1

The Road Not Despite all the difficulties, all the frustrations, there is a joy Taken
in having done something as well as you could and better than others thought you Arial Font Family could.
J. R. D. Tata

Choosing a Topic
1. Define Purpose
An academic examination of an issue of interest Practical business related research Complete within limited time Within the specific level of expertise

Must have definable boundaries

2. Explore Potential Topics

Refer newspapers, industry magazines, academic journals

Choosing a Topic
Are you interested in the topic? What do you already know about the topic? Will the topic fulfill the requirements of MT? Is there enough information about the topic? Will you be able to collect the primary data? Do you have the skills or methodology to complete the topic?

Will the topic keep your interest for the time it will take to complete the project?

Choosing a Topic
3. Evaluate Each Potential Topic
Interest of the researcher Appropriate for the purpose Feasibility Questionable topics

4. Finalize Topic

Select a potential topic Survey information on the topic Locate material Evaluate topic, resources and research strategy Re-evaluate topic Revise and edit Finalize topic
5

5. Begin Research

Ethical Considerations
1. Carefully evaluate the potential for harm to arise and follow
appropriate ethical standards consider if research negatively affects stakeholders protect yourself, faculty, institution.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Informed consent Confidentiality and Anonymity Plagiarism Academic Fraud Misrepresenting the Results
6

Research Process
1. Importance of Planning
o o o Determine specific tasks How will they be done When will they be completed

2. The Main Purposes of Planning

o o o o o Draw up specific goals and put them in writing Activities should be achievable in given time frame within the limited resources Keep research moving and keep writing Be flexible and re-plan where necessary Focus on the quality of research
7

Research Process
3. The Research Process A. Problem Definition

Carefully word research problem

Could be broad, but sufficiently focused to provide direction Framework or blueprint for collecting information needed for research Main designs are exploratory, descriptive and causal research
8

B. Research Objectives

C. Research Design

Research Process
3. The Research Process

D. Data Gathering
Primary data Secondary data

E. Data Analysis & Interpretation

F. Presenting the Results

Research Proposal
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) Title Page Introduction Research Problem/Objectives Prior Research Background Methodology Data Analysis Time Estimates Conclusion Bibliography
10

Literature Review
What is Literature Review?
Define what areas of literature should be examined Identify the relevant issues or theories associated with research Prioritize areas requiring examination

How can Literature be used?

For selection of topic Background Setting research questions/Hypotheses Methodology Analysis
11

Literature Review
Where to Obtain Literature
Books & Journals Electronic Databases Government & Industry The Internet

How to Write a Literature Review

Identify critical issues in literature Discuss how different authors works have compliment one another and how they can disagree Writing literature review develops researchs focus

Referencing
12

Data Gathering
Factors to Evaluate
Validity Reliability Appropriateness Amount of Data Flexibility Time Restraints Potential for Errors Researchers Ability

Types of Research Data

Secondary Data Primary Data
13

Data Gathering
Research Data
Secondary Data Primary Data

Internal
Ready to use Requires further processing

External

Qualitative

Quantitative
Surveys Observations Experiments

Published material Computerized database Syndicated Services

Focus Groups In-depth Interviews Projective Techniques

14

Secondary Data
Internal Data
Available within the organization for whom the research is to be conducted

External Data
Published materials: Books, journals, newspapers, magazines, industry reports, trade literature, Government bodies, Statistical bodies Computerized databases: On-line and Off-line. Syndicated sources: Data collected from market research companies
15

Primary Data
Qualitative Research
Focus Groups In-depth Interviews Projective Techniques

Quantitative Research
Surveys Personal surveys Telephone surveys Electronic surveys Mail surveys Observation Methods
16

Sampling Methods
Non-probability Sampling Convenience Sampling Judgmental Sampling Quota Sampling Snowball Sampling

17

Sampling Methods
Probability Sampling Simple Random Sampling Systematic Sampling Stratified Sampling Cluster Sampling

18

Research Errors
Total Error
Random Sampling Error Non-Sampling Error

Response Errors
Research Error Interviewer Error Response Error

Non-response Errors
Refusals Not-at-home

19

Qualitative Data Analysis

Qualitative Data Collection Methods
Focus Groups

Open-Ended Questions
Semi structured Interviews Case Studies

Document Based Research

20

Qualitative Data Analysis

Implementation
Importance of Pre-testing

21

Quantitative Data Analysis

Hypotheses
Significance and Errors

22

Establishing Recommendations
Describing Results Discussion and Interpretation Research Implications

Limitations
Recommendations > State recommendations clearly > Be specific for each recommendation > Recommendations must link back to the objectives and research findings > Be action oriented
23

Communicating the Results

Ways to Present Research Findings Charts and Graphs > Bar Charts > Pie Charts > Line Graphs Pictures Maps

24

Writing the Thesis

The Title Page

Acknowledgement
Table of Contents List of Tables, Figures, Exhibits, or Appendices

Executive Summary
Introduction Research Objectives Background Literature Review

25

Writing the Thesis

Methodology
Analysis/Results Implications/Discussion Limitations Recommendations Conclusion References

Appendices

26

27

Management Thesis
Supervision: Each student shall be attached to a Faculty Supervisor Faculty Supervisor shall supervise, guide, coach and mentor the student for producing quality thesis One Faculty Supervisor shall be attached to 30 Students

28

Management Thesis
Calendar Will be sent through a circular Calendar should be meticulously followed

29

Management Thesis
Evaluation

Thesis and Presentation shall be evaluated

Thesis shall be evaluated by the Faculty Supervisor

Presentation shall be evaluated by a panel consisting of Faculty Supervisor, Domain Expert, and Campus Head
Presentation shall include viva voce Parameters for evaluation shall be circulated

30

The Road Not Taken If at first the idea is not

absurd, then there is no hope for it. Arial Font Family Albert Einstein

31

32