GSB012 Business Research Methods

Present a background of your chosen organisation and your research topic of interest.This first section should include a clear identification of the research problem or issue to be

investigated. The significance or importance of the research also needs to be included.

This first section of the report needs to include the following:

1. Introduction, outlining the purpose of the report and areas covered.

2. Discussion of current situation, organisation and context (e.g., background structure,type of organisation and industry or sector including market and competition and challenges).

3. A clear statement briefly describing the research problem and/or issue (use sources from the academic literature to support your discussion as to the importance of this

problem or issue) and relevance to the organisation. This could also include a summary of preliminary research conducted in your case organisation that have highlighted why this problem or issue requires further investigation.

4. Clear research aim, and broad research questions.

5. A list of key definitions or terms (no longer than half a page or 100 words) to operationalise your research concepts (e.g. employee wellbeing- wellbeing needs a definition).

6. Statement of significance or value of the research (e.g., what contribution this research may make within the body of literature or business/organisational research management field).

Review of published material in the academic and industry/business literature This review may include books, journal articles, reports and other relevant and credible publications that provide the background to your research problem. You need to synthesise your source material into a coherent argument. Areas need to include:

1. What area or field does your broad topic fall within? (e.g. employee turnover or employee motivation studies)

2. What has already been said about your area of interest/problem, including current and ‘classic’ knowledge?

3. Concepts and theories already in use – including coverage of accepted concepts/theories and contrasting approaches or perspectives.

4. Typical research methods or methodologies applied in this research area.

5. Agreement and disagreement in the field or contrasting perspective or theme within this research field.

6. Evidence of work by ‘thought leaders’. Thought leaders are those acknowledged scholars or writers in this field.

7. Identify gaps in the research. Your research topic might be quite specific and this may require use of scholarly sources from specialised peer reviewed journals.

You can also use a thematic approach where contrasting approaches or perspectives are discussed including multiple sources within the literature to support your critical discussion.