Pages: 80

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 24

The first chapter introduces the nature of research and the different types of research encountered in business and management. It begins with a discussion of how changes in the external world and specifically the broader business and social environment trigger and shape management research today. The chapter introduces the five key stages of a research project that form the structure of the book and analyzes the relationship between management practice and research and between theory and research, emphasizing that they are interdependent. These topics prepare the ground for an overview of different philosophical orientations that characterize current management research. The chapter ends with an introduction to reflexivity in research and a discussion of the benefits of becoming a reflexive research practitioner.

Pages: 22

Chapter 2 explores the idea of a research problem which is the specific issue or opportunity that forms the focus of the research. It provides the rationale for undertaking the project and the basis on which to develop suitable research questions that will in turn inform the overall research design. The chapter provides a step-by-step guide to taking a problem-centred approach to research. It begins with how to identify a suitable research problem before introducing three broad types of research and how they vary in terms of their overall purpose: descriptive/exploratory, explanatory, and process-oriented. The chapter concludes with a look at the development of research questions for a research project and what makes a good research question.

Pages: 32

A critical review of literature is a key component of many research projects. It is the opportunity to examine relevant theory and to review prior research that can offer a deeper understanding of what is already known about the research topic. Chapter 3 looks at the nature and purpose of a literature review and identifies four key stages in carrying one out. Each stage is discussed in turn, and the chapter includes advice on how to search, capture, synthesize, and present a review of a body of academic and practitioner literature. Practical tools and techniques are presented throughout the chapter, reflecting the increased impact of digitalization on carrying out and writing up the literature review.

Pages: 130

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 32

A research design lays down the overall structure for the research and the specific methods and techniques that will be used to answer the research question. This chapter introduces key dimensions of research design, beginning with ways in which theory can be integrated into a research project, before examining the links between research design and the research question. The distinction between qualitative and quantitative research methods is reviewed and critiqued, along with the use of mixed-method approaches. The chapter then discusses the choice of time horizon and the role of primary and secondary data, before looking at quality criteria in research from both a qualitative and a quantitative perspective.

Pages: 25

Researchers today need to be fully aware of how their research may impact both on those directly involved in the project and on the wider community. This chapter discusses the topics of ethics, diversity, and inclusion in contemporary research, recognizing the increasing importance of the online environment for data collection. The chapter begins by explaining the ethical dimensions of research, presenting a set of principles and guidelines in relation to ethical aspects of the research process to help the researcher develop their awareness of ethical issues when conducting research. The chapter then moves on to a discussion of the need to consider diversity and inclusivity, both in the choice of research focus and the conduct of the research itself. It also includes a discussion of data privacy and current policy, practice, and terminology. Finally, the chapter also considers the role of codes of practice and ethics committees and the need to gain ethical approval prior to starting a research project.

Pages: 22

There are many different research designs available to the researcher, and selection and justification of a specific design requires an awareness of possible options and their characteristics. Chapter 6, which is new to this edition, looks at the broad family of quantitative research designs. It begins by reviewing experimental designs, distinguishing between true and quasi experiments. The chapter then discusses a range of nonexperimental research designs. These include exploratory naturally occurring experiments and correlational studies as well as surveys and quantitative content analysis. In addition, the chapter discusses the opportunities for more exploratory data-driven quantitative research, fuelled in part by big data and more accessible analysis tools. The chapter concludes with a look at choosing an appropriate research design to answer the project’s research question. Further details on each research design are presented on the companion website.

Pages: 25

Chapter 7 introduces a range of qualitative and mixed-method range designs. Each design is discussed in terms of its main characteristics and potential applications. Ethnographic research involves in-depth investigation of a culture-sharing group, generating ‘thick descriptions’ of the phenomenon under investigation. Grounded theory research builds theory from data through a systematic, iterative process of constant comparison between emerging theory and data, until theoretical saturation is reached. Case study research studies a relatively small number of naturally occurring cases, in depth and in context. Action research refers to a collaborative partnership between the researcher and a group of practitioners in a cyclical process of joint planning, action, observation, and reflection that contributes to actionable knowledge. Interview studies focus on the participants’ experiences, points of view, and the meaning that they attach to those experiences, through in-depth probing. Qualitative approaches can also be used to analyze language in detail, through qualitative content analysis, critical discourse analysis, or conversation analysis. The chapter concludes with a discussion of when it is advantageous to mix research methods and how to combine them in terms of sequencing and priority.

Pages: 24

This chapter describes how to carry out a research project by applying practical management skills, effective engagement with multiple stakeholders, and the commitment of time and other resources. It examines the planning and management of a research project, beginning with choosing the research design. It then looks at the decisions to be taken at the planning stage in terms of what needs to be done and the resources required before reviewing activities involved in managing the project as it progresses. The chapter concludes with a look at how to prepare a successful research proposal.

Pages: 101

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 28

A key step in data collection is deciding where to collect data, how much will be needed, and how to access it. This is the process of sampling, the subject of Chapter 9, which examines what is meant by sampling before looking at different sampling methods. It then reviews sampling procedures in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research before looking at the important topic of sample size. The chapter concludes with a look at the challenges of accessing and recruiting a sample, including discussion of online sampling options and how to engage with hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. Throughout, the chapter recognizes both the theoretical and practical dimensions of successful sampling.

Pages: 27

Questionnaires are an important and very widely used data collection technique. Chapter 10 begins by looking at situations in which it might be appropriate to use a questionnaire, and their strengths and weaknesses as a data collection tool. It next introduces a simple process to follow when designing, creating, and distributing a questionnaire. Each step is examined in turn, with particular emphasis on how to formulate appropriate questions and lay out the questionnaire itself. The chapter concludes with a discussion of pretesting and piloting and a review of the options for distributing questionnaires, with particular focus on the use of online surveys.

Pages: 21

This chapter focuses on the role of In-depth interviews as a source of data. Both individual and group interviews, such as focus groups, are included. In-depth interviews are an important and widely used data collection technique in qualitative and mixed method research. After considering potential uses of in-depth interviews, the chapter looks at how to carry them out, including how to formulate suitable questions. As well as traditional face-to-face interviews, the chapter considers how to conduct them online both synchronously and asynchronously. In addition to the planning and conduct of the interview, the chapter also discusses options for capturing and storing interview data, taking into account both the opportunities and challenges created by technology.

Pages: 23

This chapter focuses on methods of gathering data that do not rely on asking participants questions about the phenomenon of interest. The first method covered is the writing of diaries or other records, prompted by the researcher. This is followed by a discussion of observational techniques, both structured and unstructured. The third method discussed is the collection of data on social media. The chapter then examines secondary data source comprises documents or other archival records that contain relevant data for the research project. The chapter also discusses the opportunities presented by big data. The final source of data discussed in this chapter is the collection of artefacts: objects such as pieces of technology or objects that people use in their everyday or organizational lives and that might inform our research.

Pages: 89

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 56

Analyzing quantitative data can be daunting for those unfamiliar with statistics, so Chapter 13 begins by setting out a simple process to follow when carrying out quantitative data analysis. It takes a step-by-step approach, starting with preparing data for analysis. It then looks at techniques for exploring and describing data using tables, simple summary statistics, and graphs. The chapter builds on these to introduce more advanced analysis techniques, including the use of inferential statistics to test hypotheses and estimate population parameters and how to report the findings. The chapter concludes with a look at more advanced quantitative analysis techniques. The chapter is supported by the companion website, which shows how to carry out specific techniques using popular software programmes.

Pages: 31

Chapter 14 looks at how to analyze qualitative data. Given that qualitative data collection often generates substantial amounts of data, with little structure and in different formats, the chapter begins with how to prepare data for analysis. It then explains how to use coding techniques to carry out thematic analysis, including the use of qualitative data analysis software. The chapter includes a discussion of visual display techniques, including matrices and network diagrams, to analyze and display the findings from qualitative data. This is followed by a discussion of ways of verifying the findings and drawing conclusions from the data so that they can be shown to present a trustworthy account of the problem under analysis and ensure that the research question(s) that guide the project have been answered. Finally, the chapter offers guidance on how to present qualitative analysis in the final report.

Pages: 28

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 26

Effective communication of research findings is a vital ingredient in any successful research project. This chapter looks at different ways of reporting research for different audiences and using different channels. It begins with written reports, starting with writing for an academic qualification such as a dissertation or thesis, followed by a brief introduction to writing for an academic journal before looking at writing reports for a practitioner audience. The chapter then discusses the writing process itself, with guidance on planning and writing style. The chapter concludes with a review of alternative ways of communicating research results, both offline and online.