Research Methods in MIS

Dr. Deepak Khazanchi

Objectives for the Course

Identify Problem Areas Conduct Interview Do Library Research Develop Theoretical Framework Formulate Hypothesis Make Research Design Decisions Collect Data Analyze & Interpret Data Discuss Findings & Implications Discriminate between Good and

Bad Research Know the Manager-Researcher

Relationship

Self Management of Time, Talents, and Other Resources

Develop Communication Skills-Oral & Written

Take Personal Responsibility for Learning & Information Seeking

Learn to Handle Ambiguity Develop Logical Thinking and a

feel for What is Involved in Managerial Decision Making

Develop Confidence in Competence

Knowledge & Skills Acquisition

Personal & Professional Development

Definition of Research

Research is the organized and systematic inquiry or investigation which provides information for solving a problem or finding answers to a complex issue.

Why Study Research?

Research provides you with the knowledge and skills needed for the fast-paced decision-making environment

Why Managers need Better Information

Global and domestic competition is more vigorous

Organizations are increasingly practicing data mining and data warehousing

The Value of Acquiring Skills To gather more information before

selecting a course of action To do a high-level research study To understand research design To evaluate and resolve a current

management dilemma To establish a career as a research

specialist

Different Styles of Research Pure/Basic Research

Research conducted for the purpose of adding to general knowledge for future use.

Usually not prompted by a specific problem.

Applied Research Research conducted for the purpose of

practical application Usually, undertaken in response to a specific

problem o need for decision making.

Research Process

Specific planned and controlled steps for empirically investigating a problem. Also referred to as hypothetico-

deductive research THE RESEARCH PROCESS IS THE SAME

FOR Basic and Applied RESEARCH. However, methods used within the “process” might differ.

What is Good Research?

Conforms to the characteristics of the scientific method Purpose clearly defined Research process detailed Research design thoroughly planned High ethical standards applied Limitations frankly revealed

What is Good Research? (Cont’d)

Adequate analysis for decision-maker’s needs

Findings presented unambiguously Conclusions justified Researcher’s experience reflected

Why Managers should Know Research?

facilitates good decision making become discriminating about

research findings prevent vested interests educates to share pertinent and

relevant information with researcher

Why Managers should Know Research? (cont’d).

Helps take calculated risks with probabilities attached

Understand the complexity of the variables impacting an organization

An integral part of professionalization of management

The Manager-Researcher Relationship Manager’s obligations

Specify problems Provide adequate background information Access to company information gatekeepers

Researcher’s obligations Develop a creative research design Provide answers to important business

questions

Manager-Researcher Conflicts Management’s limited exposure to

research Manager sees researcher as threat to

personal status Researcher has to consider corporate

culture and political situations Researcher’s isolation from managers

Internal vs. External Researchers Internal Researchers:

Advantages: Better acceptance from staff Knowledge about organization Would be an integral part of implementation and

evaluation of the research recommendations Disadvantages:

Less fresh ideas Power politics could prevail Possibility not valued as “experts” by staff

Internal vs. External Researchers (Cont’d) External Researchers

Advantages: Divergent and Convergent thinking Experience from several situations in different types

of organizations Usually, external researchers have better technical

training Disadvantages:

Takes time to know and understand the organizational system

Rapport and cooperation from staff not easy Not available for evaluation after implementation Costs money

Types of Studies Used to do Research

Reporting Study Provides an account or simulation of

some data or generate some statistics Research design does not have to be

complex and require inferences for a project to be called research.

Purists do not qualify this as research; some authors consider investigative reporting as a candidate for being called research.

Types of Studies Used to do Research (cont’d) Descriptive Study

Tries to discover answers to the questions who, what, when, where, and sometimes how.

Describe and define a subject, often by creating a profile of a group of problems, people, or events.

Descriptive studies may or may not have the potential for drawing powerful inferences.

Popular in business research because of its versatility across disciplines.

Types of Studies Used to do Research (Cont’d) Explanatory Study

Goes beyond description and attempts to explain the reasons for the phenomenon that the descriptive study only observed.

Grounded in theory or past literature Researcher asserts hypotheses or testable

propositions Hypotheses are tested by modeling

relationships between variable so of interest Addresses why and how questions

Types of Studies Used to do Research (Cont’d) Predictive Study

Attempts to predict when and in what situations an event or phenomenon will occur

Is as rooted in theory as explanatory studies.

Predictive studies allow for control of phenomenon once we can explain and predict it

Being able to replicate a scenario and dictate a particular outcome is the objective of control

Steps in The Research Process Research Problem Arises (Observation?)

Recognition of Existing Problem Desire to Improve Status Quo Planning for the future (environmental

scanning) Curiosity/Discovery

Preliminary Information Gathering Interviews Literature Survey Determine the variables and operational

definitions

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Steps in The Research Process (cont’d) Theory Formulation

Concepts, Constructs, Variables, and Relationships

Hypothesis Development Vs. Research Questions

Further Data Collection Data Analysis Deduction-Draw Conclusions