Business Research 1[1]

8/6/2019 Business Research 1[1]

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/business-research-11 1/25

MZUMBE UNIVERSITYBusiness research methods course: BUS 5032

Lecture 1

Introduction to scientific business

and management researchPhilibert C. Ndunguru B.A; M.B.A.; Ph.D.

Professor of Business Administration and Statistics



2

Why MBA/MSc?

� Desire to join the Club of ScientificCommunity

� Fascinated by the scientists¶ expertise insolving puzzles through a research activity

� Admiring scientist¶s eloquent style of investigating and explaining real world

puzzles in their discipline: business, publicadmin, economics, sociology, politics, law,physics, biology, etc.



3

Science and scientists

� Science as a discipline with its paradigm ± set of theories, methods of measurement instrumentsand instrumentation

� Science as an approach or style of comprehending, investigating and explainingpuzzles that engulf mankind

� Scientists articulate and develop an approach in

attempting to account for and accommodatebehaviour of relevant aspects of the real worldas revealed by results of experimentation



4

Scientific approach 1/3

� Science = logic

� Logic = rationalism, or that makes senseand is reasonable

� Rationalism = opinions be logical + formalproof process for verifying statedassertions

� The opposite of rationalism isexistentialism = informal proof process

� Not all logic is science



5


� Logic must be verified by empirical

evidence through process of observation

� Observation = experience, empiricism,able to be verified by sense organs of

seeing, touching, feeling, hearing, or

smelling

� Science = logic + observation



6


� Empiricism = only material things exist;observed concrete data;

� The anti-thesis of empiricism is idealism = data

based on interpretive ideas e.g., dreams

� Styles of acquiring knowledge based on

rationalism and empiricism (see figure 1-1):

� Quadrant 1: scientific method

� Quadrant 2: ????� Quadrant 3: method of authority or dogma

� Quadrant 4: ????



7

Styles of acquiring knowledge

Figure 1-1:

Scientific method

Method of authority/ dogma

empiricism

idealism

rationalismexistentialism



8

Assumptions of Scientific method

� Nature is orderly

� Nature can be understood

� Knowledge is superior to ignorance� Natural phenomenon has a natural cause

� Nothing is self-evident

� Knowledge is derived from acquisition of experience that is associated with

perceptions and observations



9

Scientists¶ cardinal problems

� Scientific method is about acquiringknowledge: theories, laws, hypotheses,principles, etc

� Search for invariance (theory-building)

� Search for explanation of invariance(theory-testing)

� The search is a continuous and

everlasting throughout history of mankind� The search generates, accumulates, and

expands frontiers of knowledge



10

Goals in scientific research

� Theory-building (by assumptions nature isorderly, and it can be understood) ± this is theidea of searching for invariance

� Theory-testing (by assumptions every effect

has a cause, nothing is self-evident) ± this is theoutcome of searching explanation of invariance

� Nominal goal of research is to expand frontiersof knowledge (by assumptions knowledge is

superior to ignorance, experience associatedwith perceptions and observations leads toknowledge)



11

How scientists do their work

Steps to accomplish goals of the searching:� Determining a puzzle to be searched

� Defining concepts for communicating

� Setting-up research questions and tentativestatements of truth ± hypotheses or propositions

� Collecting data

� Data analysis: validating each statement if not

empirically verifiable ± science is sceptical

� Present results and findings



12

Research problem

� A puzzle is of a theoretical and/or empiricalnature; and is referred to as a research problem.

� Definition 1-1: A scientific research problem i s

an observation statement or set of statement s

that contradict s or i s enigmatic in the light of some theory or background knowledge of the

time

� Knowledge gap is implied in the definition

above and research activity is meant to fill the

gap



13

Knowledge gap for research

� Gap 1 ± observation statements not adequately

described, explained, or predicted by existing

theories or laws

� Gap 2 ± existence of contradicting theoreticalconstructs that logically describe, explain or

predict the same phenomenon

�G

ap 3 ± failure of theories to stand upobservational tests; failure of theories to predict

events



14

Management research process

� Business entity is a conglomeration of GCS, IS, OS defined by a STRUCTURE

� Management research problems are about

a gap in efficiency and effectiveness of abusiness entity

� A gap means a problem in form of undesirable effect/impact, or an

opportunity for better performance� Such problems may be at the GCS, IS,

OS, or STRUCTURE levels



15

GCS problems

� Vision -

� Mission -

� Operating philosophy ± core values� Strategy -

� Structure -



16

IS problems

� IS concerned with information andcommunication without which rational

management is impossible

� Integration: the extent to which MIS is integrated

within the organization (trade-off betweencentralization and decentralization);

� Neutrality - info is power and there is a struggle

to control it: reflecting placement of MIS

� Note: IS = total; MIS = formal part of the IS



17

OS problems

� OS converts inputs into outputs

� Decision making

� Execution, monitoring and evaluation� Equipment design

� Role allocation

� Estimating capacity

� Production planning

� Time management



18

STRUCTURE problems

� Vertical sub-division of tasks: lines of

authority versus staff functions

� Horizontal sub-division of tasks: span of control versus specialization

� The conflicts together they lead to

communication problems



19

Typology of research

� Pure basic ±tackling theoretical problem

� Basic objective ± tackling practical problems:how participation enhances rural development

strategies� Evaluation ± assessing some aspect of

performance

� Applied - solving problem by applying existing

knowledge: how good governance leads toeconomic growth or MIS enhancing performance

� Action ± management research/consulting



20

Science, theory and research

Figure 1-2:Theories

and laws

research

science

Research

problemderived from

theories

New facts and

relationships in

form of practice

derived from

research

Falsifiable

hypotheses

granted status of theory or law



21

The learning cycle

� The science-theory-research relationship

above corroborates Kolb¶s experiential

learning cycle from psychology

� Concrete experience (practice) in form of

observations and reflections form abstract

concepts and generalization (theories)

which are tested in new situations(research) under concrete experience



22

Kolb¶s experiential learning cycle

Figure 1-3:Concrete

experience

Formation of abstract

concepts and generalization

Observation

s and

reflections

Testing

implications of

concepts in

new situations



23

Research process in perspective 2/2

� Theory and practice are the corner points of conceptualizing a research project and for

undertaking a scientific research;

� Logic and Observation guides a scientific

research

� Problem statement; hypotheses, design,

measurement, data collection, data analysis,

generalizations and conclusions are all linked to theory and practice

� See Figure 1-4 in the Lectures



24

Research process in perspective 1/2

problem

Generalization

and conclusions

hypotheses

Data analysis

Data collectionmeasurement

Research

design

THEORY and

PRACTICE



25

Getting a research topic in practice� Current debates in society, profession,

discipline, business, etc reflect gaps inknowledge between theory and practice

� Academic for ums, news-media, journals, etcare sources to get current debates

� Be conversant with theories and currenttheoretical and methodological debates inyour discipline

� Marketing, finance, accounting, banking, humanresources, entrepreneurship, SMEs, internaltrade systems, international business, ICT, bestpractices in business systems, corporateplanning, etc

Documents

Business Research 1[1]