Business Research Methods And Approaches – A Literature Review

Augmented Level of Ethical Scrutiny

1. A) Accurate information obtained by business research can be of considerable significance to a business in achieving as well as maintaining its level of competitiveness. However, there can be identified a critical constraint of ethical decision making while conducting any business research project. There can be witnessed a potential for deception and deficit of informed consent in business research. Hair Jr et al. (2015) reveal that ethical codes tend to give recommendations on patently inappropriate practices though at certain points leaving avenues for manoeuvre, but tend to offer less guidance on marginal areas of ethical decision-making procedures. Such lack of ethical decision-making often result in research participants to use guidelines in opposition to researcher when they seek to constrain the boundaries of the investigation approach of the field researchers(Bryman, Alan and Bell).

It has been noted that the augmented level of ethical scrutiny have led several business investigators to encounter certain challenges in relation to the activities of investigation. However, such an elevating level of ethical scrutiny encountered by contemporary business researchers has led some of the universities research project to be evaluated by ethical approval procedures(Bryman, Alan and Bell). For instance, business researchers must efficiently ensure that the data they are acquiring is kept under utmost confidentiality and is exclusively used for legal purposes. Thus according to Hair Jr et al. (2015) it is essential to be distinctive about the information that is being collected along with the consent of contributors must further be attained.

1. B) Applied research is regarded as a scientific study and investigation, which seeks to offer resolutions for practical problems. This type of research serves a contributory role in unraveling customary dilemmas and challenges, which typically have the propensity to influence work, health and overall welfare of individuals(Hair Jr et al. 2014). As basic research typically emphasize on wider subject areas such as increasing the scientific expertise and knowledge base around any specific subject matter, applied research tends to penetrate into explaining specific issues that impact wide range of individuals. However, studies conducted by Fuller et al. (2016) indicate that that basic and applied research are typically intertwined whereby the former typically informs applied research and the latter often facilitates basic research investigators to improve their own theories. Frito-lay can be taken as an example whereby the company has used social media to reinstate its focus groups and survey panels. The company requested its social media followers to evaluate their brand by clicking an “I’d Eat That” button  to the proposed new flavours.

In contradiction to basic research, applied research generally initiates by efficiently distinguishing the problem and tends to rely on varied factors including exceptional traits of the situation as well as the type of issues researchers are intending to explain(Hair Jr et al. 2014). Regardless to the limitations of applied research related to ethical dilemma on confidentiality and informed consent or issues in maintaining inclusive control over all obtained variables, techniques of applied research can be applied in approaches to evaluate ways workplace console is designed order to maximize output and efficiency while reducing employee fatigue or errors. Furthermore, organizations can employ applied researcher in order to determine ways of selecting employees whose skills are best suited for specific positions with the business enterprise.

1. A) The primary difference between inductive and deductive approaches to research lies on the divergence that deductive approach is essentially purposed and is referred as a testing theory, an inductive approach on the other hand is concerned with the generation of advanced theory, which primarily emerge from data. Gehman et al. (2017) reveal that deductive approach typically initiates with a conjecture where as an inductive research usually apply research questions in order to constrict the dimension of the study. The primary importance of deductive approach fundamentally lies on causality whereas, for the inductive approaches the primary purpose tend to shed light on exploring new and advanced phenomena. Such an approach also views the formerly researched phenomena from a varied perspective (Cho and Lee 2014).

Gehman et al. (2017) noted that deductive research tends to discover an informed theory or phenomenon and further evaluates if the hypothesis is suitable in given circumstances. As deductive approach pursues a path of logic most intimately, reasoning initiates with a theory and further leads to a new phenomenon (Cho and Lee 2014). Such hypothesis is further evaluated by confronting it with observations, which lead to an affirmation or a rejection of the hypothesis. Deductive reasoning can further be explained as analysis from the general to the specific. However on the other hand, deductive approach essentially involves formulation of hypothesis as well as their subjection to testing at the time of research procedures whilst, inductive do not deal with any forms of conjectures or hypothesis (Gehman et al. 2017). Deductive approach lets business researchers to think about the study, which had already been conducted and further develop an idea of widening the theoretical foundation.

1. B) Theory development is fundamentally identified as a process of illustrating phenomena at elevated levels of abstraction. Furthermore, progressing with the ladder of abstraction, the core concept tends to emerge as more abstract and broader in scope and less exposed to measurement. Cho and Lee (2014)claimed that any types of scientific researchers typically function at two levels such as on the abstract level of propositionand on empirical level of conjectures. However, at the empirical level researchers tend to encounter reality by observing objects and events. For example,Shaw et al. (2017)stated that in such scenarios, this form of reality is identified as banana, which after progressing in the ladder tends to encounter broader realism that is fruit whereby it emerges as a part of a further expanded reality that is referred as vegetation. Cho and Lee (2014) noted that several theorists interpret conceptualization of realism and authenticity into abstract level theories. For example, abstract thinking is highly advantageous while thinking innovatively and leads to a constructive quality for a new recruit to any company (Cho and Lee 2014). On the other hand, several UAE banking systems collect qualitative data that comprise of commercial banks as well as finance organizations. Empirical research helps in exploring wider economic conditions during investigation period to interpret customer and investor psychology.

From the introduction of empirical level research methods related to experimental and case study methods into business domain, researchers have been expectant of accurate and both qualitative and quantitative data on diverse aspects and effects of business processes(Cho and Lee 2014). Furthermore, empirical level theories have been significantly contributing to enhance the understanding of problems, dilemmas and challenges in the business domain.

1. A) Narcissists typically tend to practice leadership techniques developed by others. Jensen (2017) has indicated that researchers in the field of management and leadership have been specifically apprehensive with the paradox of narcissism. Such contradictions thus lead to potential detrimental outcomes. Earlier theoretical work proposed distinct interrelations between narcissism and management. However contemporary empirical evidences tend to remain integrated with negative as well as null relationships. However, while following narcissistic leadership style while forming the research question researchers tend to encounter an unfavorable side of narcissism that relates to the self-serving and controlling acts which emerge when narcissists tend to be less aware or informed.As a result the researcher who is following narcissistic leadership approaches will form undefined and vague research objective that results to significant amount of misinterpretations. The researcher exhibiting narcissism has the propensity to ensure powerful positions and advance towards the organizational hierarchy, his or her authority has a slow impact from the executive to middle management levels.Thus while purposing the value of positive leadership and management skills, narcissistic researchers might pose negative impact on the market research objective which the researcher has been aiming to formulate. For example, Jensen (2017) reveal that narcissistic leaders may show incompetence to establish assertive associations with followers in organizations whereby the visionary competencies could induce external stakeholders to make investments in the company.
2. B) Comparative research is likely to be a specific branch within a discipline, if collection of data and interpretation of findings primarily emphasizes on particular cultural and social space. For instance, if law tends to concentrate on the legal system of any particular nation, such factors can easily be evaluated through the comparative research (Kan et al. 2016). Comparative research for MBA assignments does not vary from other forms of comparative research in the humanities and social sciences. However, it might have the propensity to diverge from mainstream research. Mylan et al. (2015) stated that it is essential to note that the global study of growth-oriented entrepreneurship substantially relied on comparative research that includes research activities executed in order to distinguish and explain likeness and divergences among various management approaches and systems in diverse work environment. Kan et al. (2016)stated that culture tends to serve significant role in comparative research of management studies. For instance, Jensen(2017) found that knowledge related to culture and factors regarded as effective and justifiable leadership and management techniques can be implemented in MBA research papers for executing as well as managing overseas subsidiaries and in proficiently designing orientation and training programs for the workforce of global organizations.

Furthermore, Mylan et al. (2015) revealed another importance of comparative research lies on the information generated from the research that can be applied in training organizational leaders in order to ascertain that they comprehend as well as execute conduct which are culturally suitable and are perceived as being positive and efficient by their followers. Comparative research further provides management learners with comprehensive repository of information related to various managerial techniques and procedures implemented by their potential colleagues in other countries (Kan et al. 2016). Thus it can be asserted that for MBA research papers, these styles and approaches can be used to enhance individualistic skills and competencies and further help in identifying insights, which can be applied in their own organizations.

References

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Cho, J.Y. and Lee, E.H., 2014. Reducing confusion about grounded theory and qualitative content analysis: Similarities and differences. The qualitative report, 19(32), pp.1-20.

Hair Jr, J., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L. and G. Kuppelwieser, V., 2014. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) An emerging tool in business research. European Business Review, 26(2), pp.106-121.

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Gehman, J., Glaser, V.L., Eisenhardt, K.M., Gioia, D., Langley, A. and Corley, K.G., 2017. Finding theory–method fit: A comparison of three qualitative approaches to theory building. Journal of Management Inquiry, p.1056492617706029.

Hair Jr, J.F., Wolfinbarger, M., Money, A.H., Samouel, P. and Page, M.J., 2015. Essentials of business research methods. Routledge.

Jensen, M.C., 2017. Value maximisation, stakeholder theory and the corporate objective function. In Unfolding stakeholder thinking (pp. 65-84). Routledge.

Kan, A.K.S., Adegbite, E., El Omari, S. and Abdellatif, M., 2016. On the use of qualitative comparative analysis in management. Journal of Business Research, 69(4), pp.1458-1463.

Mylan, J., Geels, F.W., Gee, S., McMeekin, A. and Foster, C., 2015. Eco-innovation and retailers in milk, beef and bread chains: enriching environmental supply chain management with insights from innovation studies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 107, pp.20-30.

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