Subjects

Introduction to Business
Research Method (2085)
Introduction to
Research
By

Dr. Arsalan Ahmed

Assistant Professor
NTU-Karachi
Learning Objectives
• What is Research ? and why study Research?
• Definition of Business Research
• Applied and Basic Research
• Why Managers should know about Research
• Managers and the Consultant-Relationship
o The Manager-Researcher relationship
o Internal Versus External Researchers and Consultants
• Knowledge about Research and Managerial Effectiveness
• Ethics and Business Research
 What is Research? Or Definition -Research?

A Process
 Formal, Systematic, intensive process of scientific method
 Careful inquiry or examination
 Systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation
 Unusually stubborn and persisting effort to think straight
(“Research without important ideas is busy work”)

 Research, is the process of finding solutions to a problem

after a thorough study and analysis of the situational
factors.
Definition -Research?
Definition -Research?
 What is Research?
 Managers in organizations constantly engage themselves in
studying and analyzing issues and hence are involved in some
form of research activity as they make decisions at the
workplace.
What is Research?
• Sometimes managers make good decisions and the
problem gets solved.

• Sometimes they make poor decisions and the problem

persists,

• The difference between making good decisions and poor

decisions (committing blunders), lies in how managers go
about the decision making process.
What is Research?
• The good decision making fetches a “yes” answer to the following
questions:
• Do managers identify where exactly the problem lies?
• Do they correctly recognize the relevant factors in the situation
needing investigation?
• Do they know what types of information are to be gathered and
how?
• Do they know how to make use of the information so collected and
draw appropriate conclusions to make the right decisions ? and
• Finally, do they know how to implement the results of this process
to solve the problem?
What is Research?
• This is the essence of research and to be a successful
manager it is important to know how to go about
making the right decisions by being knowledgeable
about the various steps involved in finding solutions to
problematic issues.
The Excitement of Research?
Modern technology has made research an exciting and a
relatively smooth process.

Personal computer with any means to an internet connection

places one within easy reach of knowledge of what is happening
in the global markets and how the word economy is impacting on
business.

Decision making is merely a process of choosing from among

alternative solutions to resolve a problem and research helps to
generate viable alternatives for effective decision making.
 Definition-Business Research?
 Business research can be described as a systematic and
organized effort to investigate a specific problem
encountered in the work setting, which needs a solution.

 Quantitative Research “structured questions usually questionnaires

based on certain scales and analyzed statistically”.

 Qualitative Research “open ended questions in a questionnaire,

interviews, observation, or information gathered from various
sources.”
 Definition-Business Research?
 Business research comprises a series of steps that are designed and
executed with the goal of finding answers to the issues that are of
concern to the manager in the work environment.
 Steps of business research:
 To know where the problem areas exist in the organization

 To identify as clearly and specifically as possible the problems that need

to be studied and resolved.

 Gather information, analyze the data, and determine the factors that are
associated with the problem and then solve it by taking the necessary
corrective measures.
 Definition-Business Research?
 This entire process by which we attempt to solve problems is called
research.
 Thus, research involves a series of well-thought-out and carefully
executed activities that enable the manager to know how
organizational problems can be solved, or at least considerably
minimized.
 Research thus encompasses the processes of inquiry, investigation,
examination, and experimentation.
 These processes have to be carried out systematically, diligently,
critically, objectively, and logically.
 The expected end result would be a discovery that helps the
manager to deal with the problem situation.
 Definition-Business Research?
 This entire process by which we attempt to solve problems is called
research.
 Thus, research involves a series of well-thought-out and carefully
executed activities that enable the manager to know how
organizational problems can be solved, or at least considerably
minimized.
 Research thus encompasses the processes of inquiry, investigation,
examination, and experimentation.
 These processes have to be carried out systematically, diligently,
critically, objectively, and logically.
 The expected end result would be a discovery that helps the
manager to deal with the problem situation.
 Research and the Manager
• The managers encounter problems, big and small, on a daily
basis, which they have to solve by making the right
decisions.

• In business, research is usually primarily conducted to

resolve problematic issues in, or interrelated among, the
areas of accounting, finance, management, and marketing.
 Research and the Manager
Problems In Management
Problems In Accounting,
• employee attitudes and behaviors,
• budget control systems,
• human resources management,
• Inventory costing methods,
• The impact of changing demographics on
• Depreciation,
management practices,
• Time-series behavior of quarterly earnings,
• Production operations management,
• Transfer pricing,
• strategy formulation,
• and taxation methods
• information systems,
Problems In Finance,
Problems in Marketing
• the operations of financial institutions,
• Product image,
• Optimum financial ratios,
• Advertising,
• mergers and acquisitions,
• sales promotion,
• leveraged buyouts,
• customer preferences,
• intercorporate financing,
• Product pricing
• yields on mortgages,
• After sales services
• the behavior of the stock exchange,
• new product development,
 Types of Business Research
Research can be undertaken for two different purposes.

1. To solve a current problem faced by the manager in the work setting,

demanding a timely solution.

For example, a particular product may not be selling well and the manager might
want to find the reasons for this in order to take corrective action. Such research
is called applied research. (Specific Research)

2. To generate a body of knowledge about how to solve problems that occur in

organizations. This is called Basic Research, Fundamental or Pure Research (Non-
Specific Research)
Why is it important for
managers to know about
Research?
Why is it important for managers
to know about research?
• Solve Problems
• Decision making tool
• Competition
• Risk
• Investment
• Hire researchers and consultants more effectively
 The Research Process
1. Observation
2. Data Gathering
3. Problem definition
4. Theoretical Framework ( variable identified)
5. Hypotheses
6. Research Design
7. Data collection, analysis, interpretation
8. Deduction
9. Report Writing
10. Report Presentation
11. Managerial decision making
Example of Applied Research
Example of Applied Research
Example of Applied Research
Example of Basic Research (non-specific
research)
Example of Basic Research (non-specific
research)
“Well begun is half done”
-Aristotle, quoting an old proverb
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