APPLIED BUSINESS

PROJECT (ABP 791/792)

PRESENTED BY
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nooraini Mohamad Sheriff
Source & Resource Person: PROFESSOR DR. ROSMIMAH MOHD ROSLIN
ARSHAD AYUB GRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOL
LINKING ABP 791 AND ABP 792

ABP 791 ABP 792

- The - The
Proposal Report
THE FOUNDATION

ABP 791 ABP 792

BRM 701 - The - The
Proposal Report
Business
Research
Methodology
COMPONENTS OF ABR 791

Introduction/Research Background

Problem Statement
Research Objectives
Research Questions

Literature Review
Framework Development/Academic Constructs

Proposed Methodology
The Research Proposal: COMPONENTS OF ABP 791
1.0 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 2.0 SECTION 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
1.1 Background of study [how has your study area evolved] 2.1 Background of the research area (Set the context of
1.2 Background of industry [highlights of your industry] your research)
1.3 Background of company [profile of co. n key issue/
challenge]
2.2 Concept and definition of key components of the
1.4 Statement of the problem [business problem to resolve in research area
the research]
1.5 Research Objectives [what the research set out to achieve] 2.3 Individual sections on each component of the
1.6 Research Questions [refined statements of the specific research area
components of the problem]
1.7 Scope of the study [parameter of the study] 2.4 Related Studies [OPTIONAL]
1.8 Significance of the study [importance of the study to
industry, uni, company etc] 2.5 Summarize to conclude
1.9 Limitations of Study [research constraints]
2.6 Strategic tools
1.10 Definition of terms [operational def.] 2.7 Theoretical framework/ Academic
construct
 The Research Proposal contd…

3.0 SECTION 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 The research design (purpose, 3.5 Operationalization of variables

type, unit of analysis & time horizon) 3.6 The fieldwork and data collection
method
3.2 The sampling design (target 3.7 The data analysis
population, sampling technique & 3.8 Application of Strategic tools
sample size)
• Time frame (Gantt Chart)
3.3 Data sources (primary & secondary
• References [70% < 5 years old]
sources)

3.4 The instrument for the research

( sections, scaling technique)

6
FINANCE AND NON-FINANCE PROJECTS
FINANCE NON FINANCE

• Some fundamental • Wholly on applied

issues allowed issues
• Analyses based on • Problem solving focus
hypotheses testing and • Analyses can be
relevant statistics through descriptive,
inferential statistics
• And also focus on
strategic tools
 NON-FINANCE PROJECTS

Premise

Organization
Focus
Problem
solving Method of analysis
Quantitative +
Industry Case Strategic Tools
Strategic Tools
analysis
 ABP IS ALL ABOUT……

Research done with the intention of APPLYING the

results of findings to solve specific problems currently
being experienced in the organization, or currently
being faced by a given task in a given environment that
are constantly changing

Should be based on real organizations

 ABP ……

Focused on decision making

Do have research elements incorporated in the

dissertation

Meant to indicate students’ level of mastery of

the knowledge acquired whilst undertaking the
MBA/EMBA
DECISION MAKING…?

Student as consultant

Study about organization - ‘the applied’ link

‘Attach’ themselves to an organization – Real

setting

Problem statement that is as real as possible

- A need for the research **********
 The Broad Problem Area

Examples of • Training programs are not as effective as

broad problem anticipated.
areas that a • The sales volume of a product is not
picking up.
manager could • The introduction of flexible work hours has
observe at the created more problems than it has solved
in many companies.
workplace:

12
Preliminary Information Gathering
Nature of
information to be
gathered:

Background
information of
the organization.

Prevailing
knowledge on
the topic.

13
Tasks Involved in Problem Definition
Discussions
with Decision
Makers

Interviews
with Industry
Experts

Secondary
Data Analysis

Qualitative
Research
THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND RESEARCH
• Research Design

• Analytical procedure
• Qualitative data
• Quantitative data
• Theoretical/ conceptual framework
• Usage of strategic tools
• Academic constructs
 SUGGESTING ACADEMIC CONSTRUCTS

• Use of business
models/ tools for
assessing data

• Real data from the

firm will be used as
a basis for
evaluation using the
specified tools
 RESEARCH PROCESS
Define the research • Problems identified by the organizations
problems and • Problems identified by the groups through
objectives consultation with the organizations

• How to solve the problem?

Develop the research • Primary data?
plan • Strategic tools?
• Consultation with the supervisor

• Interview
Data collection
• Survey
method • Document analysis

• Descriptive
Data analysis method • Inferential
- Hypothesis testing

Presentation of • Formatting
report and VIVA • Following Guidelines
LINKING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES TO
METHODS USED

To analyze current • Use SWOT

situation • or PEST

To determine
consumer • Survey method
acceptance
INTEGRATING SURVEY METHOD WITH
STRATEGIC TOOLS

Analysis from Strategic

Analysis from survey data:
tools:
- Descriptive
- SWOT+ TOWS
- Correlation
-Value chain analysis
- Regression etc.
- Porter’s 5 Forces etc.
EXAMPLE OF AN ACADEMIC CONSTRUCT
Attitude

Motivation Purchase

Store Location
USING INFERENTIAL ANALYSIS
Are they necessary to answer research objectives?

If yes, then what would be the focus of these

analyses?

Do the students know how to do them?

Example: Factor Analysis – can they explain what they

are doing? or Regression – can they interpret the
findings?
HYPOTHESIS TESTING IN APPLIED
RESEARCH?

Must be tested
Must relate to using
research appropriate
problem statistical
analyses

At the end of
Example: If not
analysis must
necessary,
state
replace with
acceptance or
Research
rejection of
Questions
hypotheses
 Some key questions examiners should pose
during the viva…
1. Do the group understand what they are doing?

2. Are the research objectives/research questions related to the

problem statement?

3. Can the group explain the analyses well?

4. Is/are the research problem/s well stated?

5. Are the analyses used relevant to the research needs?

6. Are the findings interpreted in line with the research questions?

ISSUES DURING VIVA EVALUATION
Issue 1

Differing School of Thoughts between supervisors and examiners

- Example: Rigid analytical procedures

Issue 2

Too engrossed on petty research issues - Example: Arrows in the

framework do not touch the variables

Issue 3

Inability to address the applied demand of the research

 ABP 792 ASSESSMENT
PLO 3
PLO 5
DATA PLO 7
PLO Group Written
COLLECTION FINAL
Criteria Presentation
& REPORT
Weightage & Supervision
PROCESSING (60%)
(30%)
(10%)

Evaluator Adv x1 x2 Adv x1 x2 Adv

Ratio 40% 30% 30% 40% 30% 30% 100%

 AFTER THE VIVA

Who should
Extent of Availability of
check the When should
corrections by the examiners
corrections? - students
the students – to check the
the supervisor submit the
major or corrected
only or the corrections?
minor? dissertation
examiner/s?
 INCOMPLETE STATUS? (TL)
• Stage: Before registration /within add & drop date
STAGE 1 • Write in

• Stage: Submission of dissertation draft to the

STAGE 2 advisor
• Form

• Stage: Dissertation presentation

STAGE 3 • Evaluation form – Major corrections
• Panel consensus
 WHY TL?
Blame the • NO show - MIA
students…? • Work not up to standard

Blame the • No time to meet

supervisors..? • Not your research area

• ABR schedule not available to students?

Blame
• ABR schedule not available to
AAGBS…? supervisors?
THE WAY FORWARD WITH ABP

Students as consultants

Presence of the reps from the

organizations during the viva

ABR Dissertation turned into

academic publications