Note-1 Senior Professor Dr. Henarath H.D.N.P.

Opatha

Research Methods for Management

Introduction

1. Research is a detailed study of a subject or an aspect of a subject. When you

do research, you collect and analyse facts and information and try to gain new
knowledge or new understanding (COLLINS Birmingham University English
Language Dictionary, 1987). According to the definition, collecting and
analysing facts and information have to be done when you do research. These
are two major activities to be performed with the purpose of gaining new
knowledge or new understanding with regard to what is being researched.
Salkind (2009) defines research, among other things, as an intensive activity
that is based on the work of others and generates new ideas to pursue and
questions to answer. In view of Salkind, research is an intensive activity and it
is based on the work of other researchers aiming at generating new ideas to
pursue and questions to answer. Research is simply the process of finding
solutions to a problem after a thorough study and analysis of the situational
factors (Sekaran and Bougie, 2010). According to Sekaran and Bougie’s
definition, research is a process carried out to find solutions to a problem after
studying thoroughly and analysing the situational factors. Research is a
systematic effort to find an answer for a problem.

2. Management Research is a systematic activity to find answers for specific

questions in relation to a particular management problem that has been
specified lucidly. Problem is broad and loaded. Questions are more specific,
clear, relating to the problem, and have a number of more than one.
Alternatively, the terms problem and specific problems can be used.

Example:
Problem: What are the factors affecting the performance of individual chain
store units?
Specific problems:
1. Do store manager variables such as age, annual income, marital
status, number of children, educational level, hours worked per
week, and experience in retailing affect significantly retail store
performance?
2. Do store variables such as store size, fixed assets, inventory
level, years store opened and employees per store affect
significantly retail store performance?

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 3. Do nature of competitiveness, market size, and mall size affect
significantly retail store performance?
4. What is the aggregate impact of these variables on retail store
performance?
5. What is the variable which has the highest impact on retail store
performance?

3. Five reasons to indicate the importance of conducting Management Research

are:

1. To find out the truth that is hidden or which has not yet been
discovered in relation to aspects of Management.
2. To expand the existing body of knowledge of Management.
3. To understand the basic everyday phenomena which need to be
handled in Management of an organisation.
4. To provide the basis for right management decision making.
5. To generate empirical support to a theory of Management.

4. Scientific business research becomes a specialized type of investigation, which

is characterized by the testing of hypothetical relationships (Davis and
Cosenza, 1985). Thus, Scientific Research in Management is a specialized type
of investigation of hypothetical propositions about presumed relations among
Management phenomena.

5. Hallmarks of a Management Scientific Research (based on material by

Sekaran, 1992; Sekaran and Bougie, 2010) are given below:

1. Purposiveness (there is a definite purpose or aim for the research).

2. Rigor (involves a good theory base and a carefully thought-out
methodology).
3. Testability (development of hypotheses, which are testable).
4. Replicability (results of the study should be supported again and
again in other similar circumstances).
5. Objectivity (conclusions are to be based on the facts resulting from
the actual data and not on our own subjective or emotional values).
6. Generalizability (more applicability of the research findings in one
organizational setting to other settings)
7. Parsimony (simplicity in explaining the phenomena or problems
that occur and in the application of solutions to problems)
8. Precision and Confidence (P refers to how close the findings based
on a sample, are to ‘reality’.) (in statistics, the term confidence interval)
(C refers to the probability that our estimations are
correct/Confidence level)

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 6. Science has been defined as a method of inquiry and as a body of knowledge
(Davis and Cosenza, 1985; Babbie, 1986; and Prasad, 1992). As per the
method-of-inquiry definition, science is a systematic process of inquiry for
solving decision making problems, which is commonly referred to as the
scientific method (Davis and Cosenza, 1985). With regard to HRM research
studies that are scientific the scientific method will be applied. Scientific HRM
research involves the use of logical, systematic, documented methods for
investigating HRM phenomena (events, programmes, systems and processes
etc.). Science in HRM is also referred to as the knowledge produced by these
investigations.

7. Major characteristics of the Scientific Method (Francis, 1967, as in Davis and

Cosenza, 1985) include:

• The method is critical and analytical in nature: an exacting and

probing process to identify problems and the methods to arrive
at their solutions.
• The method is logical: Logic is the method of scientific
argument. The conclusions rationally follow from the available
evidence.
• The method is objective: O implies that results are replicable by
other scientists if the same conditions were performed.
• The method is conceptual and theoretical in nature: S implies
the development of conceptual and theoretical structures to
guide and direct research efforts.
• The method is empirical: The SM is ultimately grounded in
reality.
• The method is systematic: S implies a procedure that is marked
by thoroughness and a certain regularity.

8. An applied research (alternatively called action research) focuses on immediate

problems being faced by a particular organisation or organisations. A basic
research (alternatively called fundamental or pure research) focuses on an
issue, which attempts to fill a gap in theory. Purpose of an applied research is
to solve a current problem being faced by a particular organization. Purpose
of a basic research is to make a significant addition to the existing body of
knowledge in a particular area of interest to the researcher. An applied
research arises frequently from a business need of the organisation. A basic
research arises frequently from an individual need of the researcher. The
results of applied research will be used immediately to solve the problem. The
results of basic research will be used in future not for a particular immediate
problem.

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 9. Activity 1: Based on the title of the study, classify the following research as
Basic or Applied:

1. Effects of management-related factors on labour-management

relationship in manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka
2. An empirical study of membership participation in trade union
activities: evidence from selected service organisations in Sri Lanka
3. Outcome of a management training programme in a public service
4. A cost-benefit analysis of a programme for social responsibility of
ABC company
5. The determinants of organisational citizenship behaviour in
printing firms in Sri Lanka

10. Activity 2: Based on the research questions, classify the following as basic or
applied research:
1. How to improve productivity of AB Company? To expand efforts on
continuous improvement or to focus only our new product
development? Or to simultaneously pursue both?
2. To what extent has the new advertising campaign been successful in
increasing sales and company image?
3. What are the aspects of life satisfaction of Sri Lankan managers?
4. What are the recent trends in mergers and acquisitions of Sri Lankan
firms and corporate governance?

11. Five reasons for why managers should know about research are:

i. To identify and solve small problems in managing

workforce of the organisation.
ii. To understand the published research and apply relevant
important findings/suggestions to solve problems in
HRM or enhance HRM phenomenon.
iii. To assist in relating to hired researcher/consultant more
effectively or to share information that is relevant with
the researcher/consultant more effectively.
iv. To work as a management consultant in future.
v. To improve self esteem by having the ability of
researching systematically and scientifically.

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