DMS 411:

BUSINESS
RESEARCH
METHODS

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• Notes available on e-portal

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 Course Content
• Course aims at equipping students with research skills that
are applicable across the curriculum.
.

• Due to the unique content and contextual differences

between the various disciplines (specialization areas), a more
. general approach is used.

• At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• Appreciate research methodology
, • Successfully plan and execute a Research Project

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 Course Content
To be in a position to inquire and create, on the
basis of resources available to you, that which
you have come to appreciate and comprehend…
to know where to look, to know how to formulate
a serious question to question standard
doctrines…. To find your own way to shape
questions that are worth pursuing and to develop
the path to pursue them
- Noam Chomsky
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 Course Content
i. Introduction
ii. The Scientific Research Method / Process
iii. Study Background And Problem Formulation
iv. Literature Review
v. Designing Research
vi. Data Collection Methods
vii. Data Analysis
viii. Conclusions And Recommendations
ix. Research Proposal And Research Report
Writing
x. Ethics In Research.
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 Scientific research process
Define the research Desktop
Field work &
problem research
report writing
=
Research
Review literature: proposal
Report writing Theory Vs Empirical
(findings)?
Concepts & Previous research
Theories findings

Formulate Hypothesis
Data analysis

Outline methodology

Collect data

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• Definition

• Purpose of research
– General
– Organizations

• Types of research

• Sources of research
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 What is Research?

• Re – search
• The purpose of research is to answer questions about certain phenomena.

e.g.
How do we know about the origin of the universe Or life, as we know it today?
Which of the various explanations do you prefer? Why?

Why is wealth distributed more equally in some countries than others?

Does negative campaign advertising affect support for particular businesses

/products?

Do partisan divisions in an organization affect the design of new products?

What is the impact of value addition to a mining community?

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 What is research?

A voyage of The act of

discovery; A carrying out of Research is the
journey; An a diligent process of
attitude; An inquiry/a searching for an
experience; A
critical explicit answer
method of critical
thinking; A
examination of a to an Implicit
careful critical given question,
enquiry in seeking phenomenon – through the use
facts for following some of data
principles logical sequence

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What is business research?

Business Research is the process

of determining, acquiring,
analyzing, synthesizing and
disseminating relevant data,
information, and insights to
decision makers in ways that
mobilize the organization to take
appropriate actions, in turn
maximizing business excellence.
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 Business Research
• Business
research
provides
information to
guide business
decisions
“Enterprises have long recognized the need to better sense and respond to
business change.

What’s different today is that ubiquitous access to information and real-

time communications have fostered an ‘always on’ business culture
where decision making has become a ‘just-in-time process.’”
Business Performance Management Forum

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• Definition

• Purpose of research
– General
– Organizations

• Types of research
• Sources of research
• Sources of research
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 Why research? – General
Discover new knowledge - Scientists
are generally interested in how to
advance and test generalizations
relating one phenomenon to another.
Describe a phenomenon –who?
Enable theory development What? When? Where? How?
– formulation of concepts, (Description is popular in
laws, and generalizing about business research because of
a given phenomenon its versality across
disciplines).

To enable explanation of To enable prediction –

phenomena –accurate ability to go beyond mere
observation and description, towards
measurement of a given estimating a phenomenon
phenomenon.
To enable control –
ability to regulate
the phenomenon

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 Why research? – General

… Knowing and understanding many things,

but also much more important than what you
have stored in your mind,.. To know where to
look, how to look, how to question, how to
challenge, how to proceed independently to deal
with challenges that the world presents to you
Noam Chomsky

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 Research in organizations
Why the drive in modern business towards research?

Explosive growth and

influence of the internet

New perspectives on stakeholders demanding

established research greater influence
methodologies

Maturing of
management as a Competition
group of disciplines.

Government intervention
More complex decisions

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What’s Changing in Business
that Influences Research

New
Information Technological
Research
Overload Connectivity
Perspectives

Computing Shifting
Power & Global
Speed Why carry Economics
Out Research?
Battle for Critical
Analytical Scrutiny of
Talent Business

Government
Competition
Intervention
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Computing Power and Speed

Lower-cost
Data
Collection
Better
Integration
Visualization
of Data
Tools

Factors

Real-time Powerful
Access Computation
Dipstick Overview (Organizational Outlook : Mean/5)
Total

Engagement 3.55
Brand 4.07
Growth 3.16
Collaboration 3.62
Communication 3.58
3.64
Customer Focus
3.46
Diversity & Inclusion
3.34
Empowerment /Autonomy
Infrastructure 3.66
2.91
Learning & Development
4.06
Performance Management
2.79
Reward and Recognition
Management 3.42
Supervision 3.77

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Overall Dipstick Score (Focus aspects)

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Hierarchy of Business Decision Makers
“Users of Research”
• Decisions guided by research
• Enterprisewide access to research data &
findings
Visionaries
• Firms develop & use a combination of
methodologies
• Some decisions based on business research
• Limited enterprisewide access to data &
Standardized
findings
Decision Makers
• Firms use tried & true methodologies

• Most decisions based on past experience

Intuitive Decision and instincts
Makers • Decisions supported with secondary data
searches
• Definition

• Purpose of research
– General
– Organizations

• Types of research

• Sources of research
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 Types and Scope of Research
• Research can be classified differently on the
basis of approach used (see research designs)
and/or intended application

Research

Application Approach

Pure / Research
Applied Philosophy
fundamental designs

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 Sources of research issues (General)

Replication
Casual Related Practical of previous
observation literature situations studies

Deductions Current Personal

from economic, interests
theory social & and
political experience
issues

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 Research as a Science
Body of Knowledge Method of Inquiry

Logical
Systematic Abstract • induction
• deduction

Self-
General Parsimonious Empirical
corrective

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 `

Thank you

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