01. What is Research

8/2/2019 01. What is Research

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Research Methodology

An Introduction



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Alice: 'would you tell me, please, which way i ought towalk from here?'

Cat: 'that depends a good deal on where you want toget to'

Alice: 'I don’t much care

where'

Cat: 'then it doesn't matter which way you walk '



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What Research is NOT?

Research is not just information gathering.

● A student going to the library and reading

information on African Elephants is not research

●

No contribution to new knowledge Research is not rearranging facts.

● A student writing a report on behavior of

pendulums is not research.

Research is not a sales pitch.● A new improved toothpaste developed for

increasing sales is not research.



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Knowledge gained from

experience forms anessential aid to our

understanding and

activities in everyday life



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Why Research?

To understand something better To identify root of the problem

Find ways and solutions

Data for decision making and policyformulation

Generate more information

Explanation for certain happenings

Guides in formalizing strategies

Improve existing products and services

Invent, develop new product / service



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What Research is?

Research originates with a question or aproblem.

Research requires a clear articulation of agoal.

Research follows a specific plan of procedure – review of literature

Research usually divides the principalproblem into more manageable sub-

problems. Research is guided by the specific research

problem, question, or hypothesis.



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What Research is?

Research accepts/rejects certain

critical assumptions. These

assumptions are underlying theories

or ideas about how the world works.

Research requires the collection and

interpretation of data in attempting to

resolve the problem that initiated theresearch.



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Research is………

Research is often described as an

active, diligent, and systematic process

of inquiry aimed at discovering,

interpreting, and revising facts.

This intellectual investigation produces

a greater knowledge of events,

behaviors, theories, and laws and makespractical applications possible.



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Business Research

Business Research is the function that

links organisation with its environment,

stake holders and public through

information that support appropriatedecisions and actions.

Systematic and objective process of

gathering, recording and analysing datafor aid in making business decisions.



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Application of Research in Business

Reduce uncertainty

Improve decision making in four relevant areas:

● Locating problems and identifyingopportunities

● Diagnosing problems and assessingpotentials and priorities

● Selecting and implementing a course of action

● Evaluating the chosen course of action



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Relevance of Research in Business

Timeconstraints

DataAvailability

Nature of Decision

Cost Vs.Benefits

Is

sufficient

time

available

before a

decision

has to be

made?

Is the

decision of

considerable

strategic or

tactical

importance?

Is

information

already on

hand

inadequate?

Does the

value of

research

informatio

n exceed

the cost of

doing

research?

DO NOT CONDUCT RESEARCH

YES YES YES

NO NONO NO

Yes

Do

Research



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Why Research in Managerial Decision

Making?

Government policies and challenges due

to changes in the economy

Strategic and operational concern of

business and industry

Socially relevant concern in managerial

organisation

Market related issues and concerns



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Rationale of Business Research

Managers need more and better

information

Improve the quality of the resulting

decisions

Management tool that companies use to

reduce uncertainty

Applying research methods in

management and business issues



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Rationale of Business Research

Equip managers and business relatedpersons to understand how research inthis area is conducted and what are the

processes involved.

Basic or Pure – to increase knowledgeabout theories and concepts

Applied – to facilitate managerialdecision making



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Few major areas of research in

business

General business conditions

Management and organisational behaviour

Corporate responsibility

Marketing and sales

Financial management

Application of ICT

Productivity and efficiency analysis

Human resource management

International business

Role of environment / gender / culture in business



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01. What is Research