ASSINGNMENT ON RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Assignment topic: RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Submitted to: Prof. Shivakaminathan

Submitted by: Dipanwita Samanta(09CB08)

Date: 07.01.10

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CONTENTS
Introduction 3

Type of research proposal: 3

Purpose of research proposal: 3

Tips on writing a business research proposal: 4

Components of a proposal 4

Executive summary 4

Introduction 5

Project description: 5

Objectives 5

Research Question and Significance 6

Specific Aims 7

Literature Review 7

Methodology 7

Timetable 9

Conclusion 12

References 12

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REASEARCH PROPOSAL

INTRODUCATION:

A proposal is an individual’s /company’s offer to produce a product or render a

service to a potential buyer or sponsor. The purpose of research proposal is:

 To present the management question to be researched and relate its

importance.
 To discuss the research efforts of others who have worked on related
management questions.
 To suggest the data necessary for solving the management question and
how the data will be gathered, treated, and interpreted.

Type of research proposal:

In general research proposal can divided into two ways

Internal research

External research

Internal research: Internal proposals are more succinct than external ones. At
the least complex end the continuum in exhibit 4-4, a one –to three-page memo
from the researcher to management outlining the problem statement, study
objectives, research design, and schedule is enough to start an exploratory
study. Privately and publicly held businesses are concerned with how to solve a
particular problem, make a decision, or improve an aspect of their business.

External proposal: Written from one separate, independent organization or

individual to another such entity.

• Business situations:

• An independent consultant can propose to do a project for another firm.

• An advertising agency may propose to design a scheme for a nationwide

advertising campaign for bank.

A company in India may propose to set up a wastewater treatment plant in

another country

Purpose of research proposal:

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Writing a business research proposal is a useful exercise, which can help
students develop critical thinking skills and enhance their career opportunities.
The proposal is the first attempt to tackle the issue interesting to the writer
and/or the business community. The business research proposal serves as a
mean to introduce the concern and as a promise to investigate it.

Another advantage of the business research proposal is that this exercise

enhances students’ intellectual abilities. They learn to evaluate their arguments,
select the important ones, and focus on essential factors while discussing their
potential research

Tips on writing a business research proposal:

 You should start writing your business research proposal as early as

possible;
 You should not forget to attach a cover letter to your application;
 You should answer all questions. This means that in some cases the
application form has some questions concerning your business research
and you should answer them all;

 You should present the application committee what they expect you to.
This means that you should strictly follow the business research
proposal guidelines; this will help you meet the requirements of the
application committee.
 You should be as explicit and specific as possible. This means that the
space, allotted for your business research proposal, is not so large and you
have to cram all the necessary material in it. There is no place for
deviations and literary digressions.
 You should not promise unachievable results, since the committee will
consider your research to be hardly performed.
 You should state the objectives of your business research, which should
then correspond to the results of it.

PROPOSAL BODY

Components of a proposal

Executive summary

• Problem- a brief statement of the problem or need your agency has

recognized and is prepared to address (one or two paragraphs)

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 • Solution – a short description of the project, including what will take
place and how many people will benefit from the program, how and
where it will operate, for how long, and who will staff it (one or two
paragraphs)

• Funding requirements – an explanation of the amount of grant money

required for the project and what your plans are for funding it in the
future (one paragraph)

• Organization and its expertise – a brief statement of the name, history,

purpose, and activities of your agency, emphasizing its capacity to carry
out this proposal. (one paragraph)

Introduction

• Indicate that the document to follow is a proposal

• Refer to some previous contact with the recipient of the proposal or to

your source of information about the project.

• Find one brief motivating statement that will encourage the recipient to
read on and to consider doing the project.

• Give an overview of the contents of the proposal.

Project description:

It has five subsections-

• Objectives

• Methods

• Staffing/Administration

• Evaluation

• Sustainability

They then become the focus of the evaluation to assess the results of the
project. The project’s sustainability flows directly from its success, hence its
ability to attract other support.

Objectives

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 • Are the measurable outcomes of a program.

• Define the methods

• The objectives must be tangible, specific, concrete, measurable, and

achievable in a specified time period.

• Present objectives very clearly using bullets, numbering, indentations

• Don’t set an objective which is not realistic because the final report of the
project completion will be viewed in the light of the objectives targeted.

. Research Question and Significance

􀂃 Clearly state the research question that the study will address. State
how your research is innovative, how your proposal looks at a
topic from a fresh point of view, or develops or improves project
management tools, processes, technologies.

􀂃 Very briefly, embed your research question in the context of the

research area that led to the proposal. Focused, relevant literature
will be critically analyzed in Section 3 below.

􀂃 Demonstrate how the research will increase knowledge in the field

and will improve the practice of project management.

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Specific Aims

􀂃 The specific aims are the objectives of the research project—

what you intend to accomplish by the close of the project. They
are clear, focused, concise statements that elaborate on or
“unpack” the research question.

􀂃 The aims should flow directly from the research question, and
the methodology used in the study should relate directly to the
aims.

􀂃 The project should have no more than four specific aims.

Literature Review

􀂃 Relevant Literature. In this section, demonstrate not only

knowledge of relevant strands of literature but also a critical
assessment of them with up-to-date references. Use this section
to show existing gaps or discrepancies in knowledge within the
area of your research. In some cases the proposal represents a
completely new direction or line of research, while in others it
is part of a continuing program in an area in which the
investigator has been engaged. If the proposed project is part of
an ongoing program of research for which you have already
done a full literature review, summarize the literature in this
section. If you intend only to update the literature as part of the
current proposal, demonstrate that the baseline literature review
is actually complete, and append the full review as an Appendix
to the proposal.

􀂃 Preliminary Studies. If previous work has been undertaken

(e.g., pilot or exploratory study, phase I research), summarize
the results in this section. If you have an existing questionnaire
(one that has been used in a pilot or on-going study relevant to
this proposal) mention it here and provide details in the section,
“Data Collection Methods.” If you plan to use the questionnaire
in the proposed study, attach it as an Appendix. Explain the
relationship between your earlier study(ies) and the proposed
research.
. Methodology

􀂃 Research Design/General Methodological Approach. In this

section, provide an overview of the research design, including a

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 summary of the methods of procedures and a justification for the
approach.

􀂃 Methods of Procedure. In this section be specific about the

procedures that will be used in the study

􀂃 Sample Size and Description – If the project encompasses

survey research, include the type of sample, target and
expected number of survey respondents, the source of
respondents, stratification variables, etc. If case studies are
proposed, provide number of cases, interviews per case,
source of respondents, number, type, and length of
interviews within strata, etc. Describe significant sampling
characteristics (e.g. job titles/positions), location, types of
industries/organizations, methods of access, etc.
􀂃 Data Collection Methods – detail precisely how the data will be collected. If
an existing questionnaire will be used, describe its relevance to the proposed
study, how it has been used in the past and cite its source; if a pilot
questionnaire has been developed and used by the investigators in a preliminary
study, attach it as an appendix; if an original questionnaire will be developed,
provide an outline of the proposed data categories in which questions will be
constructed. For interviews, provide a draft of the proposed interview
schedule(s) including, at minimum, the list of topical data categories that will be
addressed.

Data Analysis Plan

􀂃 Describe how both quantitative and qualitative data will be

analyzed. For example, how will field notes from interviews and
the contents of documents be managed, analyzed, and interpreted?
What types of statistical techniques will be applied to the data?
Justify the analysis plan that is selected.

Deliverables and Methods of Dissemination

􀂃 Format the section on Deliverables, using the frame of the chart

below. (The information on the chart below is an example only.)
Narrative can further explain planned methods of dissemination.

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Timetable

A detailed timetable scheduling all aspects of the research should be

produced. This will include time taken to conduct background

research, questionnaire or interview schedule development, data

collection, data analysis and report writing. Research almost always

takes longer than you anticipate. Allow for this and add a few extra

weeks on to each section of your timetable. If you finish earlier than

you anticipated, that’s fine as you have more time to spend on your

report. However, finishing late can create problems especially if you

have to meet deadlines.

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Conclusion

• It should bring readers back to focus on the positive aspects of the project
(after being shown the costs).

• You can end by urging them to get in touch with you to work out the
details of the project, to remind them of the benefits of doing the project,
and maybe to put in one last plug for you or your organization as the right
choice for the project.

References:
www.wikipedia.com

www.mbafouram.com

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