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What is Research
 Research is composed of two words i.e., “re”
and “search” which means:
 to search again or
 to search for new facts or
 to modify older ones
 Research is a careful study or investigation of
existing facts in order to discover new realities.

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?What is Research
 Research is the process of finding
solutions to a problem after a thorough
study and analysis of the situational
factors (Uma Sekaran)

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?What is Research
Systematic – research process
Logical – induction/deduction
Empirical – evidence based
Reductive – generalisation
Replicable – methodology

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Business Research
Business research is defined as the
systematic and objective process of
generating information for aid in
making business decisions. (Zikmund)

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Research and Managers
 Managers engage themselves in
studying and analyzing issues and
hence are involved in some form of
research activity as they make decisions
at the workplace.

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Business Research
Research information is neither intuitive
.nor haphazardly gathered
Literally Research (re-search) -“search
.”again
.Business research must be objective
It facilitates the managerial decision
.process for all aspects of a business

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Research and Managers
 Sometimes managers make good
decisions and the problem gets solved.
 Sometimes managers make poor
decisions and the problem persists.
 The difference between making good
decisions and poor decisions, lies in how
managers go about the decision-making
process.
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Research and Managers
 Good decision making requires answer to
the following questions:
1. Do managers identify where exactly the
problem lies?
2. Do they correctly recognize the relevant
factors in the situation needing
investigation?
3. Do they know what types of information
are to be gathered and how?
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?What is Research
4. Do they know how to make use of the
information so collected and draw
appropriate conclusions to make the
right decisions.
5. Do they know how to implement the
results of this process to solve the
problem?

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The Excitement of Research
 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.

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Business Research
 Business research can be described as a
systematic and organized effort to investigate
a specific problem encountered in the work
setting, that needs a solution.
 Business research comprises a series of
steps designed and executed, with the goal
of finding answers to the issues.

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Business Research
 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 solve it by taking the
necessary corrective measures.
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Business Research Types
Applied Research .1
Conducted when a decision must be made
.about a specific real-life problem
Basic Research .2
.Attempts to expand the limits of knowledge
Not directly involved in the solution to a
.pragmatic problem

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Types of Business Research

1. To solve a current problem faced by the

manager in the work setting. Such research
is called applied research.
2. To generate a body of knowledge about
how to solve problems that could be
occurred in organizations. This is called
basic research or fundamental research or
pure research.

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Examples of Applied
Research
 Apple’s iPod sales increased by 200% from
2010 to 2012, but the sales decreased by
6% in 2013. What is the reason for this
decrease?
 The question is: what will apple do about this
problem?

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Examples of Basic Research
 University professors engage in basic research in an
effort to understand and generate more knowledge
about various aspects of businesses, such as:
- How to improve the effectiveness of information
systems.
- How to integrate technology into the overall strategic
objectives of an organization.
- How to increase the productivity of the employees.
- How to increase the effectiveness of small
businesses.

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Examples of Basic Research
 These findings later become useful
for application in business
situations.

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Distinction Between Applied and
Basic Research
 The main distinction between applied and
basic business research is:
- Applied research is specifically aimed at
solving a currently experienced problem.
- Basic research has a broader objective of
generating knowledge and understanding of
phenomena and problems that occur in
various organizational settings.
- Both types of research follow the same
steps of systematic inquiry to arrive at
solutions to problems.
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Determining When to conduct
Research

Time constraints
Availability of data
Nature of the decision
Benefits versus costs

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 When to Conduct Business Research

Availability of Data Benefits vs.

Time Constraints Nature of the Decision Costs
-Is the infor Does the value
Is sufficient time Is the decision Conducting
Yes mation already Yes Yes of the research Yes
available before of considerable
a managerial
on hand
strategic
information Business
inadequate exceed the cost
decision
for making
or tactical
of conducting Research
?must be made ?importance
?the decision ?research

No No No No

Do Not Conduct Business Research

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