Summary of “Research methods for business” – Roger Bougie |
Uma Sekaran
Notes chapter 1
Research is simply the process of finding solutions to a problem after a thorough study and analysis
of the situational factors. Business research can be described as a systematic and organized effort to
investigate a specific problem encountered in the work setting, which needs a solution.
To a scientist, a theory explains a certain phenomenon, and the idea is that this explanation will hold
in a wide range of settings.
Applied research = research done with the intention of applying the results of the findings to solve
specific problems currently being experienced in an organization is called applied research.
Pure research = research done chiefly to make a contribution to existing knowledge.
4 voordelen van interne researcher:
Oplossingen/aanpassingen worden sneller geaccepteerd bij werknemers;
Researchteam heeft minder tijd nodig om de bedrijfsstructuur te begrijpen;
Na het onderzoek is het research team beschikbaar voor implementaties of als er ‘bugs’
ontstaan;
Kosten zijn lager, mede doordat ze zich minder hoeven in te lezen.
4 nadelen van interne researcher:
Ze kunnen terugvallen in een stereotype manier wat betreft het kijken naar de organisatie;
Het team kan makkelijker beïnvloed worden door politieke spelletjes binnen de organisatie;
Staff and management neigen ernaar de aanbevelingen niet serieus te nemen als ze niet van
derden komen.
Het interne team kan bevindingen minder objectief presenteren.
Voordelen externe researcher:
Meer ervaring met gelijksoortige bedrijven. Zorg ervoor dat ze de situatie van alle kanten
bekijken.
Meer kennis i.v.m. meer trainingen.
Nadelen externe researcher:
Kost veel geld
Worden niet door werknemers geaccepteerd en het duurt een tijdje voordat ze de
organisatie in beeld hebben
Kost extra geld om te implementeren.
Notes chapter 2
Scientific research focuses on solving problems and pursues a step by step logical, organized and
rigorous method to identify the problems, gather data, analyze them and draw valid conclusions
from them. Scientific investigation tends to be more objective than subjective, and helps managers to
highlight the most critical factors at the workplace that need specifi attention so as to avoid,
minimize or solve problems. Scientific investigation and managerial decision making are integral
aspects of effective problem solving. Th term scientific research applies, therefore, to both basic and
applied research.
De kenmerken van scientific research zijn als volgt:
, Purposiveness the research has a purposive focus
Rigor a good theoretical base and a sound methodological design add rigor to a purposive
study.
Testability a scientific hypothesis must be testable
Replicability replication demonstrates that our hypotheses have not been supported
merely by chance, but are reflective of the true state of affairs in the population.
Precision and confidence precision reflects the degree of accuracy or exactitude of the
result on the basis of the sample, to what really exists in the universe. Confidence refers to
the probability that our estimations are correct.
Objectivity the more objective the interpretation of the data, the more scientific the
research investigation becomes.
Generalizability refers to the scope of applicability of the research findings in one
organisational setting to other settings. The more generalizable the research, the greater its
usefulness and value.
Parsimony spaarzaamheid
The hypothetico deductive method provides a useful, systematic approach for generating knowlegde
to solve basic and managerial problems. It involves 7 steps:
1. Identify a broad problem area: example a drop in sales
2. Define the problem statement: gathering initial information about the factors that are
possibly related to the problem will help us to narrow the broad problem area and to define
the problem statement.
3. Develop hypothesis: variables are examined to ascertain their contribution or influence in
explaining why the problem occurs and how it can be solved.
4. Determine measures: unless the variables in the theoretical framework are measured in
some way, we will not be able to test our hypotheses.
5. Data collection: based on variables; data needs to be obtained.
6. Data analysis: the data gathered are statistically analyzed to see if the hypothesis that were
generated have been supported.
7. Interpretation of data: now we must decide whether our hypotheses are supported or not by
interpreting the mening of the results of data analysis.
Notes chapter 3
A problem is any situation where a gap exists between an actual and a desired ideal state. Once we
have identified the management problem, it needs to be narrowed down to a researchable topic for
study. This can be achieved by following the next process:
Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:
Identification
Definition of
of the broad Preliminary
the research
management research
problem
problem
Information needed can be classified under two headings:
Information on the organization and its environment, the contextual factors
Uma Sekaran
Notes chapter 1
Research is simply the process of finding solutions to a problem after a thorough study and analysis
of the situational factors. Business research can be described as a systematic and organized effort to
investigate a specific problem encountered in the work setting, which needs a solution.
To a scientist, a theory explains a certain phenomenon, and the idea is that this explanation will hold
in a wide range of settings.
Applied research = research done with the intention of applying the results of the findings to solve
specific problems currently being experienced in an organization is called applied research.
Pure research = research done chiefly to make a contribution to existing knowledge.
4 voordelen van interne researcher:
Oplossingen/aanpassingen worden sneller geaccepteerd bij werknemers;
Researchteam heeft minder tijd nodig om de bedrijfsstructuur te begrijpen;
Na het onderzoek is het research team beschikbaar voor implementaties of als er ‘bugs’
ontstaan;
Kosten zijn lager, mede doordat ze zich minder hoeven in te lezen.
4 nadelen van interne researcher:
Ze kunnen terugvallen in een stereotype manier wat betreft het kijken naar de organisatie;
Het team kan makkelijker beïnvloed worden door politieke spelletjes binnen de organisatie;
Staff and management neigen ernaar de aanbevelingen niet serieus te nemen als ze niet van
derden komen.
Het interne team kan bevindingen minder objectief presenteren.
Voordelen externe researcher:
Meer ervaring met gelijksoortige bedrijven. Zorg ervoor dat ze de situatie van alle kanten
bekijken.
Meer kennis i.v.m. meer trainingen.
Nadelen externe researcher:
Kost veel geld
Worden niet door werknemers geaccepteerd en het duurt een tijdje voordat ze de
organisatie in beeld hebben
Kost extra geld om te implementeren.
Notes chapter 2
Scientific research focuses on solving problems and pursues a step by step logical, organized and
rigorous method to identify the problems, gather data, analyze them and draw valid conclusions
from them. Scientific investigation tends to be more objective than subjective, and helps managers to
highlight the most critical factors at the workplace that need specifi attention so as to avoid,
minimize or solve problems. Scientific investigation and managerial decision making are integral
aspects of effective problem solving. Th term scientific research applies, therefore, to both basic and
applied research.
De kenmerken van scientific research zijn als volgt:
, Purposiveness the research has a purposive focus
Rigor a good theoretical base and a sound methodological design add rigor to a purposive
study.
Testability a scientific hypothesis must be testable
Replicability replication demonstrates that our hypotheses have not been supported
merely by chance, but are reflective of the true state of affairs in the population.
Precision and confidence precision reflects the degree of accuracy or exactitude of the
result on the basis of the sample, to what really exists in the universe. Confidence refers to
the probability that our estimations are correct.
Objectivity the more objective the interpretation of the data, the more scientific the
research investigation becomes.
Generalizability refers to the scope of applicability of the research findings in one
organisational setting to other settings. The more generalizable the research, the greater its
usefulness and value.
Parsimony spaarzaamheid
The hypothetico deductive method provides a useful, systematic approach for generating knowlegde
to solve basic and managerial problems. It involves 7 steps:
1. Identify a broad problem area: example a drop in sales
2. Define the problem statement: gathering initial information about the factors that are
possibly related to the problem will help us to narrow the broad problem area and to define
the problem statement.
3. Develop hypothesis: variables are examined to ascertain their contribution or influence in
explaining why the problem occurs and how it can be solved.
4. Determine measures: unless the variables in the theoretical framework are measured in
some way, we will not be able to test our hypotheses.
5. Data collection: based on variables; data needs to be obtained.
6. Data analysis: the data gathered are statistically analyzed to see if the hypothesis that were
generated have been supported.
7. Interpretation of data: now we must decide whether our hypotheses are supported or not by
interpreting the mening of the results of data analysis.
Notes chapter 3
A problem is any situation where a gap exists between an actual and a desired ideal state. Once we
have identified the management problem, it needs to be narrowed down to a researchable topic for
study. This can be achieved by following the next process:
Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:
Identification
Definition of
of the broad Preliminary
the research
management research
problem
problem
Information needed can be classified under two headings:
Information on the organization and its environment, the contextual factors
