Reserach Metrhod

Chapter 1
Introduction to Research

BB204
Business Research
Method

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Learning Outcomes
After studying Chapter ❶, you will be able to:
• Describe what research is and how it is defined.
• Distinguish between applied and basic research, giving examples, and discussing why they fall into one or the other of the two categories.
• Explain why managers should and should not do in order to interact most effectively with researchers

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Definition of Business Research
 Business research: an organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective, scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or solutions to it.

© 2009 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. www.wileyeurope.com/college/sekaran 3

Questions?
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What you want to research?
Why you research it?
Who do you research?
Where do you research?
How you research it?
So WHAT?

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Applied versus Basic Research
 Basic research: generates a body of knowledge by trying to comprehend how certain problems that occur in organizations can be solved.
 Applied research: solves a current problem faced by the manager in the work setting, demanding a timely solution.

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Examples Applied Research
Apple’s iPod fueled the company’s success in recent years, helping to increase sales from $5 billion in 2001 to $32 billion in the fiscal year 2008.
Growth for the music player averaged more than
200% in 2006 and 2007, before falling to 6% in
2008. Some analysts believe that the number of iPods sold will drop 12% in 2009. “The reality is there’s a limited group of people who want an iPod or any other portable media player,” one analyst says. “So the question becomes, what will Apple do about it?”
 The existing machinery in the production department has had so many