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Oakwood University Week 8 Research Design Business Report

 

Your final assignment will require the development of a business research proposal that includes the core elements of research. As presented in the textbook, “the key purpose of any [full] research report is to offer a clear description of what has been done in the various stages of the research process” (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016, p. 353). The research proposal represents the initial stage of the research process where both the study and researcher are properly authorized and the methodology, cost and duration of the study are determined to ensure the research process is carried out as smoothly as possible. The research proposal also provides the purpose of the study and the research design details of the investigation to be carried out by the researcher. Upon completion, the research proposal will be approved by the sponsor who will issue a letter of authorization to proceed with the study. The research proposal will typically contain the elements below (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016, p. 45):

  1. A working title – anchors the focus of the study in a similar way as the research problem and keeps the researcher oriented to the main purpose of the study; a final title may be selected later in the study to more accurately reflect the subject and scope of the study (Sacred Heart University Library, 2019).
  2. Background of the study/Literature Review – identifies and describes the history and nature of the research problem with reference to existing literature and shows that the researcher has a basic understanding of the research problem (Sacred Heart University Library, 2019).
  3. The problem statement – a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation (Sacred Heart University Library, 2019).
      1. The purpose of the study – introduces readers to the importance of the topic being studied.
      2. Research questions – The research problem posed in the form of questions.
  1. The scope of the study – the extent to which the topic will be covered in the study.
  2. The relevance of the study – shows how meaningful the topic studied is in the context of a larger body of research.
  3. The research design – a blueprint or plan for the collection, measurement, and analysis of data, created to answer research questions (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016, p. 108). The research design should address these areas:
  1. Type of study – exploratory and descriptive
  2. Data collection methods – established manner in which data or information will be collected to answer the research question or test a hypothesis.
  3. The sampling design – the method that supports the process of selecting the right individuals, objects, or events as representatives or a subset of the population to be studied.
  4. Data analysis – using statistical methods to organize, represent, describe, evaluate and interpret data.
  1. Time frame of the study -includes information on when the written report will be handed over to the sponsors.
  2. The budget – details the costs, with reference to specific items of expenditure.
  3. Selected bibliography/Reference List – A listing of all sources used in the research process that acknowledges and gives credit to the contributions of the authors whose sources were used in the study.

In Part 1 of your Business Research Proposal, you identified a business problem, selected a working title, provided background on the proposed study, developed your problem statement, and described the scope and relevance of the study. By now, you should have also received feedback on the Business Research Proposal assignment you submitted at the end of Week 4. For the Business Research Proposal Part 2 assignment, you will finalize your proposal by completing the remaining elements of the business research proposal process and submit a full research proposal.

Complete the following requirements for the Business Research Proposal – Part 2 assignment:

    1. Make edits to Part 1 of the Business Research Proposal based on the feedback received from the instructor for the at the end of Week 4. Also, make adjustments to your working title as needed so that it corresponds with the research study as closely as possible.
    2. Describe the research design, showing how you will plan for the collection, measurement, and analysis of data, created to answer the research questions. The research design should address these areas:
    1. Type of study – exploratory and descriptive;
    2. Data collection methods – established manner in which data or information will be collected to answer the research question or test a hypothesis;
    3. The sampling design – the method that supports the process of selecting the right individuals, objects, or events as representatives or a subset of the population to be studied; and
    4. Data analysis – using statistical methods to organize, represent, describe, evaluate and interpret data.
    1. Describe the proposed time frame of the study, including information on when the written report will be handed over to the sponsors.
    2. Create a budget that details the anticipated costs of specific items of expenditure related to the proposed study.
    3. Include a “Reference List” of all sources used that is formatted in APA writing style.

References:

Sacred Heart University Library. (2019). Organizing academic research papers: Purpose of guide.

Retrieved from https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803

Sekaran, U. & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach (7th ed.).

Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-1-119-26684-6

Paper Details:

  • Combine all elements of the Business Research Proposal from the Part 1 and Part 2 assignments.
  • Eight to 10 pages, not including title or reference pages.
  • Minimum of five peer-reviewed reference sources.
  • APA writing style must be used for all formatting.
  • Please refer to the “Business Research Proposal Rubric” for specific grading details.
  • Title of my Business Proposal is: Effectiveness of Outsourcing for Small Businesses.
  • BELOW IS PART 1 OF MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL
  • Effectiveness of outsourcing for small businessData collection methods Currently, businesses and organizations have linked the customers, the employees, vendors, clients, and even outsourcing. Data can provide information concerning the relationships, enabling organizations to improve some features of their functions. Despite the importance of data, excess information and inaccurate data are not useful to an organization. The correct data collection methods can bring out a clear difference between the vital aspects and misguiding information. By good luck, organizations have the different tools they can utilize for primary data collection. The methods comprise interviews, observations, or questionaries. One doesn’t have to be a big company to outsource. Outsourcing is the function of getting outside the company to employ contractors to do certain work. Businesses can benefit from outsourcing through labor-saving; however, getting the right employees to do the work most effectively for maximum profit generation is the main challenge. The data collection methods mentioned above are normally utilized to get information concerning the competencies and qualifications of this to outsource human capital (Barrar & Gervais, 2006). An interview is a conversation between the applicant and the employer, intending to determine whether the applicant meets the goals of the jobs that have to be assigned. Observations can be used for jobs that require the physical well-being of the applicant; besides, how an applicant presents themselves is indeed a key factor that can explain what kind of person they are. Lastly, questionaries are used to obtain information about the applicant to weigh their qualification. The best data collection method. During outsourcing for small businesses, an interview is the best data collection technique to gain all the required information about the research question. Interviews offer flexibility to the interviewers, and better responses can be achieved concerning the person’s abilities to be interviewed. The interviewer is also able to weigh the non-verbal behavior of the applicant. Interviews are the best platform for getting the accurate information that is supposed to be used while selecting the best candidate for the employee who has to be outsourced. The key variables The key variables can be categorized into independent and dependent variables. Independent variables to consider in the interview is the academic or training qualification of the person who has to be outsourced into the company (Hannabuss, 1996). The panel interviewing the applicant has to ensure that the person who has to be outsourced has the required skills to carry on the job. Additionally, other vital aspects like communication skills, work experience, and the cost of hiring the services if the applicant is among the main. The dependent variables are the innovation of the applicant and the profitability the plan of outsourcing brings to the small business. The target population Small businesses will target affordable human resources that won’t cost the business many finances to finance since they are operating on limited finances. Additionally, the small-scale business will target people near its location to access the premises easily. In most cases, outsourcing is normally done to handle a technical issue in the business. Therefore, the target population has to be an expert in the field of interest. How to ensure that ethical principles inform the data collection method Ethical considerations refer to the ethical guidelines concerning the collection of data, its storage, and sharing. It involves maintaining vibrant and conversant consent, the safety data storage, and the secured authentication concerning usage and sharing of the data. In interviews, the applicants should not be mistreated in any manner by the interviewees. Similarly, the information required from the applicant should only focus on work-related issues. The collected data should have limited access; not all employees in the company should be allowed to access the interview information, privacy has to be maintained.

    References: Barrar, P., & Gervais, R. (Eds.). (2006). Global outsourcing strategies: An international reference on effective outsourcing relationships. Gower Publishing, Ltd.Hannabuss, S. (1996). Research interviews. New library world.