FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTANCY

UNIVERSITY MALAYA
Master of Business Administration
CMGB 6103 RESEARCH METHODS IN BUSINESS

COURSE OUTLINE
SEMESTER 2, 2014/2015

CONTACT INFORMATION
DESCRIPTIO
N
Lecturer

NAME

OFFICE

PHONE

EMAIL

Dr Noor Akma
Mohd Salleh

A1-38

79673931

akmasalleh@um.edu.my

THIS DOCUMENT IS ESSENTIAL READING. IT IS THE RESPONSBILITY OF EACH

STUDENT TO BE AWARE OF THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT FOR SUCCESS
IN CMGB 6103.
OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE

This course covers several main aspects of research methodology. The first part introduces different
scientific research approaches such as positivism (quantitative) and interpretivism (qualitative). The
process of doing research, literature review and research design are also discussed in this section. The
second part expands on this process and the related topics are survey, experiment, case study,
ethnography, grounded theory and observation. The third part discusses key aspects of methodology such
as questionnaire design, measurement and sampling. The final part concentrates on data analysis such as
Chi Square, ANOVA, Correlation, Factor Analysis and Regression.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this course, you should be able to:
1. Define research terms and concepts.
2. Build a research design in the business discipline.
3. Apply different statistical techniques using computer software packages for data analysis purposes.
4. Interpret research findings using appropriate statistical technique in research.
The learning outcomes for this course include developing and demonstrating the following
competencies:
Content knowledge: Knowledge of concepts, theories and research methods that can be used to study
phenomena in the information systems discipline.
Analytical proficiency: Ability to apply content knowledge in well-structured, clear, and compelling
ways to understand and evaluate existing or proposed research in the information systems discipline.
Dialectical proficiency: Ability to apply critical reasoning to evaluate existing or proposed research
in information systems discipline.
Oral proficiency: Ability to prepare and present oral presentations, and to participate in oral
discussions in a clear, well-structured, confident, compelling, and articulate manner.
Written proficiency: Ability to prepare well-structured research reviews and proposals that conform
to a good grammar and style.
GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES
The University Malaya has proposed that all its graduates will have in-depth knowledge of the field(s)
studied. Furthermore each graduate will display effective communication skills, independence and
creativity, critical judgement and ethical and social understanding. These attributes reflect the broad
nature of a graduates required skill set. The skill set builds upon the culture of inquiry and innovation
that are part of a research university, as well as embedding the need to exhibit effective interpersonal
skills and a broad understanding of social and ethical responsibilities.
TEACHING AND LEARNING MODES
Lecture/Seminar
There will be a 3 hour face-to-face lecture and seminar discussion. You will be expected to actively
participate in the seminar (for example, to express your point of view and ask questions in lectures and
seminars). We will meet in Lecture Theatre 5 (DK5) on Wednesday and Thursday (6:30-9:30pm), and in
Seminar BSB09 on Thursday (2:00-5:00pm) . I will not simply regurgitate material from the textbook
within lectures. Rather I will try to provide supplemental material that is aimed at enhancing your
understanding and enjoyment of the course. In addition, we will try to look how the material we have
learned can be used in practical ways.

Week

Lecture/Tutorial/Assignment Topic

References/Teaching
Materials/Equipment

The nature of business and management research

Lecture Note

The research process and design

Lecture Note

Formulating a research problem

Lecture Note

Critically reviewing the literature

Lecture Note

Identifying variables and constructing hypotheses

Lecture Note

Measurement: Scaling, Reliability, Validity

Lecture Note

Formulating the research design

Lecture Note

Semester Break

Lecture Note

Selecting samples

Lecture Note

Collecting primary data using questionnaires

Pallant, 2013

10

Analysing quantitative data

Pallant, 2013

11

Analysing quantitative data

Pallant, 2013

12

Analysing quantitative data

Pallant, 2013

13

Presentation (replacement)

Pallant, 2013

14
Presentation (replacement)
Teaching Schedule

Pallant, 2013

COURSE WORK AND GRADING

A students final grade in the course will be determined by the following assessment. The table below
contains details of the process of awarding final grades.
Two Tests
Individual Project
Group Project Report
Group Project Presentation
Final Exam

20%
15%
15%
10%
40%

Note:
a. Group work will be weighted by peer evaluations
b. All written work will have to be submitted on the due dates. Penalty for late submission is five points
per day.
c. Attendance is mandatory during the simulation sessions, exams, and class project presentations.

Presentation

Starting Week 13 and Week 14, each group of students will give a brief presentation of their research
proposal. You should prepare power-point slides to assist you in your presentation. These power-point
presentations must be handed out at the commencement of the discussion of the reading.
The student presentation will be assessed according to the following criteria:Dimension
1
2
Organization

No logical or
Unorganized sequence of
information
Does not fulfil any
requirements of the
assignment
No or Little eye contact
and poor posture

Acceptable sequence

Excellent and logical

sequence

Fulfils the minimum

requirements of the
assignment
Some eye contact and
maintain acceptable posture
with audience

Use of time

Presentation is either
extremely short
or long

Mostly stay within the time

frame

Attire

Casual o Inappropriate
attire with no
respect to the occasion
Does not use visual aids
or uses visual
aids that does not support
the text
and presentation
No or poor confidence

Meet minimum standard of

business dress

Fulfils most of the

requirements
of the assignment
Maintain good eye contact
most
of the time and good
posture
Good t time management
and keep an appropriate
pace for each point
presented
Good standard of business
dress

Question and
Answers

Mumbles, incorrect
pronunciation
and soft
Student cannot answer
questions

Clear pronunciation in
some parts
of the presentation
Student can answer but fail
to elaborate

References

No references disclosed

Disclose some references

Content
Posture and
eye contact

Visual
presentation

Confidence
Elocution

Student uses visual aids that

in
general support text and
presentation

Student uses visual aids

that relate well to text and
presentation

Confidence level is average

Confidence level is
excellent
Excellent and precise
pronunciation in all parts
of the presentation
Student answers all
questions with
excellent elaboration
Disclose most references

UNIVERSITY POLICY ON PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is the action or practice of taking and using as ones own, the thoughts or writings of another
without acknowledgement. The following practices constitute acts of plagiarism and are major
infringement of the Universitys academic values:

When paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence, or significant parts of a sentence which are copied
directly, are not enclosed in quotation marks and appropriately footnoted.
When direct quotation are not used, but are paraphrased or summarised, and the source of the
material is not acknowledged either by footnoting or by other reference within the text of the paper.

When idea which appears elsewhere in printed material or film, is used or developed without
reference being made to the author or the source of that idea.

The University of Malaya (UM) considers plagiarism to be a case of academic misconduct which
seriously undermines the reputation of the university. It is clearly stated in the University of Malaya
(Discipline of Students) Rules 1999 [hereinafter referred to as Student Disciplinary Rules], that
students are not allowed to plagiarise other peoples ideas, writings, data or inventions (Rule 6 of the
Student Disciplinary Rules (pp. 1734-1735).
FINAL EXAM
The final exam in this course will cover all topics of the course. All final exams will be held during
official examination period. Information on the structure and content of this examination will be given
towards the end of the semester, through tutorials.
REFERENCE
1. Copper, D.R., and Schindler, P.S. (2012). Business Research Methods 11th Edition, McGraw, Hill,
Singapore.
2. Zikmund, W.G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C. and Griffin, M. (2012). Business Research Methods, 8th
Edition, South-Western Cengage Learning, USA.
3. Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R. (2012) Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building Approach, 5th
Edition, John Wiley & Sons, United Kingdom.
4. Hair, F.J., Money, H.A. and Samouel, P. and Page, M. (2011) Business Research Methods,
International Edition, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, USA.
5. Pallant, J. (2013). SPSS Survival Manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (5TH
edition). McGraw-Hill.