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Summary Exam research skills - Master strategic management
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summary of lectures 1-9 of the course research skills - Master strategic management UVT
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Lecture 1Research = In a university setting, the training process of research is to learn to think
systematically and develop analytic capabilities. Systematic approach is more accurate and
reliable for practical and everyday life.
Examples:
(1) You intend to buy a car then doing some research on models, features, price, availability
will help you to compare and decide which car suits your need and so on.
(2) Practical problem solving and decision making in companies is based on research. If a
firm experiences declining sales, then through systematic observation and thinking it will be
clear that sales are decreasing because of newly introduced substitute.
(3) Hassan and Ghauri (2014) believe that many mergers and acquisitions fail since proper
research was not undertaken while evaluating the target company or eachother
(4) Several successful companies disappear from the business landscape. Motorola,
Blackberry and ENRON are good examples.
The production of knowledge is thus not restricted to academic research. It involves
academics, policy makers and managers
The purposes of doing research are manifold, such as to describe, explain,
understand, foresee, criticize and/or analyse already existing knowledge or
phenomena in social sciences
Research is an original investigation leading to the production of new knowledge
through systematic information collection and critical analysis.
o Work systematically and learn critically to analyze issues/matters before
believing in them or acting upon them
This systematic research activity contributes to knowledge and understanding in a
particular field.
Knowledge development = Not new, and dates to ancient cultures differentiating truth
from falsehood.
but we need training in differentiating false from true
We cannot be certain that an individual can or cannot know what he claims to know,
which is called skepticism
The method of acquiring knowledge and explanations get a prominent role in the
nature of knowledge development
Knowledge should have three components; justification, truth and belief
Knowledge is a justified true belief
Knowledge development process =
This theory of knowledge is called epistemology (Greek episteme for knowledge and
logos for theory, Moser et al, 1998).
While developing your knowledge you develop assumptions ontology. Ontology
delas with nature of reality and reflects how an individual interprets a fact. Ontology
means that you have subjective or objective interest in looking at reality.
o For example, Subjective is based on human experiences while objective is
based on numbers.
These epistemological and ontological choices underpin methodological choices
o For example, qualitative or quantitative or mixed methods.
Knowledge = a claim is accepted because proof of truth or warrant given
(1) Based on sense is priori knowledge (theoretical knowledge that fives connections
among things)
(2) Based on experience is posteriori knowledge (empirical asserts existence)
,Faith = a claim is accepted without proof or warrant; yet high strength or conviction
Opinion = personal point of view, caries in conviction
Induction, Deduction, Abduction = Different ways to establish what is false and what is
true and draw conclusions are induction, deduction and abduction.
Induction =
Based on empirical evidence
Through induction we draw general conclusions from our empirical observations
The process goes from observations → analysis→ findings → theory building
This type of research is often associated with the qualitative type of research
This process goes from assumption to conclusions
Assumption = psychiatrists have found that psychological problems in patients depend upon
their experiences in childhood
Conclusions = all psychological problems are based on experiences in childhood
We can never be 100 % sure about the above inductive conclusions, as these conclusions
are based on some empirical observations
Deduction = The researcher builds/deduces hypotheses from the existing knowledge
(literature), which can be subject to empirical scrutiny (testing) and thus can be accepted or
rejected
Based on logic
This type of research is often associated with the quantitative type of research
o Assumption all metals expand when heated
o Assumption rail tracks are built of metal
o Conclusion rail tracks will expand when heated
Abduction = A theoretical interpretation of an empirical problem that can lead to
development of new theories
Not just a combination of induction and deduction
The original framework and theoretical assumptions of the researcher are
continuously modified as a result of empirical findings
It is often assumed that theory should precede data, that is, observations Interactions
between theory and data take place.
The unexpected finding shows that the hypothesis (theory) can be wrong, and thus
forces the researcher to rethink prior belief
Why qualitative research:
Qualitative research methods are designed to help researchers understand people
and what they say and do
They allow a researcher to see and understand the context within which actions and
decisions take place
It is the context that helps to “explain” why someone said something or acted the way
they did
Also, by talking to people, or reading what they have written, we can find out what
they are or were thinking
Formalized research process
Research is often thought of as a process, that is a
set of activities unfolding over time
A process has a few distinct stages, as different
stages entail different tasks
, In reality, however, the process is not so orderly and sequential
The starting point is the research topic, that is the phenomenon or theme to be
studied
o E.g., how business firms conduct R&D
In a subsequent step, a more specific question is addressed
o E.g., are firms organized in a bureaucratic way less
innovative than firms organized in an ‘organic’ way?
Any problem must be captured or represented. This is done by
a set of interrelated concepts, or a ‘model’, implicit or explicit
Research design relates to the choice of strategy to collect the
data needed to ‘answer’ the stated research problem
Choice of data and how to collect them, from whom, and in
what way, are important
Data must be handled, analyzed and interpreted
Most research efforts are reported in written form
In business the outcome of research efforts often results in or
influences actions
, Lecture 2 – problem definition
A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a study.
A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the study.
A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.
Research questions are those that the researcher would like answered or addressed in
the study.
The starting point of any research effort is some idea or observation that attracts
attention and initiates speculation
The researcher might have a particular interest in a certain topic
There must be something ‘new’, that is, something we do not already know
Good:
The real world
Discuss your research idea with friends, colleagues, your supervisor – and other
people who are interested in similar topics
The Past Litarture
Checklist
Find an interesting in a broad subject area
Narrow the interest to a plausible topic.
Question the topic from several points of view.
Define a rationale for your study.
Importance research topic
It establishes the importance of the topic
It creates reader interest.
It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study will add
Research problem: questions
What is the research problem (RP) of my research?
Why is this RP relevant, important and/or interesting?
What are the main concepts that could be relevant?
What theories have been used in past studies?
What are the seminal contributions published in this field of research?
Where have been published the seminal contributions?
Who authored the seminal contributions?
Sources of researchable problems:
Assigned research problem, as perhaps suggested by the supervisor/professor
Another source is the technical literature, which can point out a relatively unexplored
area or a topic that needs further development. Look for ‘gaps’ in the literature (
Finally, personal and professional experiences are often the source of a research
problem
Identifying research problems:
What is the actual problem?
What is the best way to solve the problem?
What is the importance/significance of studying this research problem?
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