Dealing with

practical issues
Lecture 2

1
Learning objectives

• After studying this topic, you should be able to

– Determine the knowledge, skills and personal qualities
researchers need
– Use techniques for generating research topics
– Negotiate access to data and consider ethical issues
– Plan the management of the research process
– Identify any funding constraints
• Independent study
– Study Chapter 2
– Other activities as set

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 How to identify a research problem
Common business &
Emerging business &
management problems
management problems
without effective solutions

Your pass/current Who has done

managerial experience research about it?
What do we already
What is the problem that know?
Your experience as you would like to resolve?
an employee
What is yet to be
Your experience as a investigated?
customer/client
Can you turn the problem
into a research question?

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How to identify a research problem – practical tips?

Is it worthwhile, interesting
and timely?
Is it relevant to my Is it really interesting
degree? to ME?
Is this research problem
appropriate for me to work on?
How will this fit my Do I have access to
with career plans? data?
Do I have the skills and
resources to do it?

Would I be able to complete it to

the deadline?
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Choosing a topic

• Select a topic related to your degree

– Get inspiration from what interest you and how it might
enhance your employability
• Identify a business problem related to that topic by reading
previous studies and reflecting on current issues discussed in
the media, on campus or at work
• Develop a research question and discuss with your supervisor
– It must be feasible (consider how you will get access to research
data, funding implications, etc.)
– It must be focused (indicate the scope and set the parameters)
– Eg A study of a particular group of employees, size of business,
industry, geographical location, period of time

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Skills and personal qualities need for research

Intellectual
skills

Communication
Motivation
skills

Perseverance

Independence IT skills

Organizational
skills

6
 Examples of topics, research problems and
related research questions

Example 1 Example 2
Topic: Employee retention Finance

Research Effect of new career‐break Access to finance for small

problem: scheme in Firm A on the firms
recruitment and retention
of skilled staff
Research How has the new career‐ How do small firms meet
question: break scheme contributed their needs for finance (in a
to employment in Firm A? particular industry,
location, time period, etc)?

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Generating a topic using brainstorming

• Brainstorming
– Creative thinking by pooling spontaneous ideas
– You need at least one other interested person
– Jot down all ideas and review each one in more detail later

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Generating a topic using a mind map

• Mind map – an informal diagram of a person’s idea of the

key elements of subject that shows connections and
relationships
– Begin with a starting concept and jot down ideas
haphazardly, drawing connecting lines to indicate
relationships

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 Mind map for the topic: Business research

Interpretivism Positivism
Paradigm

Methodology
Researcher BUSINESS Design
RESEARCH

Experience Skills Methods

Purpose Data collection Data analysis

Logic Process
Exploratory Predictive
Inductive Deductive Descriptive Analytical

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Generating a topic using analogy

• Analogy
– Design a study in one subject by importing ideas and
procedures from another area where they are similarities

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Generating a topic using morphological analysis

• Morphological analysis
– Draw up a table in which you analyse a general subject
area of interest into its key factors or dimensions (the
column headings)
– List the various attributes of each factor in the appropriate
columns
– Generate a topic by taking ‘mix and match’ approach

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Morphological analysis for the topic: Research

Type of research Methodology Unit of analysis

Exploratory Cross‐sectional study An individual
Descriptive Experimental study An event
Analytical Longitudinal study An object
Predictive Survey A body of individuals
Quantitative Action research A relationship
Qualitative Case study An aggregate
Deductive Collaborative research
Inductive Ethnography
Applied Grounded theory
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Generating a topic using a relevance tree

• Relevance tree – a diagram that can be used as a device

for generating research topics and develops clusters of
ideas from a fairly broad starting concept
– Begin with a starting concept and develop hierarchical
clusters of related ideas, drawing connecting lines

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 Relevance tree for the topic: Business communication

Communication

Oral Written Visual

One‐way Two‐way One‐way Two‐way One‐way Two‐way

Speeches Formal Reports Letters Films Body

Audio meetings E‐bulletins/ Memos Posters language
recording Informal Newsletters Emails Graphics Video
conversations Printed conferencing
notices Multimedia
Diaries/Logs

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Access to data

• Your project will not be feasible unless you are sure that
you can gain access to the research data you need
• A internship, job, family or friends may provide access to
suitable organizations/individuals and/or published data
– Less easy to gain access without an introduction
• Main issues
– Agreeing terms
– Personal safety
– Courtesy

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Group brainstorming for individual project ideas

In groups of 3‐4 people, discuss your research ideas,

and summarise your own dissertation topic as follows:

‐ What is your topic?

‐ What is the problem that you intend to resolve?

‐ What is your main research question (and sub‐

questions if you wish to include)?

Summarise the above on one slide, and present it to

the class.
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How do you take your project idea forward?

• Review lecture slides (especially on how to identify a research

problem and writing research questions)

• Start to review relevant literature (to identify a few key

articles to start with)

• Continue to brainstorm your idea with the peer

• Contact a potential supervisor if you have a clear idea about

your topic (note: not all supervisors are available at this stage)

• Draft your business project idea

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Five key steps

Professional
& Career
Development
Business Project Portfolio
Report (LMS & CDP
Ethics form(s) (12,000 words) worksheets)
Business
Project
Business Proposal
Project Idea (2,500 words)
(300 words)
Business project idea

• The Form is on BBL

• 300 words ‐ the topic, the research problem (showing

awareness of relevant literature), the research question,
and intended methodology.

• Potential supervisor(s)

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Business project proposal
• 2500 words
• Introduction
– Introducing your research problem, questions and objectives
– Why it is worthwhile, meaningful, interesting and timely
• Literature review
– What has been done which you can build on
– What is the research gap that you intend to address
– What are your research questions and from which theoretical angle
you are going to answer them?
• Methodology
– Overall research philosophy, research paradigm and research strategy
– Sampling, data collection, and data analysis techniques
– Validity, reliability and generalisability
– Access and ethics
• Research timetable
• References

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Business project report/dissertation:
indicative structure
% of report

Preliminary pages
Chapter 1. Introduction 10
Chapter 2. Review of the literature 30
Chapter 3. Methodology 20
Chapter 4. Findings/Results 30
Chapter 5. Conclusions 10
100
References
Appendices
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What makes a good dissertation or thesis?
Criteria Characteristics of a good project
Research problem Sharply focused
and scope Related to academic debate
Literature review Critical evaluation of up‐to‐date literature
Linked to focused, feasible research questions
Methodology Cohesive design
Excellent review of research design options
Linked to the literature
Analysis and Clear findings /results discussed in an analytical manner that
discussion generate new knowledge and insight
Linked to the literature
Conclusions Conclusions clearly linked to research questions
Attention given to implications and limitations
Referencing All sources cited in the text and full references listed at the end
Communication Clear flow of ideas
Appropriate spelling and grammar
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Tips from a recent graduate

1. Start as soon as possible – Don’t get distracted by trips to

Europe/finding a job
2. Meet your supervisor as soon as possible – Get off to a good
start
3. Look for research gaps – Read as much as you can. Look at
authors’ suggestions for future research. Think about how
you will get access to data
4. Methodology – Keep your textbook beside you all the time
for definitions, advice on using different methods and their
advantages and disadvantages
5. Use the free resources in the library – Journal databases,
one‐to‐consultations, ASK workshops, using software, etc
Continued…

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Tips from a recent graduate

6. Security – Open a Dropbox account and save back‐ups of

your files
7. Blackboard – Look at previous students’ dissertations, but
you don’t know what feedback they received; your
supervisor can comment on your work
8. Every chapter in your dissertation is like a small assignment –
Attend workshops on dissertation writing
9. Allow plenty of time for drafting, revising and polishing
chapters – You can never do enough polishing
10. If English isn’t your first language, you may want to find a
friend or a professional to proofread your dissertation –
Don’t underestimate how long the whole process takes until
you are satisfied with your work!
Continued…
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Tips from a previous student
Most important skills and personal qualities

Attitude

Independence Success! Confidence

Time
management

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Planning and administration

• You will need to set a realistic timetable and plan how

you will organize your printed/digital materials
– Relevant items resulting from your literature search
– Correspondence with your supervisor(s)
– Details of potential participants and contacts
– Instructions for using e‐resources, software, etc
– Transcripts of any interviews
– Field notes, summaries and preliminary data analysis
– Draft chapters for your proposal and subsequent
dissertation or thesis
• Keep everything until you graduate!

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Supervision

• Supervision plays a vital role in undergraduate, Master’s

and doctoral research
– It is often a formal requirement
• An academic supervisor is someone who is responsible
for overseeing a student’s research project, dissertation
or thesis
– Undergraduates and students on taught Master’s degrees
usually have one supervisor
– Master’s by research and doctoral students may have two
supervisors
– In some countries there may be a supervision committee

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Preparation for Session 2

 Summarise your research topic, research problem,

and research questions on one PPT slide to
present it in Session 2.

 Bring one article in your topical area to Session 2,

and discuss how this article helps you frame your
research problem and research questions.

 Read the sample MBA dissertation on BBL.

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Conclusions

• The starting point is to choose a research topic that

interests you
• Then read the literature to identify a particular research
problem and research question(s) to investigate
• The project needs to be feasible
– Main issues are access to data, ethical issues and funding
– You need to develop your project management skills and
set and set a timetable for the main stages in the research
process
• Now read Chapter 2

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