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
Six stage approach to choosing a topic
Post it exercise
Literature search
Stage 1 Identify a topic
Identify a broad topic and/or academic disciplines
Implementation of mission and business statements in companies
e.g. the area you are interested in that you have studied
The problems caused by the lack of co-operation of departments in a business
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.
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
List as many different issues, problems and questions concerning the subject area you have chosen ( do not disregard any at this stage)
Ask research questionsthat is what from your research could you find the answers to?
POST IT SESSION
Also What!
Ask the WHAT questions
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
What the company has tried in the past and how well it worked
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
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
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
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