Research and the Manager

Research and the Manager

A common experience of all organizations is that the managers thereof encounter

problems big and small on a daily basis, which they have to solve by making the

right decisions. In business, research is usually primarily conducted to resolve problematic issues in, or interrelated among,

Definition of Research

Definition of Research

We can now define business research as an organized, systematic, data-based,

critical, objective, scent Wc inquiry or investigation into a spec Mc problem,

undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or solutions to it/In essence,

research provides the needed information that guides managers to make

informed decisions to successfully deal with problems. The information pro-

vided could be the result of a careful analysis of data gathered firsthand or of

data that are already available (in the company, industry, archives, etc). Data

can be quantitative (as generally gathered through structured questions) or

qualitative (as generated from the broad answers to specific questions in inter-

views, or from responses to open-ended questions in a questionnaire, or

through observation, or from already available information gathered from var-

ious sources).

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.

The Excitement of Research and Why Managers Should Know about-Research

The Excitement of Research and Why Managers Should Know
about-Research



Modern technology has made research an exciting and a relatively smooth

process. Today a personal computer with a modem or any means to an Inter-

net connection places one within easy reach of knowledge of what is hap-

penning in the global markets and how the world economy is impacting on

business. Chapter 5 gives a broad idea of how technology has facilitated the

research process and decision making, and the later chapters describe the use

of technology in information gathering, data collection, data analysis, and data

presentation. By grasping the fundamentals of the research process and keep-

ing abreast of modern technology, such as computers with enormous caps-

ability to store and retrieve information, you as a manager can face the

competitive global market with its multitude of 'complex and confusing factors

with greater confidence.

Knowledge of research not only helps one to look at the available information

in sophisticated and creative ways in the fast-paced global environment that busi-

senses face, but this knowledge also helps in other ways. For example, you can

interact more effectively with research consultants who work for you, you can

discriminate between good and bad studies published in professional journals,

and if so desired, you yourself can undertake research to solve problems. More-

over, knowledge in the business area is exploding and there is an overwhelm-

ing maze of information available through the Internet, which has to be sifted

through to determine its reliability. Identifying the critical issues, gathering

rele-vant information, analyzing the data in ways that would help decision making,

and implementing the right course of action, are all facilitated by understanding

business research. After all, decision making is merely a process of choosing

from among alternative solutions to resolve a problem and research helps to gen-

rate viable alternatives for effective decision making.