Bs201 research project choosing a topic

BS401 Research Project A six stage process for choosing your research project

Aim & Objectives 

To have the tools to choose a realistic and relevant research topic in the area of business

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Six stage approach to choosing a topic

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Post it exercise

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Literature search

Stage 1 Identify a topic 

Identify a broad topic and/or academic disciplines

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Implementation of mission and business statements in companies

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e.g. the area you are interested in that you have studied

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The problems caused by the lack of co-operation of departments in a business

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Performance related pay and flexible benefits

Stage 2 Scope 

Determine the scope of the project- this may be practical based on what information you can realistically access.

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Studying a specific part of an organisation Comparing different departments/disciplines in an organisation Comparing two organisations Studying a specific market sector

Stage 3 Thoughts! 

3 Thought shower issues, queries and questions with your colleagues

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List as many different issues, problems and questions concerning the subject area you have chosen ( do not disregard any at this stage)

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Ask research questionsthat is what from your research could you find the answers to?

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POST IT SESSION

Also What! 

Ask the WHAT questions

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What has happened or what is currently happening both internally and externally that affects the company/sector

What other companies in similar positions have done to improve competitiveness and what the outcomes were

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What the company has tried in the past and how well it worked

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What if?

Stage 4 Mapping and structuring the issues

Stage 5 Conduct a reconnaissance Discuss the:  Relevance  Achievability  Workload Talk to:  Lecturers/Specialist  Colleagues/friends (research proposals to the group) 

Do a trawl of the literature to see what are the key issues ( current)

Stage 6 Frame your research Question(s)

Question?

Addressing the issues relevant to leveraging human resource competency to produce turnaround to world class status and to diagonally integrate professional functionalities

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Express in plain English Ensure this research area interests you Ask open questions Avoid assumptions Do not pre conclude the outcomes, your research should bring you to these

Getting started- summary  

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Follow the six stages Identify the topic or subject Ask a strategic question (2) Frame the question in a coherent language- say to someone you could meet in a bar Discuss this with colleagues/tutor Produce your outline proposal

Doing research with post its 

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Write all issues & questions on post its Identify key issues or common themes and move the post its Now see where further links can be made Try to think of a question that you can ask around these