Getting Started

1. Getting Started Next Getting Started Outlines Models Mind Mapping 1 Mind Mapping 2 Choosing a Research Strategy 1 Choosing a Research Strategy 2

2. Getting Started FirstPreviousNext Choosing a Research Strategy 1 Introduction Research Sequence Choosing a Topic Writing the Proposal

3. The Purpose of Business and Management Research Research Process FirstPreviousNext • involves undertaking systematic research to find out things about B&M • ‘systematic’ suggests research based on logical relationships and not just beliefs • ‘finding out’ suggest a multiplicity of possible purposes: • describing • explaining • understanding • criticising • analysing Resources How to Do Research Your Research Strategy Research Guides - Business and Management

4. Three Distinctive Characteristics FirstPreviousNext Resources Knowledge Management Leaders • The way in which managers (& researchers) draw on knowledge developed by other disciplines • Managers tend to be powerful and busy people - unlikely to allow research access unless personal or commercial advantages • Management requires both thought & action - research needs to incorporate this (Easterby-Smith et al, 1991)

5. expand knowledge of processes of B&M results in universal principles relating to the process & its relationship to outcomes findings of significance & value to society in general improve understanding of particular B&M problem results in solution to problem new knowledge limited to problem findings of practical relevance & value to managers in organisations The Purpose of Academic vs. Applied Research Research Process FirstPreviousNext Resources Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers in Education and Social ScienceJudith Bell

6. The Research Sequence Research Process FirstPreviousNext Identify Broad Area Resources How to Choose Resources How to Find Information How to Evaluate Information Data Collection and Analysis - the Research Select Topic Decide Approach Formulate Plan Collect Information Analyse Data Present Findings

7. Attributes of a Good Research Topic Choosing a Topic FirstPreviousNext Resources What Makes a Good Research Topic? Finding a Research Topic Defining Your Research Topic - Creating a Workable Research Question • to satisfy assessment criteria • your capability • research skills • genuine interest • resources: financial/time • access to data • relation to theory / fresh insights • clearly defined research question & objectives • symmetry of potential outcomes

8. Attributes of a Good Research Topic Choosing a Topic FirstPreviousNext • Does the topic fit criteria for examining institution? • Does the topic really fascinate you? • Does it contain issues that have strong links to theory? • Can you develop the research skills? • Is it achievable within the available time& resources? • Can you get access to the data? • Can you state your research question and objectives clearly? • Will it provide fresh insights on this topic? • Are the findings likely to be symmetrical?

9. Examining own strengths & interests Looking at past research projects Discussion Searching the literature Keeping a notebook of ideas Exploring personal preferences using past research projects Relevance trees Brainstorming Generating Research Topics Choosing a Topic FirstPreviousNext Rational Thinking Creative Thinking

10. Research-Focusing Techniques Research Approach FirstPreviousNext • identifying your research questions or hypotheses • who, how, what, where, when or why? (Kipling) • defining the key concepts, issues and contexts • concepts label ideas i.e. management decision making, gender, organisational development • issues are broad underlying questions i.e. relation of pay to staff motivation • contexts comprise the background of existing research & knowledge

11. Research-Focusing Techniques FirstPreviousNext • balancing the topic & the broader field • a detailed study should be set within the context of the broader field of study • sketching a research outline or proposal • note of sections/chapters with subheadings & details • explaining to a non-specialist • informal piloting • interviews with friends, observation studies

12. The sponsorship of county cricket clubs by commercial orgs. The adoption by manufacturing companies of flexible workforces The loss of mutuality status by building societies & the effect on the future of the industry The future of trade unions What benefit do commercial organisations derive form their sponsorship of cricket clubs? Why do manufacturing companies divide their workforces into core and peripheral workers? Will the loss of mutuality status by building societies lead to them offering less attractive terms to borrowers & savers than mutual societies What are the strategies that trade unions should adopt to ensure their future into the next century? Research Idea and Derived Questions Research Question FirstPreviousNext Research Idea Research Question

13. Research Proposal FirstPreviousNext • Title • Background/Context etc • Research Questions and Objectives • Methodology • research design • data collection • Timescale • Resources • References Resources Dissertation Proposal Workshop Writing a Research Paper Thesis or Question

14. The Research Process FirstPreviousNext Resources Hypothesis Developing a Research Question The Relationship Between the Research Question, Hypotheses, Specific Aims, and Long-Term Goals of the Project Hypothesis/ Research Question ConceptsEvidence (Literature) (Fieldwork) Evaluation Discussion

15. A Typical Dissertation Structure Research Proposal and Dissertation FirstPrevious