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(Ch.1&4)

BRM (Sr. IM-D)

Business Research Methods
Slot 4: Mon. 10.45-12.15; Fri. 4.00-5.30

Instructor: Dr.S.A.Kelkar (Guest Faculty)

email: shashikelkar.gf@nitie.ac.in

SPOCs
Vismit Parihar; 7718974822; vismit.2002272@nitie.ac.in
Kartic Shanbhah; 9887625235; shanbhag.2002209@nitie.ac.in
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 1
 ***
Role of Research in Business

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 2
 Managers Manage by Controlling Resources
Resource
Business
Resources Management

Resources Management System

Resources Management
Men/ Money/ Material
Information System

Business rs
a e
g i th
n
Information about Ma ge w n
Men/Money/Material a na a t i o
m rm
Inf o

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 3
 Linking Decision Making and Research

Problem/ Need to take

Solution
Opportunity Decision

Need Need Need

Information 1 Information 2 Information n

Search Create
Information Information

Analyze Information
Create alternatives
Select Appropriate alternative
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 4
 Strategic Renewal Process

Company
Company

Dr
Company
Pl

i ft
an

ewa
n
Re Company
Company Compan
M Company
I
M Company S F M
F I F I F
I
I S I T I
S
T F T T
F
I F I
T I T
T
Environment
Environment Environment
t

Environment
oa
Fl

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 5
 Steps in Evolving Long Range Plan
Corporate Guidelines
Where are we?
Environment Current Operations

Mission/Direction
Where do we
want to go?
Objectives/Goals Assumptions/Risks

Strategies Policies
How do we Programs/Projects
get there?
Management Control Transition

When to do?
Who will do? Priorities/Schedule Organization/Delegation

How much Resources

will it cost?
Budget
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 6
 Primary Ratios for Monitoring Operations
Transaction Customer
processing ratios

s Sales Accounts
F t receivable T
i a r
n F a
a t u
e n n
n m Cost of Sales Cash s
c d f
i e s
n e
a t r
l Inventory Accounts
s payable

Periodic ratios Supplier

¤ Primary purpose of these ratios is to help the management in

monitoring the business activity, i.e. operational responsibility
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 7
 Border Controls: Schematic
Workers Organization Competitors

Support systems
Material HR Fin Technol
ogy

Core processes
•Production •Sales
Suppliers •Distribution •Service Customers

Measuring system
•Accounting system
•Compliance system
Lenders •Non financial Regulators
measurement system

Internal Controls

Stake
Auditors
holders
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 8
 Classification of Finance Decisions

Business
operations
Accounting & Transaction
auditing processing
practices
Elements of
accounting IS
Management
Control decision
making
Reporting

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 9
 Some Manufacturing Decisions
Manufacturing resources Engineering Manufacturing
planning systems systems execution systems

Production forecasting Computer aided Shop floor

Enterprise Resources Planning

design scheduling
Production scheduling
Shop floor control
Computer aided
Materials requirements engineering
planning
Machine control
Capacity planning Computer aided
process planning
Robotics control
Production cost control
Product simulation
Quality control and prototyping Process control

Computer Integrated Manufacturing

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 10
 Some HR Decisions
Training and Compensation
Staffing development administration
•Manpower •Succession
Strategic planning planning •Contract costing
systems •Labor force •Performance •Salary forecasting
tracking appraisal planning

•Labor cost •Training •Compensation

Tactical analysis and effectiveness effectiveness
systems budgeting •Career path •Benefit preference
•Turnover analysis planning analysis

•Recruitment •Skill assessment • Payroll control

Operational •Workforce •Performance •Benefit
systems
scheduling evaluation administration

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 11
 Utility of Research in Business (1/2)
(a) Research is an aid in decision making

(b) Research facilitates the process of thinking,

analysis, evaluation, and interpretation

(c) Research identifies problems and opportunities

(d) Research provides a basis for innovation

(e) R&D helps in new product development and to

modify the existing products

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 15
 Utility of Research in Business (2/2)
(f) Research is helpful in the formulation of policy and
strategy

(g) Research establishes the relationship across

functional areas

(h) Research helps in efficient utilisation of resources

(i) Research aids in marketing analysis and forecasting

(j) Research aids in management of information

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 16
 Emerging Trends in Business Research (1/2)
¤ Emerging from what is historically considered as an
economic role, the business organizations have
evolved in response to:
» Social and political mandates of public policy
» Explosive technology and communications
growth (e.g. big data, globalization of business)

¤ These changes have created both:

» (i) “new knowledge”
» (ii) “new markets”
» Note: both of these aspects should be
considered when evaluating corporate decisions

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 17
 Emerging Trends in Business Research (2/2)
¤ Other knowledge demands have arisen
as a result of mergers, trade policies,
protected markets, technology
transfers and macro-economic issues

¤ Increasing business complexity has

increased the risks associated with
business decisions,
==> thereby enhancing the importance
having a sound information base

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 18
 ***
Types of Research

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 19
 Paradigms of Research (1/2)
¤ Dictionary meanings of PARADIGM: Example; Model
¤ Two main research paradigms are:
1) a systematic, scientific or positivist approach
* This paradigm is rooted in the physical sciences
2) a qualitative, ethnographic, ecological or naturalistic
approach
* This paradigm is opposite of the first approach
¤ Advocates of these two opposing sides have developed
their own values, terminology, methods and techniques
to understand the social phenomena
¤ Crucial question that divides the two research paradigms:
» Can the methodology of physical sciences research can
be applied to studies involving social phenomena
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 20
 Paradigms of Research (2/2)
¤ Although these paradigms have their own values,
terminology, methods and techniques,
==> it is the purpose of research (rather than the
paradigm) that should determine the mode of enquiry

¤ =========================================
¤ REMEMBER: both paradigms have their own place in
research
» It is the purpose of research activity that should
determine the mode of enquiry to be used
Note: to indiscriminate application of any one
approach to all research problems can be
misleading
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 21
 Classification of Research: Schematic
Research Perspective

By application By enquiry mode By objective

Pure or Basic Quantitative Exploratory or Formulative

or (Structured) • Literature survey
Fundamental • Experience survey
• Insight, stimulating
Qualitative
Applied (Unstructured)
Descriptive
Academic
Experimental
(Empirical research)
Mutually exclusive Modeling research
Not mutually exclusive
Philosophy guided
¤ Additionally: any combination (Arbitrary classifications)
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 22
 Qualitative Research (1/2)
¤ Qualitative research (unstructured approach):
» Main objective is to describe the variation and
diversity in a phenomenon, situation, or attitude
» It involves subjective assessment of attitudes,
opinions, behaviour, etc.
¤ Qualitative research is specially important in
behavioural sciences e.g.
» “Motivation Research”
» “Attitude or opinion research”
¤ =======================================
Note: in practice, undertaking a qualitative research is
a difficult task
» (seek guidance from experimental psychologists)
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 23
 Qualitative research (2/2)
¤ Techniques used in qualitative research
include:
» Focus group interviews
» Depth interviews
» Word association tests
» Sentence completion tests
» Story completion tests
» Projective techniques

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 24
 Differences in Qualitative and Quantitative Research
DIFFERENCE IN: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
• Purpose of • To quantify the extent of variation • To describe the variation
investigation in an issue associated with an issue
• Underlying • Rationalism: based on reasoning • Empiricism: based on sensory
philosophy experiences
• Approach • Structured/ rigid/ predetermined • Unstructured/ flexible/ open
methodology methodology
• Measurements • Measurement of variables • Description of variables
• Sample size • Emphasis on large samples • Access to fewer cases
• Dominant • Reliability and objectivity (no • Authenticity but may not be
research values subjectivity) value-free
• Analysis of data • Frequency distributions, or other • Identification of description of
statistical procedures themes
• Reporting of • Analytical in nature • Descriptive and narrative in
findings • Drawing inferences and nature
conclusions
• Testing strengths of relationships
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 25
 Exploratory Research
¤ Exploratory research is conducted when a problem is
not well defined
» Exploratory research can help in determining the
best research design, data collection method and
selection of subjects
¤ The objective of exploratory research is to gather
preliminary information that will help define problems
and suggest hypotheses (for future research)
» Exploratory research relies on secondary sources
¤ Usually, the results of an exploratory research
(by themselves) are not useful for decision-making
» However, they can provide significant insight into a
given situation and lead to further research
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 26
 Descriptive (or Statistical) Research
¤ The objective of descriptive research is to
describe things
» It describes data and characteristics about the
population or phenomenon being studied
» Descriptive research answers the questions like
who, what, where, when, and how
» The description mainly refers to frequencies,
averages, and other basic statistical calculations
¤ Although this research is factual, and systematic,
==> it cannot conclude as to “what caused a
particular situation”
» Thus, descriptive research cannot be used to
establish a causal relationship
Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 27
 Causal Research
¤ The objective of causal research is to test
hypotheses about cause-and-effect relationships
» Probably the vast majority of applied social
research consists of descriptive and
correlational studies

¤ =====================================
¤ Studies involving the testing of causal
relationships require an appropriate research
design
==> which will permit inferences about causality

Dr.S.A.Kelkar BRM 28