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303LON and 308LON
Business research methods: an introduction
Unit: 2
Welcome
LECTURER NAME
Qualifications
Academic Experience
Professional Experience
Research Consultancy
On completion of this module you will be able to:
• Work independently within an organisation, demonstrating initiative and commitment
• Review the literature relating to a business issue• Analyse valid and reliable evidence to draw sound business
conclusions• Write a coherent project report communicating a solution or
response to the business issue• Reflect on your working practices in relation to your Personal
Development Plan
Module Learning Outcomes
Module Overview: 303LON and 308LON
Week 6Unit 1 An Introduction to Workplace and Workbased Projects
Unit 2 Business research methods: an introductionUnit 3 Business research methods: data sources
Unit 4 Business research methods: questions and active listening
Week 7
Unit 5 Business research methods: project management skills
Unit 6 Business research methods: using reflection in research
Unit 7 Business research methods: writing professional reports
Unit 8 Making a successful impact on your Workplace and Workbased project
Week 8 Workplace or Independent ResearchWeek 9 Workplace or Independent Research
Week 10
Unit 9 Project Updates – Individual Presentations
Unit 10 Individual Progress Review
Unit 11 Individual Progress Review
Unit 12 Module Review
On completion of this unit you will be able to:
• Share the key themes from your Skills Audit• Revisit the key stages in the production of business and
management research• Appraise and use a range of methods to identify an area of interest
to research for your Project Report
Unit Learning Outcomes
Skills Audit Presentations
Why is project work important in organisations?
• Growing working practice in organisations• Specific and non-routine work• Complex and discrete nature of work • Clearly defined goals within a specified timescale• Require a range of self-management skills including control
Source:Cameron (2009: 375)
Business Skills: Project Work
Why do business research? …because there is an aspect of our understanding of what goes on in organisations that is to some
extent unresolved (Bryman & Bell, 2007)
The purpose of Business and Management Research is:
1. To improve organisational performance though increased effectiveness and efficiency
2. To increase our understanding of how organisations work, and their impact on individuals and society
Purpose of Business and Management Research
Regular Assignment 1 (40%): Produce a Reflective Diary that demonstrates evidence of learning, as a result of carrying out your project, about:• The subject of your research• Your research skills• Your professional and business skills
Word Count: 1000End of Module Assessment (60%): Produce a Project Report that investigates a current issue facing your selected organisation and presents a clear set of recommendations.
Word Count: 4000
Assessment: 303LON Workplace Project
End of Module Assessment (100%): Produce a Project Report that investigates a current issue facing your selected organisation or industry and presents a clear set of recommendations.
Word Count: 4000
Assessment: 308LON Workbased Project
Source:Cameron (2009: 378)
Business Skills: Project Stages
Stages of Research – Up to Unit 8
What makes good business and management research?• The topic is clearly defined• Meets the requirements of the marking criteria• Uses a variety of techniques to generate research questions• Has clear research questions based on relevant literature• Incorporates relevant theory
Starts with a proposal that:• Presents well organised ideas• Describes clearly what will be done and why• Justifies how the research questions will be answered
Selecting a Research Topic
Based on:Saunders et al (2009)
Based on:Saunders et al (2009)
Research Topic Standards
Source:Saunders et al (2009)
Generating Research Topic Ideas
Based on:Bryman & Bell (2007)
Identifying Your Research Topic
Topics from previous modules
Puzzles & contradictions
Reasons for
differences
Disagree with
theories
Gap between
theory and reality
Linked to career goals Personal
experience
EmployersMy
Burning Question
Gap in the literature
Source:Saunders et al (2009)
Theories and Model in Research
Source:Mullins (2010: 91)
Research Topics – PESTEL
Source:Mullins (2010: 545-46)
Research Topics – SWOT
• Books • Journals• Government reports• Organisation websites or intranet• Professional Body websites• Staff surveys• Newspapers and weekly publications
Research Topics – Secondary Sources
Unit 2 Priority Actions:
1. Decide on a Research Topic2. What are you investigating and why?3. What are your reasons for choosing this area to investigate?
– How will this research benefit the organisation?– How will this research benefit you?
Be ready to present back in Unit 3
Business Skills: Project Work
• Share the key themes from your Skills Audit• Revisit the key stages in the production of business and
management research• Use a range of methods to identify an area of interest to research
for your Project Report
Knowledgecast Summary
In your work groups:
• Share your initial ideas for a Research Topic• Select one idea and brainstorm a range of perspectives• Consider whether this example research topic is:
– Feasible? Worthwhile? Relevant?– Linked to your career goals– Linked to theory or models from your studies– Supported by existing knowledge– Contributes to existing knowledge
Seminar: Brainstorming your Topic
Unit 2 Priority Actions:
1. Decide on a Research Topic2. What are you investigating and why?3. What are your reasons for choosing this area to investigate?
– How will this research benefit the organisation?– How will this research benefit you?
Be ready to present back in Unit 3
Business Skills: Project Work
In our next Unit, we will:
• Formulate research questions from our research topics• Investigate the types of information and data to be used in your
project • Assess the benefits and limitations of types of data in relation to
your research
What are we going to cover next?