17 August

Question 1

What is research not?

Answer 1

• A collection of facts or information
• Reassembling or reordering of facts/information
• An esoteric activity
• A term to get your idea/product notices

Question 2

What are the characteristics of research?

Answer 2

• Data are collected systematically
• Data are interpreted systematically
• There is a clear purpose, to find things out

Question 3

What are the typical aims of research?

Answer 3

• Review and synthesize existing knowledge
• Investigate some existing problem or situation
• To provide solutions to a problem
• To explore and analyse more general issues
• To construct or create a new procedure or system
• To generate new knowledge
• A combination or any of the above

Question 4

How does the focus of interest differ between management researchers and practitioners?

Answer 4

Management researcher : 
Basic understanding
General enlightenment 
'Why' knowledge
Theoretical explanation

Practitioner :
Usable knowledge
Instrumental
'How to' knowledge
Practical problem solutions

Question 5

How does the methodological emperitive differ between management researchers and practitioners?

Answer 5

Management researcher : theoretical and methodological rigour

Practitioner : timeliness

Question 6

How does the key outcome differ between management researchers and practitioners?

Answer 6

Management researcher : Academic publication

Practitioner : Actionable results with practical impact

Question 7

How does the views of other differ between management researchers and practitioners?

Answer 7

Management researcher : disdain of practitioner, desire to make a difference to a practice

Practitioner: deprecate or ignore
Belief research can provide relevant fresh insight to managers problems

Question 8

What are the differences between the purposes of basic and applied research?

Answer 8

Basic:
• Expand knowledge of processes of business and
management
• Results in universal principles relating to the
process and its relationship to outcomes
• Findings of significance and value to society in
general

Applied:
• Improve understanding of particular business or
management problem
• Results in solution to problem
• New knowledge limited to problem
• Findings of practical relevance and value to
manager in organization

Question 9

What are the differences between the context of basic and applied research?

Answer 9

Basic:
• Undertaken by people based in universities
• Choice of topic and objectives determined by the
researcher
• Flexible time scales

Applied:
• Undertaken by people based in a variety of
settings including organisations and universities
• Objectives negotiated with originator
• Tight time scales

Question 10

What are the first 6 steps of the research process?

Answer 10

1. Wish to do research
2. Formulate and clarify research topic
3. Critically review the literature
4. Understand philosophy and approach
5. Formulate your research design
6. Negotiate access and address ethical issues