Business

Research Methods

William G. Zikmund

Chapter 2:
Problem Definition and the
Research Proposal
Problem Discovery and Definition

• First step
• Problem, opportunity, or monitor operations
• Discovery before definition
• Problem means management problem
 Problem Definition

• The indication of a specific business

decision area that will be clarified by
answering some research questions
• The crucial first stage in the research
process.
 Sources of Problems
• There are three important sources;
1. Experience: The selection of a research topics may
arise from the researcher’s experience of and
concern with the general problem of the business.
Researchers’ everyday experiences can give rise to
worthwhile problems for investigation
2. Deductions from theory: It can be made from
business philosophy generalization embodied in
life in business that the researcher is familiar
with. From a theory, the research can formulate
hypothesis stating the expected findings in
certain empirical situation.

3. Relevant literature: The selection of a topic for

research may emanate from problems located in
the literature in one’s own subject area of
interest. An extensive and through review of
previous research often opens up examples of
research problems
Criteria for selecting a research problem

• The problems must be significant in the sense

• It should be a researchable one
• It will lead to new problems and further research.
• The problem must be suitable for the researcher
in several respects namely; genuine interest and
intellectual curiosity, knowledge and experience,
 Formulating a research problem
• A well formulated problem however, should
• a) clarify exactly what is to be determined
or solved and
• b) narrow the scope of the study to a
specific question stated in clear and concise
form.
 The Process of
Problem Definition/identification
Ascertain the Determine unit of
decision maker’s analysis
objectives

Understand Determine
background of the relevant variables
problem

Isolate/identify the State research

problem, not the questions and
symptoms objectives
 Ascertain the Decision Maker’s
Objectives
• Research investigator must attempt to
satisfy the objectives of the line manager
who requests the project
• Managerial goals expressed in measurable
terms.

9
 The Iceberg Principle

• The principle indicating that the dangerous

part of many business problems is neither
visible to nor understood by managers.
 Understand the Background of
the Problem
• The iceberg principle illustrates that understanding the
background of a problem is vital.
• Experienced managers can provide researchers
background info about previous event and why those event
occurred. In situations problem may be diagnosed by
exercising managerial judgment.
• Inadequate info or troubling identifying problem, a
situation analysis is logical in defining problem
• Situation analysis - The informal gathering of background
information to familiarize researchers or managers with the
decision area.
11
Isolate and Identify the Problems,
Not the Symptoms
• Anticipating all dimensions of a problem is
impossible for any researcher.
• Certain occurrences that appear to be ‘the
problem’ may be only symptoms of a
deeper problem
• Executives judgment and creativity must be
exercised to isolate and identify the problem
rather than symptoms.
12
 Problem Definition
Organization Symptoms Based on Symptom True Problem

Twenty-year-old Membership has been Neighborhood Demographic changes:

neighborhood declining for years. residents prefer the Children in this 20-
swimming New water park with expensive water year-old neighborhood
association in a wave pool and water park and have have grown up. Older
major city. slides moved into negative image of residents no longer
town a few years ago. swimming pool. swim anywhere.
 Determine the Unit of Analysis
• The researcher must specify whether the
level of investigation will focus on the
collection of data about the entire
organization, departments, work group,
individuals, or objects.
• In many studies, the cross functional team
rather than the individual is the appropriate
unit of analysis.
14
Determine the Relevant Variable
• Anything that may assume different
numerical values

15
 Types of Variables
• Categorical-Any variable that has a limited
number of distinct values
• Continuous-Any variable that has an infinite
number of possible values
• Dependent- A variable that is to be
explained or predicted.
• Independent - A variable that is to be
expected to influence the dependent
variable
 Hypothesis
• An unproven proposition
• A possible solution to a problem
• Guess
 State the research questions and
research objectives:
Research Question: An interrogative statement of a
business problem makes it easier to understand what
is perplexing managers and indicates the issues to be
resolved. A research question is the researcher’s
translation of the business problem into a specific
need for inquiry

Research Objective: The purpose of the research,

expressed in a measurable terms; the definition of
what the research should accomplish

18
 Research Proposal
• A written statement of the research design
that includes a statement explaining the
purpose of the study
• Detailed outline of procedures associated
with a particular methodology
 Building/Abbreviated version
Research Proposal
• Purpose of the Research
• Research Design
• Sample Design
• Data gathering
• Data Processing and Analysis
• Report Preparation
• Budget and Time Schedule
 Purpose of the Research

1. A research proposal is essentially an academic

piece of writing that justifies the topic of research

1. It provides key bits of information to the mentor in

order that (s)he can give a go-ahead to the
research.
Research Design
Sample Design
Data Gathering
Data Processing and Analysis
Report Preparation