BUSINESS RESEARCH

BUSINESS RESEARCH

Business research can be described as a systematic and organized effort to invest-

tailgate a specific problem encountered in the work setting, that needs a solution.

It comprises a series of steps designed and executed, with the goal of Finding

answers to the issues that are of concern to the manager in the work environ-

ment. This means that the first step in research is to know where the problem

areas exist in the organization, and to identify as clearly and specifically as pos-

sible the problems that need to be studied and resolved. Once the problem that

needs attention is clearly defined, then steps can be taken to gather information,

analyze the data, and determine the factors that are associated with the problem

and solve it by taking the necessary corrective measures.

This entire process by which we attempt to solve problems is called research.

Thus, research involves a series of Well-thought-out and carefully executed activ-

ities that will enable the manager to know how organizational problems can be

solved, or at least considerably minimized. Research thus encompasses the

processes of inquiry, investigation, examination, and experimentation, These

processes have to be carried out systematically, diligently, critically, objectively,

and logically. The expected end results would be the discovery that will help the

manager to deal with the problem situation,

The difference between the manager who uses common sense alone to ana-

lyze and make a decision in a given situation, and the investigator who uses a

scientific method, is that the latter does a systematic inquiry into the matter and

proceeds to describe, explain, or predict phenomena based on data carefully coi-

lected for the purpose.