Dr. ( Mrs.) R.L.S. Fernando Professor

Department of Public Administration, University of Sri Jayewardenepura,

5th January 2013

MMS 6102 - Research methods

MBA/MPM/M.Sc. In Management Program 2012 University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Faculty of Graduate Studies

Aims of this topic are; To Provide an introduction to Research

Methodology To discuss Basic Issues in Research

Methodology To Provide an Introduction to Research To discuss the importance of Knowledge

Management and Information Systems in Business Research

• What is research?• Advancing knowledge/and understanding.• Solve our problems.• Search for knowledge.• An art of scientific investigation.• A movement from unknown to known.• An academic activity. 

Defining of Research Research is an original contribution to the

existing stock of knowledge making for its advancement.

Research can be described as a systematic and

organized effort to investigate a specific problem that needs a solution (Sekara, U: 1992). 

It is a series of steps designed and followed with the goal of finding answers to the issues that are of concern to us in the work environment.

 The 1st step in research is to know where the problem areas are in the organization, and identify as clearly as possible the problem, that needs to be studied then gather information, analyze the data and describe factors that are associated with the problem.

 This entire process by which we attempt to solve problem is called research.

Science and Research • Science is an enterprise dedicated to “find out “• An effort to find out the truth. • Science is a social institution and a way of

produce knowledge. • A human invention• The knowledge of science is organized in term of

theories. Scientists• Scientists gather data using specialized

techniques and use data to support Or reject theories.

Scientific Method It refers to the ideas, rules, techniques,

approaches that the scientific community uses.

Techniques or procedures used to analyze empirical evidence in an attempt to confirm or disprove prior conception.  

Purpose It must start with a purpose.

Rigor – It involves good theory base and carefully

thoughts out methodology. Collect right informationAppropriate sampleAppropriate data analysis

• Testability– S. R. leads to test logically developed

hypothesis.– See whether or not the data support the

hypothesis • Replicability

– results are repeated– Findings should be supported again and again

whether the research is repeated in other similar circumstances.

• Precision and confidence– How close the finding based on a sample is to

reality. Refers to probability that our estimations are correct. (Significance)

Objectivity should based on the facts resulting from the

actual. Generalizability

the scope of applicability of the research findings in one organizational setting to other settings.

Parsimony A less number of variables would explain the

variance for more efficiently. (Economical)  E.g. 3 variables explain 85% of the variance of

the dependant variable.

Mainly to discover, answer to questions through the application of scientific procedures.

• There are three main purposes;– Exploration- to explore– Description-to describe– Explanation- to explain

The nature of the problem or the purpose will determine whether the research is Exploratory, Descriptive or Causal.

  

Exploration– To explore a topic, to provide a beginning

familiarity with that topic. Explorative Research

Conducted to clarify ambiguous problems.An initial research conducted to define the

nature of a problem.Helps to crystallize a problem and identify

information needs for future research.

This purpose is typical when a researcher is examining a new interests or when the subject of study is itself relatively new and unstudied.

(What, How happened?) More appropriate in the case of more persistent

phenomena.  E.g. problems of the university students-

To study what problems would be discovered.

Exploratory studies are more typical for 3 purposes. To satisfy the researcher’s curiosity and describe

for better understanding. To test the feasibility of undertaking more

careful study. To develop the methods to be employed in a

more careful study.Therefore exploratory studies are more

valuable in social sciences research.But it answers only a given research problem.

DescriptionTo describe a situation and events. The researcher describes what was

observed. E.g. social statistics. Census and

statistic department undertakes an excellent descriptive research projects to describe accurately and precisely a wide variety of characteristics of the population.

Descriptive research seeks to determine the answers to who, what, when, where, and how questions. Ex: A market researcher undertakes a descriptive

research to understand the characteristics of customers who purchase organic food products.

Unlike exploratory research, descriptive studies are based on some previous understanding of the nature of the research problem.

Descriptive research do not provide evidence of a causal nature . 

Explanation To explain things. To answer Why?E.g. why people vote for the candidate

A?And others for the candidate B?Why are officials self interested?Why are the staff highly dissatisfied?Why does the company “ X” make

losses?To explain, causal research is needed.

Causal Research The main goal of causal research is to

identify cause and effect relationships among variable.

Researcher must be knowledgeable about the research subject.

Causal research attempts to establish that when we do one thing, another thing will follow.

Ex; Training productivity Relationship can be explained, thus

prediction can be made. When there is no association between

variables, then no causal relation exits. However, the existence of the relationship

between the two variables is not sufficient evidence for causality.

There should be a spurious association, that is a very salient factor (third factor) identified as the more likely influence on the change.

Research can be undertaken – To solve a current /existing problems.– To add/to contribute to the general

body or knowledge. On that basis Research can be mainly

classified as,Applied researchPure research/ Basic research  

Applied researchResearch is undertaken to answer

questions about specific problems or to make decisions about a particular

course of actions or policy decisions. To solve a current existing problem in

the work setting.  Ex: How to implement the strategic plan

more efficient and effective manner?

Main purpose of this research is to generate more knowledge and understanding the phenomena and to build theories based on the research results.

The procedures and techniques utilized by basic and applied researcher do not differ substantially.

Ex: Why are human being resistant to change? Both types of research employ the scientific

method to answer the question at hand.  

Business, the term has a broader meaning. Ex: Research in production, marketing, financial, human resources.

Business Research covers a wide range of phenomenaIncludes both profit and not profit

organizations.

For a manager, the purpose of research is to fulfill the need for knowledge of the organization, the market, the economy or another area of uncertainty.

The task of business research is to generate accurate information to use in decision making.

All Research techniques are applicable to Business Research,

They use social sciences research methods.

Research facilitates effective management.

Reduce uncertainty by providing information

Improve the decision making process.

The decision making process associated with the development and implementation of a strategy that involves four interrelated stages: Identify problems and opportunities Diagnosing and assessing problems or

opportunities Selecting and implementing a course of action Evaluating the course of action.  

• Manager may use evaluation research to provide feedback for evaluation and control of strategies and tactics.

• Evaluation Research– The formal, objective measurement and

appraisal of the extent to which a given activity, project or program has achieved its objectives.

– Provide information about the major factors influencing the observed performance level.

• Performance Monitoring Research (PMR) as an Evaluative Research – A specific type of evaluation research that

regularly, perhaps routinely provides feedbacks for the evaluation and control of recurring business activity.

– Regularly provides feedback for evaluation and control of business activity. – Ex; sales research may use computerized cash register

and electronic scanner at checkout counters to provide valuable market information to know real sales volume of specific products.

Total Quality Management as an Evaluative Research PMR is an integral aspect of Total

Quality Management (TQM) programs. TQM stresses continuous improvement of

product quality and services.

Research methods help managers to understand, predict and control their environment.

Identify the problems and to find out more about the situation before the problems get out of control. Because outsiders’ recommendations/

solutions may not be appropriated

Managers need to know about the research process.

Manager can use journals/scientific articles and research and can apply them to their organizations to reduce cost and save money.

Such knowledge helps to avoid problems Research then becomes an useful

decision making tool. 

The determination of the need for research centers on: Time constraintsAvailability of dataNature of the decisionBenefits vs costs

Business research has become increasingly global (ex:MNCs)

It has been strongly influenced by two major trends: Increased globalization Rapid growth of the internet and other information

technologies. These trends will continue, and likely accelerated

as the 21st century progress.  The internet and other information technologies are

dramatically changing the face of business research The internet is a worldwide network of computers

that allows users access to information and documents from distant sources.

Effective organizations create knowledge Knowledge is different from the data and

information Data: may be Quantitative or Qualitative, are

empirical evidence (information) that are gathered carefully according to rules and procedures

Information is a body of facts that are in a formal and suitable for decision making

Knowledge Management is a process of creativity an inclusive, comprehensive, easily accessible organizational memory which is often called as “Organizational Intellectual Capital”.

Effective organizations create knowledge by taking efforts to capture, organize and share what their employees know

The purpose of KM is to organize the Intellectual capital of an organization in a formally structured way for easy to use.

Effective organizations systematically manage activities from information acquisition to the distribution of knowledge

Tools for preserving and sharing data, information, and knowledge involve; Global Information systems Decision support systems,

Customer relations management systems

Data Base Systems Statistical Data BasesVideo Data Bases Financial Data Bases

Computerized Data Archives The internet and the World Wide Web

(www) Intranet