Research

in Business

McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Business Research Methods, 10e Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 1-2
What’s Changing in Business
that Influences Research

New
Information Technological
Research
Overload Connectivity
Perspectives

Computing Shifting
Power & Global
Speed Economics
Factors
Battle for Critical
Analytical Scrutiny of
Talent Business
Government
Intervention
 1-3

Computing Power and Speed

Lower-cost
Data
Collection
Better
Integration of
Visualization
Data
Tools

Factors

Real-time Powerful
Access Computation
 1-4
Business Planning Drives Business
Research

Organizational Business
Mission Goals

Business Business
Strategies Tactics
 1-5

Information Sources

Decision Support Business Intelligence

Systems Systems
• Numerous elements of • Ongoing information
data organized for collection
retrieval and use in • Focused on events,
business decision trends in micro and
making macro-environments
• Stored and retrieved via
– Intranets
– Extranets
 1-6

Sources of Business Intelligence

Government/
Competitive
Regulatory

Demographic Economic
Business
Intelligence

Technological Cultural/
Social
 1-7

Hierarchy of Business Decision Makers

Visionaries
Visionaries

Standardized
Decision Makers

Intuitive Decision Makers

 1-8

Minute Main and Business Research

 1-9

Research May Not Be Necessary

Can It Pass These Tests?

• Can information be applied to a critical
decision?
• Will the information improve managerial
decision making?
• Are sufficient resources available?
 1-10

Information Value Chain

Data collection/ Data

transmission management

Characteristics

Decision Data
support systems interpretation

Models
 1-11

The Business Research Process

 1-12

Characteristics of Good Research

Clearly defined purpose

Detailed research process
Thoroughly planned design
High ethical standards
Limitations addressed
Adequate analysis
Unambiguous presentation
Conclusions justified
Credentials
 1-13

Two Categories of Research

Applied Basic (Pure)

 1-14

Four Types of Studies

Reporting Descriptive

Explanatory Predictive
 How the Research
Industry Works

McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Business Research Methods, 10e Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 1-16

Who Conducts Business Research?

 1-17
Some Organizations Use
Internal Research Sources
 1-18
Some Organizations Use
External Research Sources
 1-19

Business Research Firms

 1-20

Proprietary Research

Decision Analyst, Inc.

uses Internet-based
concept testing
called Conceptor
to examine new
product concepts
 1-21

Syndicated Services

Nielsen Media
Research
provides audience
data for television
programs like
Court TV
 1-22

Specialty Business Research Firms

Methodology

Process

Industry

Participant group

Geographic Region
 1-23

Communication Agencies

Sales Advertising
Promotion

Direct Public
Business Relations
 1-24
Consultants and
Trade Associations
 1-25

Many Firms Conduct Research

 2-26
Ethical Issues
at all Stages of the Research Process