (2008)

Week 1.7

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Features of business and management research (1)

Key debates

• Knowledge production – (Modes 1, 2 and 3 knowledge)

• The ‘relevance gap’

• ‘Evidence based’ management

• Basic and applied research

Week 1.8

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Features of business and management research (2)

Basic and applied research

Sources:authors’ experience; Easterby-Smith et al. (2008); Hedrick et al. (1993)

Figure 1.1 Basic and applied research

Week 1.9

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

The research process (1)Stages of the research process

• Formulating and clarifying a topic

• Reviewing the literature

• Designing the research

• Collecting data

• Analysing data

• Writing upBased on Figure 1.2: Saunders et al. (2009)

Week 1.10

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

The research process (2)Factors to consider

• The impact of your personal feelings and beliefs

• Access to data

• Time and other resources

• Validity and reliability of the data

• Ethical issues

Week 1.11

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Purpose of the bookTo help you undertake research by being

• Clear about what you are doing

• Why you are doing it

• The associated implications of what you are aboutto do

Week 1.12

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Overview of the Chapters (1)

• Tutorials for data analysis software

• Smarter Online Searching Guide

• Terminology that is defined and explained

• Examples of research projects

• Checklists for focused guidance

Week 1.13

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Overview of the Chapters (2)

Each Chapter contains:

• A summary of key points

• Self- check questions – and answers

• Review and discussion questions

• References and further reading

• A case study that highlights real research issues

Week 1.14

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Final Sections

• Bibliography

• Appendices

• Glossary

• Index

Week 1.15

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Summary: Chapter 1

Business and management research

• Is transdisciplinary

• Engages with both theory and practice

• Involves undertaking systematic research

• Should be undertaken with rigour

Week 1.16

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Summary: Chapter 1

The book acts as a guide to the research processby providing:

• a series of research examples • checklists to help you acquire relevant knowledge• review and discussion questions• self-check questions - and answers• guidance as you generate material for your project report

Week 1.17

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

And finally……..

“there is no one best way for undertaking all research”

Saunders et al. (2009)

Week 1.18

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Formulating and clarifying the research topic – Chapter 2

Week 1.19

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Cat & Alice…‘Would you tell me please, which way I ought to walk from here?’‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to’, said the Cat.‘I don’t much care where’, said Alice.‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you walk’, said the Cat.

Week 1.20

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Formulating and clarifying your research topic

The important steps

• Identifying the attributes of a good research topic

• Generating ideas that help you select a suitable topic

• Turning ideas into clear research questions and objectives

• Writing your research proposal

Week 1.21

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Attributes of a good research topic (1)Capability: is it feasible?

• Are you fascinated by the topic?

• Do you have the necessary research skills?

• Can you complete the project in the time available?

• Will the research still be current when you finish?

• Do you have sufficient financial and other resources?

• Will you be able to gain access to data?

Week 1.22

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Attributes of a good research topic (2)

Appropriateness: is it worthwhile?

• Will the examining institute's standards be met?• Does the the topic contain issues with clear links to

theory?• Are the research questions and objectives clearly

stated?• Will the proposed research provide fresh insights into

the topic?• Are the findings likely to be symmetrical?• Does the research topic match your career goals?

Week 1.23

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Attributes of a good research topic (3)

And - (if relevant)

Does the topic relate clearly to an idea you were given -

possibly by your organisation/lecturer?

Week 1.24

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Generating research ideas

Useful Techniques

Rational thinking Creative thinking

Searching the literature Scanning the media

Brainstorming Relevance Trees

Exploring past projects Discussion

Keeping an ideas notebook

Week 1.25

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Refining research ideas

• Using the Delphi Technique

• Conducting a preliminary study

• Continually testing out your ideas

• Integrating ideas

• Refining topics given to you by your organisation

Week 1.26

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Writing research questions

Write research questions that are

• Consistent with expected standards

• Able to produce clear conclusions

• At the right level ( not too difficult )

• Not too descriptive

• Use the ‘Goldilocks Test’ (too big, too small, too hot, just right)

Clough and Nutbrown (2002)

Week 1.27

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Turning ideas into research projects (1)

Examples of research ideas and their derived focus questions

Table 2.2 Examples of research ideas and their derived focus research questions

Week 1.28

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Turning ideas into research projects (2)

Other research idea examples?

• Online learning and students’ self-efficacy – In what ways the e-learning has facilitated students to enhance their learning capabilities?

• The use of social online communities – What effect has the growth of online communities had on the traditional ways of communication among students?

Week 1.29

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Turning ideas into research projects (2)

Useful techniques

• Start with a general focus question

• Use the ‘Russian Doll’ principle to reach the essence of the question

• Discuss areas of interest with your tutor

Week 1.30

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Turning ideas into research projects (3)

Writing clear research objectives

• Check your examining body’s preferences for stated objectives

• Use a general focus question to achieve precise objectives

Saunders et al. (2009)

Week 1.31

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Research Qs vs Research Objectives

Why students use online communities networking eg. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter?

To identify the objectives for students to use online communities.

How effective are these communities in promoting discussion among students?

To identify the features of the online communities that enable communication among students.

How the effectiveness of online communities be explained?

To determine the factors associated with the effectiveness of online communities for students discussions

Week 1.32

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Turning ideas into research projects (4)

Include SMART Personal objectives

S pecific

M easurable

A chievable

R ealistic

T imely

Week 1.33

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

The importance of theory

• Asking for opinions and gathering facts – 'what' questions (descriptive research)

• Using questions that go beyond description and require analysis – 'why' questions

Phillips and Pugh (2005)

In order to:

Explain phenomena Analyse relationships

Predict outcomes Compare and generalise

Week 1.34

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Threefold typology of theories

Grand, middle range and substantive theories

Creswell (2002)

Figure 2.1 Grand, middle-range and substantive theories

Week 1.35

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Writing your research proposal

Purposes of the research proposal

• To organise your ideas

• To convince your audience

• To contract with your client (your tutor)

• To meet ethical requirements

Week 1.36

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Content of your research proposal (1)

• Title - likely to change during the process

• Background - context within the literature

• Research questions and objectives - what you seek to achieve

Week 1.37

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Content of your research proposal (2)

• Method - can be in two parts: research design and data collection

• Timescale and Resources - (finance, data access, equipment)

• References - include some key literature sources

Week 1.38

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Evaluating research proposals

• How the components of the proposal fit together

• Viability of the proposal

• Absence of preconceived ideas

Week 1.39

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Summary: Chapter 2

The best research topics

• Formulate and clarify the topic

• Meet the requirements of the examining body

• Use a variety of techniques when generating research ideas

• Are focused on clear questions based on relevant literature

Week 1.40

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

Summary: Chapter 2

The best research topics

• Are theory dependent

• Have a proposal containing organised ideas

Tell the reader:

• What will be done and why

• How it will be achieved

Week 1.41

CBEB 2105 2010/2011

What you need to do…• Get the recommended text• Prepare for Week 2 lecture – read Chapter 3• Prepare for Tutorial – form groups, research idea,

research topic, questions and objective• Download and read the following articles:

Starkey, K. and Madan, P. (2001). ‘Bridging the relevance gap: aligning stakeholders in the future of management research’. British Journal of Management, Vol. 12, Special Issue, pp. 3–26.

Sutton, R. and Staw, B. (1995). ‘What theory is not’. Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 40, Issue 3, pp. 371-384