INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY,

HYDERABAD
BAIT5042 - BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS (AY 201617)
Course Handout
Semester: II
Credit: 1.5

Sessions: 15

Classwork: 8th Nov 2016 30 Dec 2016.

27th-30th Dec 2016.

Final Exams:

Course Faculty: Dr. Preeti Sharma

Contact Details: Office: 04030461687
Mobile: 9960587049
Email: preetisharma@imthyderabad.edu.in (or) i.preet@gmail.com
Consultation: Anytime during office hours with prior appointment.
Course Instructors
Dr. Preeti Sharma (Sec B,C), email:
preetisharma@imthyderabad.edu.in
Dr. Mahesh Ramalingam (Sec A) email:
mahesh@imthyderabad.edu.in
Course Description
Information and Knowledge are indispensable tools for helping
ensure the continuity and sustainability of any organization. They
have to be acquired first and then assessed before they can be
utilized in the decision-making process. This is where the usefulness
of research methodology or business research lies. Through the
application of careful scientific methods, and by using proven
analytical and evaluative tools and techniques, corporate managers
can acquire insights into issues which they can use to help them
accomplish their organizational goals and objects, set correct
priorities, adopt prudent strategies and approaches, handle risks
and effectively and efficiently manage their resources.
Broad areas covered in the course:
-

Identification and investigation of research problems applied

to an area of study
Formulation of research objectives, research
questions/hypotheses
Conducting an appropriate literature survey
Designing and implementing an appropriate data collection
methodology
1

Writing and presenting a research proposal

Text Book
1. William G. Zikmund, Business Research Methods: A South-Asian
Perspective, 8th Ed, 2013 (Cengage)

Reference:
1. Cooper D.R., and Schindler P.S., Business Research Methods, 11th
ed., (Tata McGraw Hill)
2. Mishra P. Business Research Methods, Ist Ed. (2015) (Oxford)
3. Chawla D. and Sondhi N., Research Methods: Concept and cases,
2011 (Vikas Publications)
Learning Goals:
Sr.
No.

Learning
goals
The course
aims to
impart
Familiarity
with the
major
research
concepts,
theoretical
perspective
s,
importance
of empirical
findings
Understand
ing the
Research
Problem
and
Research
Proposal
Writing
Learning
Data
Collection
Methods
and
Questionnai
re
Developme
nt

Learning Outcomes

Learning Assessment
method

At the end of the course the

students should be able to

The outcomes would

be assessed through

Understand conceptual and

methodological issues
involved in research within a
business environment.

Class Participation
Quiz

Identify the research

problem, plan research,
culminating in authorship of
a research proposal.

Select/develop appropriate
research instrument and a
concept matrix based on a
preliminary literature survey.
The students will also get
the opportunity for critical
reading, constructing an
academic argument and
crafting written academic
material.

Group Assignment

Group Assignment
Class Participation

Research
Techniques

Application
of Research
Technique

To acquaint students with

tools and techniques
required for design and
analysis of a research
problem.
Comprehend the problems
inherent in empirical
research, critically evaluate
reported research results,
and appreciate the necessity
and value of the scientific
method.

Class Participation
Group Assignment
and

Group Presentation
Test

Pedagogy
The entire course will be handled through class-room lectures; cases
study discussion, hands-on assignments and group project.

Assessment
Assessment
The assessment for the course will be based on Class Participation,
Group Project, Mid-term Exam and End Term Comprehensive
Examination.
Class Participation: Class Participations are important part of the
overall scheme of assessment. It is a continuous assessment
process where in the participation of the students in the class
discussion will be assessed. Students are expected to make
intellectual and relevant contribution to the topics under discussion
Mid Term Exam: Mid Term examination will be held at the middle
of the course to test students overall understanding of the topics
discussed prior to the quiz.
Group Project: Students will be divided into groups 5 to 6 and will
be required to complete a pre-defined project. The group project will
be based on a business problem that would require defining
research objectives, sample design, data collection and application
of appropriate data analysis technique on a given tool. The group
project would be evaluated in three stages.
End Term Comprehensive Examination: There will be
comprehensive examination at the end of the course. The purpose
of this examination is to assess the students overall learning from
the course. The end term examination will be a 1hour paper based
exam.

Course Outline
Sessio
ns

Dates
9th

Nov
2016

10th Nov
2016
2

16th Nov
2016
3

17th & 23rd

Nov 2016
4,5

6,7,8
9
10,11,
12
13,14,
15

24th,30th
Nov 2016
& 1st Dec
2016
6th Dec
2016
7th ,8th ,14th
Dec 2016
15th ,21th ,
22th Dec
2016

Topic/Content
Introduction to Research
Methodology
Methodology of teaching,
expectations on course
participants, scope and
definition of business
research, benefits and
managerial value of business
research, sources of business
information.
Stages in research process.
Problem Definition and
the Research Proposal
Defining a research problem,
exploratory
research,
techniques
of
exploratory
research,
primary
and
secondary data and their
advantages/disadvantages
Data Collection
Tools for collecting primary
data

surveys
and
interviews, observations and
experiments,
sampling
techniques,
associated
advantages / disadvantages
Questionnaire
Development
Measurement and scaling
concepts, good measurement
criteria,
techniques
for
measuring
attitudes,
the
questionnaire design
Factor Analysis

Readings

Ch 1, 2,3, 4
(Zikmund)

Ch 6, 7, 8
(Zikmund)

Ch 9, 10, 11, 12
(Zikmund)

Ch 13,14,15
(Zikmund)

Ch 24
(Zikmund)

MID SEM
Cluster Analysis
Discriminant Analysis

Ch 24
(Zikmund)
Ch 24
(Zikmund)

Practitioner Sessions:
4

*Assessment Dates
Date of
Conducting/
Submission
18th Nov 2016
21st Nov 2016
6th Dec 2016
14th Dec 2016
23th Dec 2016
23th Dec 2016
Total

Component

Marks

Class Participation -1
Group Project Proposal
Submission
Mid-Sem (Quiz)
Interim project
Submission and
Presentations
Final Project Submission
and Presentation
Class Participation -2
Final Exam

10 Marks
5 Marks
20 Marks
10 Marks
15 Marks
10 Marks
30 Marks
100 Marks