Summary Research skills Master SCM
&
Notes videos + tutorials
Made by: TilburgUniversitySCM
,Table of Content
Lecture 1 [11.04] notes ................................................................................................................... 3
Notes videos lecture 1 ..................................................................................................................... 3
Notes videos lecture 2 ..................................................................................................................... 6
Notes videos lecture 3 ................................................................................................................... 11
Notes videos lecture 4 ................................................................................................................... 25
Notes videos lecture 5 ................................................................................................................... 34
Notes lesson 5 [16.05] ................................................................................................................... 40
Notes Lecture 6 (TA) [23.05] ......................................................................................................... 40
Notes Lecture 7 (TA) [31.05] ......................................................................................................... 45
Goodluck with studying and the exams!
And enjoy your well-deserved holiday
,Research Skills
Lecture 1 [11.04] notes
Exam:
No questions TMM-case.
Questions about theory and practise (discussed in lectures and tutorials)
Question about lecture 6 and & 7 (Armin lessons)
Notes videos lecture 1
Learning goals:
Define an adequate and relevant research problem and devise the accompanying problem
identification, problem statement and research questions.
Devise a conceptual model that indicates the relevant concepts to study and serves as a
guideline for literature study and data analysis.
Develop a research design taking into account scientific criteria such as validity and
reliability.
Choose a suitable sampling method to perform data collection.
Analyze the data so that an in-depth understanding of the company problem is achieved.
Discuss findings and use these findings to develop an adequate solution for the business
problem.
Your MSc thesis will contain literature study and an
empirical part. Two options:
Start from theory (deductive approach) &
Start from practice (theory supported inductive
approach)
Deductive research
Most commonly associated with quantitative research of the following type:
Start: use academic literature to define a problem (relation between variables) and to define
hypotheses.
Collect data to test the hypotheses:
o Quantitative data about the variables to be examined
o Methods: survey, existing datasets, secondary(numerical) data, …
Test the hypotheses:
o Method: statistical tests and regression analysis (Stata).
You study the average behaviour of a large population, e.g.
companies in a certain industry
employees in a large company
Examples MSc Theses (deductive, hypotheses testing by statistically analysing a dataset).
The influence of green SCM practices on corporate financial performance (Secondary data).
The effect of green practises on firm’s financial performance (Secondary data + survey)
The effect of inventory leanness on the firm performance (Orbis database)
Supply Chain vulnerability and risk management in the Netherlands (Survey)
Improving job satisfaction in Dutch retail warehouses in order to lower the labour turnover
(interviews + questionnaire).
Modeling express transportation costs (Database of 4 companies)
,For your master thesis no “pure” inductive research but theory supported inductive research
Not possible to develop new theory, expected to contribute to existing theory. Not only use
empirical data to look for patterns, but also study literature about equivalent/similar
problems already studies.
Theory supported inductive research
Most commonly associated with case study research:
Start: define a practical problem (e.g. company
problem)
Study literature about similar problems already
investigated.
Use the literature to collect relevant data:
o Qualitative+ quantitative data
o Methods: observations + interviews are important, but also secondary data (e.g.
company databases), measurements, (small) questionnaires,…
Data collection + analysis: no fixed recipe.
Data + literature is used to understand the problem and draw conclusions and give
recommendations.
You study a specific situation (no average behaviour). Case studies can also be used in deductive
studies
Examples of MSc Theses Theory supported inductive research (all case studies)
Applying SCRM in achieving patient safety - case study at Amphia Hospital (observations, interviews,
questionnaire).
Inventory control for perishable raw materials – case study for Mead Johnson Nutrition (interviews +
secondary data in SAP).
Steps in a theory supported inductive research project:
Step 1: Problem definition
Step 2: Research design
Step 3: Building a theoretical framework
Step 4: Data collection
Step 5: Data analysis -> results
Step 6: Solutions (recommendations)
Step 7: External validity
You have to learn how to bridge the gap between the academic world and the business world.
Good research topic
Important to have a good match between you and
your research topic. You are a person with specific
characteristics (knowledge, skills, personal
preferences, MSc student of a specific MSc
program).
A research topic is something that you want to
investigate in a research area (Purchasing,
Sustainability Lean, Production Management, etc.)
, Think about feasibility (important) in the beginning already
Do you have access to the data you need? (e.g. interviewing medical staff may be difficult)
Do you have enough time? (e.g. you cannot study long term effects)
Are the costs reasonable? (e.g. if you have to travel abroad)
Important questions to answer before/at the beginning of your research.
From research idea to a good research topic is a challenging and time-consuming process = linked
with writing the research proposal. After finding a good research topic and checking all boxes of the
pyramid above it is time to focus on the research proposal.
Company assignment
Very often a problem description that a company provides is not well defined and to broad. Then you
need to find out wat the company actually wants and why they want this, second you have to
transform this in a good research topic (think about the previous pyramid).
Research Proposal
A research proposal described:
What you will research,
Why this is interesting and relevant,
How you will conduct your research,
Why this is the adequate way to conduct your
research.
A research proposal is important:
To structure and guide your research
To evaluate the feasibility of your research.
The how? + Why? part will turn in to the methodology chapter in your thesis.
Teachers are going to assess the research proposal by looking at:
1. Definition of the problem/research questions
2. The extent to which the components of the proposal fit together: consistency in content,
methods, time.
3. The absence of preconceived ideas: The answer should be the outcome, not the starting
point! (don’t make people push you in a direction you need to investigate)
4. The viability of the proposal: Can this research be carried out satisfactorily within the
timescale and with the available resources?
Academic writing:
Objective way (don’t assume anything look at the data)
Analysis/reflection!! (combine and conclude)
Academic writing is about trying to make complex things easier, not about trying to make
easy things more complex.
The golden rule of the paragraph (no theory for the exam)
Disentangle the optimization of the structure and the optimization of the words
Structure comes first!
Determine the sub-messages you need to accurately convey the overall message.
Think in paragraphs:
o Every paragraph should contain a message
o The order of the messages should be logical
&
Notes videos + tutorials
Made by: TilburgUniversitySCM
,Table of Content
Lecture 1 [11.04] notes ................................................................................................................... 3
Notes videos lecture 1 ..................................................................................................................... 3
Notes videos lecture 2 ..................................................................................................................... 6
Notes videos lecture 3 ................................................................................................................... 11
Notes videos lecture 4 ................................................................................................................... 25
Notes videos lecture 5 ................................................................................................................... 34
Notes lesson 5 [16.05] ................................................................................................................... 40
Notes Lecture 6 (TA) [23.05] ......................................................................................................... 40
Notes Lecture 7 (TA) [31.05] ......................................................................................................... 45
Goodluck with studying and the exams!
And enjoy your well-deserved holiday
,Research Skills
Lecture 1 [11.04] notes
Exam:
No questions TMM-case.
Questions about theory and practise (discussed in lectures and tutorials)
Question about lecture 6 and & 7 (Armin lessons)
Notes videos lecture 1
Learning goals:
Define an adequate and relevant research problem and devise the accompanying problem
identification, problem statement and research questions.
Devise a conceptual model that indicates the relevant concepts to study and serves as a
guideline for literature study and data analysis.
Develop a research design taking into account scientific criteria such as validity and
reliability.
Choose a suitable sampling method to perform data collection.
Analyze the data so that an in-depth understanding of the company problem is achieved.
Discuss findings and use these findings to develop an adequate solution for the business
problem.
Your MSc thesis will contain literature study and an
empirical part. Two options:
Start from theory (deductive approach) &
Start from practice (theory supported inductive
approach)
Deductive research
Most commonly associated with quantitative research of the following type:
Start: use academic literature to define a problem (relation between variables) and to define
hypotheses.
Collect data to test the hypotheses:
o Quantitative data about the variables to be examined
o Methods: survey, existing datasets, secondary(numerical) data, …
Test the hypotheses:
o Method: statistical tests and regression analysis (Stata).
You study the average behaviour of a large population, e.g.
companies in a certain industry
employees in a large company
Examples MSc Theses (deductive, hypotheses testing by statistically analysing a dataset).
The influence of green SCM practices on corporate financial performance (Secondary data).
The effect of green practises on firm’s financial performance (Secondary data + survey)
The effect of inventory leanness on the firm performance (Orbis database)
Supply Chain vulnerability and risk management in the Netherlands (Survey)
Improving job satisfaction in Dutch retail warehouses in order to lower the labour turnover
(interviews + questionnaire).
Modeling express transportation costs (Database of 4 companies)
,For your master thesis no “pure” inductive research but theory supported inductive research
Not possible to develop new theory, expected to contribute to existing theory. Not only use
empirical data to look for patterns, but also study literature about equivalent/similar
problems already studies.
Theory supported inductive research
Most commonly associated with case study research:
Start: define a practical problem (e.g. company
problem)
Study literature about similar problems already
investigated.
Use the literature to collect relevant data:
o Qualitative+ quantitative data
o Methods: observations + interviews are important, but also secondary data (e.g.
company databases), measurements, (small) questionnaires,…
Data collection + analysis: no fixed recipe.
Data + literature is used to understand the problem and draw conclusions and give
recommendations.
You study a specific situation (no average behaviour). Case studies can also be used in deductive
studies
Examples of MSc Theses Theory supported inductive research (all case studies)
Applying SCRM in achieving patient safety - case study at Amphia Hospital (observations, interviews,
questionnaire).
Inventory control for perishable raw materials – case study for Mead Johnson Nutrition (interviews +
secondary data in SAP).
Steps in a theory supported inductive research project:
Step 1: Problem definition
Step 2: Research design
Step 3: Building a theoretical framework
Step 4: Data collection
Step 5: Data analysis -> results
Step 6: Solutions (recommendations)
Step 7: External validity
You have to learn how to bridge the gap between the academic world and the business world.
Good research topic
Important to have a good match between you and
your research topic. You are a person with specific
characteristics (knowledge, skills, personal
preferences, MSc student of a specific MSc
program).
A research topic is something that you want to
investigate in a research area (Purchasing,
Sustainability Lean, Production Management, etc.)
, Think about feasibility (important) in the beginning already
Do you have access to the data you need? (e.g. interviewing medical staff may be difficult)
Do you have enough time? (e.g. you cannot study long term effects)
Are the costs reasonable? (e.g. if you have to travel abroad)
Important questions to answer before/at the beginning of your research.
From research idea to a good research topic is a challenging and time-consuming process = linked
with writing the research proposal. After finding a good research topic and checking all boxes of the
pyramid above it is time to focus on the research proposal.
Company assignment
Very often a problem description that a company provides is not well defined and to broad. Then you
need to find out wat the company actually wants and why they want this, second you have to
transform this in a good research topic (think about the previous pyramid).
Research Proposal
A research proposal described:
What you will research,
Why this is interesting and relevant,
How you will conduct your research,
Why this is the adequate way to conduct your
research.
A research proposal is important:
To structure and guide your research
To evaluate the feasibility of your research.
The how? + Why? part will turn in to the methodology chapter in your thesis.
Teachers are going to assess the research proposal by looking at:
1. Definition of the problem/research questions
2. The extent to which the components of the proposal fit together: consistency in content,
methods, time.
3. The absence of preconceived ideas: The answer should be the outcome, not the starting
point! (don’t make people push you in a direction you need to investigate)
4. The viability of the proposal: Can this research be carried out satisfactorily within the
timescale and with the available resources?
Academic writing:
Objective way (don’t assume anything look at the data)
Analysis/reflection!! (combine and conclude)
Academic writing is about trying to make complex things easier, not about trying to make
easy things more complex.
The golden rule of the paragraph (no theory for the exam)
Disentangle the optimization of the structure and the optimization of the words
Structure comes first!
Determine the sub-messages you need to accurately convey the overall message.
Think in paragraphs:
o Every paragraph should contain a message
o The order of the messages should be logical
