Case Study Research

RESEARCH METHODS FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS

GROUP ASSIGNMENT

Submitted To: Prof. Dr. Fouzia Naheed Khwaja Submitted By: Maleeha Irshad - E11MBA026 Anum Naz - E11MBA031 Sana Liaqat- E11MBA042 Mehwish Imdad-E11MBA057

Research Methods for business students

Case-1 Isabelle’s research dilemma

Q .1 . 1 H o w do you think Isabelle’s u n d e r s t an an d i n g o f t h e o r y a n d m e t h o d c h a n g e d i n a d o p t i n g t h e ap ap p r o a c h s h e c h o s e ? Ans:

Changes in Isabelle’s understanding of theory and method in adopting the

approach she chose are highlighted in the following paragraph. While engaging in the world of theory she found that theory in management is problematic, because for some researchers management is not a discipline. It is perceived as multi-disciplinary. She thought that this could be advantageous to gain new insights that may not be obtained through a number of disciplines. She thought that theory would provide some imaginative and original insights for her dissertation. In world of practice, she found that more traditional research focused on positivistic approaches. This approach often uses q uantitative methods. Isabelle’s decided she would not use this approach. In terms of method Isabelle decided to use qualitative approach rather than quantitative.

Q .2 .2 W h a t p a r t ic i c u l a r k n o w l e d g e a n d s k i l l s d i d s h e d e v e l o p i n p r e p a r in in g this research? Ans:

While preparing this research she gained particular knowledge about theories and methods which are being used for research projects. She also developed some particular skills such as how to take in-depth interviews. She also felt that she had the emotional maturity to manage the process. Most

Hailey College Of Banking & Finance University Of Punjab Lahore.


importantly she learnt that the research was rigorous, systematic and relevant to managers in workplace.

Q.3 What problems do you think she would have anticipated in c o n d u c t i n g r e s e ar a r c h i n t o p r e s s u r e a n d c o p i n g a m o n g m a n a g e r s t h at at h e r l i t e r at at u r e r e v i ew e w m a y n o t h a v e i d e n t i f i ed ed ? Ans:

Following are some that she would have anticipated: 

In conducting such research Isabelle’s knew she had to deal with

complex issues with the subject-matter and the method she wanted to adopt. 

The relationship between the interviewer and interviewer is central to this type of research which is very difficult to manage.



CASE-2

Media Climate Change Reporting and Environmental Disclosure Patterns in the Low-Cost Airline Industry in the Twenty-First Century Q .1 . 1 -W -W h y I s i t i m p o r t a n t t h a t y o u r r e s e a r c h c a n b e r e l at at e d t o a r e l e v a n t theory base, and when during the project does the theoretical f r a m e w o r k n e e d t o b e i d e n t i f i ed ed ? Ans:

Relevant theory help the researcher to find data according to theory base that helps them to proceed forward. It should have an authentic framework that supports theory & project. Theory is the explanation of our findings. The identification identification of theoretical theoretical framework depends upon the overall research process. A theoretical theoretical framework consists of concepts, together with their definition & existing theory that are used for your particular study. This must demonstrate an understanding understanding of theories and concepts that are relevant to topic of your research paper & that will relate it to broader field of knowledge. It strengthens the study in following cases: 

It connects the researchers to existing knowledge.



Having a theory helps you to identify the limits of generalizations.



An explicit of theoretical assumptions permits reader to evaluate them critically.



Q .2 .2 - D o y o u t h i n k t h a t E m m a i s r i g h t t o r e s t r i c t h er er p r o j e c t t o a n y l o w - cost airlines rather than the whole industry or comparison with a n o t h e r s e c t o r ? G i v e r e as as o n s f o r y o u r a n s w e r s ? Ans: Emma is right to restrict her project to any low-cost airlines rather than to

research the whole industry & due to growth of airlines this seemed to be a sensible approach. Due to narrow down the idea the topic area was now clear in her mind to investigate change in disclosure over time by low cost airlines.

Q .3 .3 - D o y o u t h i n k E m m a w a s c o r r e c t i n h e r d e c i s io io n n o t t o c a r r y o u t i n t e r v ie i e w s ? G i v e r e as as o n s f o r y o u r a n s w e r ? Ans: No, she was not correct in deciding not to carry out interviews. She could

take it because she had access to the sum of the management that would be useful in clarifying the topic. It can be used to help us to further explore the research topic & provide us a feasible result .Interviews help to collect the data as well as to gain knowledge from individuals must be addressed i.e concealment & confidentiality.



CASE 3

Complexity theory and emergent change Q .1 .1 W h y i s i t i m p o r t a n t f o r y o u r r e s ea e a r c h i n v e s t i g a ti ti o n t h a t y o u b e c r i t i c a l w h e n r e v i e w i n g t h e l i t er er a t u r e ? Ans: 

Critical review helps us to develop a good understanding and insight into the relevant previous research and the trends that have merged.



Critical review also helps us to develop a theoretical or conceptual approach.



It also helps us to refine further your research questions and objectives.



It highlights research possibilities that have been overlooked implicitly in research to date;



To discover recommendation for further research



To discover and provide an insight into research approaches, approaches, strategies, techniques that may be appropriate to research question and objectives.

Q.2 What might Sarah’s project tutor mean by suggesting that a

critical literature review should be ‘balanced’? Ans:

When the project tutor was suggesting Sarah to develop a more balanced approach, it was an invitation to be discerning – to weigh up the evidence supporting different claims and make judgments about which to accept and why. The project tutor was guiding Sarah to apply her balanced discernment in way of a constructive, not destructive, purpose. Sarah’s constructive



purpose was to emerge from her review of the literature with a clear idea of how to study change in university student clubs. She needed to consider the ways in which complexity of theory might still inform her investigation; even some of the claims about it were not supported by extensive evidence.

Q .3 .3 W h a t d o e s S a r ah a h n e e d t o d o t o d e v e l o p a l i t er er a t u r e r e v i ew ew w h i c h i s s u f f i c i e n t l y c r i t i c a l , y e t al al s o s u f f i c i e n t l y b a l a n c e d ? Ans:

At the heart of the critical literature review is the simple question Is there adequate evidence for this claim?, and most of that judgment is based on what one can see in the text, so you do not need to be an expert to do it. The judgment does also depend on figuring out what counts as adequate evidence, though, and that does take some experience to learn. This is why it is important to read other peoples’ critical evaluations of the literature. Such

publications provide important pointers about what weight to give different types of evidence. We can identify three key things that Sarah needs to do, to develop balance in her critical literature review.



Case 4

Consultancy research for a not-for-profit organization Q.1 How does pragmatism differ from post-positivism and interpretivism & are there some shared beliefs? Ans: Pragmatism occurs when it is unrealistic in practice of choosing between one

position and another. Research is situated in relation to two paradigms: Positivist & interprivist. On the one hand he believes that these metaphysical debates are relevant to a philosophical understanding of research, and how we 'come to know' what we claim to know (and what we claim to have found out from research). But on the other hand, he worries that some researchers spend so long debating the metaphysical questions that they fail to 'get on' and do research which is useful to society. He suspects that some researchers feel constrained believing that, the paradigm prescribes the method: the positivist paradigm prescribes

quantitative

methods;

the

interpretivist

paradigm

prescribes

qualitative methods; and each paradigm rejects the methods used by the 'other side'. As he reads more about about research design, design, he comes comes to realize that in fact the distance between post-positivists and interpretivists is not as great as it might seem. There are important points of agreement: for example, post-positivists and interpretivists agree that our understanding of reality is constructed, and that research is influenced by the values of the researchers and the theoretical frameworks they use.



Q .2 . 2 - H o w c a n T h o m a s r e s p o n d i f J e n n i f e r i n s i s t s o n a p u r e q u a l i t at at i v e method? Ans: Thomas will not respond well because a good research design involves mixed

methods. Qualitative & quantitative both are compatible. The decisions that which method to use (qualitative & quantitative) depends on research questions and research cycle i.e deductive and inductive reasoning.

Q .3 .3 -I -I f p r a g m a t is i s m o c c u r s t h a t t h e r e s e ar ar c h q u e s t i o n s s h o u l d d r i v e t h e c h o i c e o f r e s e ar a r c h m e t h o d s , h o w c a n T h o m a s b e s u r e o f t h e q u a l it it y o f r e s e ar ar c h ? Ans: The quality of the research depends upon the method it adopt to conduct

research. A good researcher should identify the research design which is appropriate for the research question and the technique which is used to collect the data. And in this case mixed method is most suitable.



CASE 5

Managing the acquisition from the middle Q.1 How can Kevin’s management project be his research project? Ans:

While in the past the research demand was of outsiders but due to his insider action research enable him to the process of observers who are committed to making change happen. His insider role was the main element of his research project because of his insider role he can understand his peoples’ issues and how they tries to solve these issues and how he managing his role as a manager and researcher and how he manage the politics inside the organization ensures the success of his research project and career . Q 2. How can Kevin contribute to both his company’s successful i m p l e m e n t a t io i o n o f t h e ac ac q u i s i t i o n a n d t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g m e r g er er s a n d acquisitions? Ans:

As Kevin Action research was central part of his research. Action research seeks to contribute both to effective action and to knowledge. Intended knowledge is useful to the world of Practice. He began reading academic literature on merger and acquisition and on managing change he began to hold meetings with employees and constantly articulates what he is trying to do.



3. Are Kevin’s political concerns a distraction from his research or are they integral to it? Ans:

Kevin’s political concerns were the integral part of his research if he did not

move with the political concerns it can be in the result of his damaging career because he has to act as political entrepreneur where he has to perform his backstage role while dealing with conflicts regarding to merger and acquisition which need to include how the politics of merger and acquisition collaborate among different departments



CASE 6

Gaining access to business angels networks Q .1 .1 W h i c h f a c t o r s h e l p e d S t ep ep h a n i e g e t ti ti n g a c c e s s t o t h e s e h i g h l y s o u g h t -a - a f t er e r o r g a n i z at at i o n s ? Ans: 

Have a topic that is interesting to the people you are approaching.



get informed as much as possible about the people you speak to and about the company you are dealing with



Show your credibility



Explain properly what your objectives are



Show anonymity and confidentiality to your respondents

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Be a perfectionist perfectionist



Be persistence and professional

 

Make sure that you address the right people

Q .2 .2 W h a t p r o b l e m s d i d S t e p h a n i e f ac ac e i n t h e a c c e s s n e g o t i a t i o n s t a g e o f h e r p r o j e c t ? Ho H o w d i d s h e o v e r c o m e th th e s e ? Ans:

As Stephanie didn’t have access to the business organization she was much

more dependent on intermediaries so that she would enable to get access to these business organization organization she began to use existing contacts in order to develop



her new contacts contacts to the business business organization to get to the the access to gate keeper for this purpose she began to attend a number of investment events, start making phone calls and at the end of each phone conversation she asked the respective Business Angel network manager that if she could send them brief email summarizing the main points of their conversation. Due to Stephanie’s’

persistence, professionalism, perfectionism and good preparation most Business Angel network manager respond to her positively.

Q .3 .3 W h a t ac a c c e s s n e g o t i a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s h a s S t ep e p h a n i e ap ap p l i e d i n h e r project? Ans: 

Telephone



Email summaries



Organize account of communications

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Networking meetings

Q .4 .4 W h a t a r e t h e d o w n s i d e s o f t h e s e ac ac c e s s n e g o t i a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s ? Ans: 

Time consuming;



only works if there is a sufficient backing from important organizations



ethical issues with regard to asking for permission to use quotes



updated otherwise otherwise there is a chance of losing credibility



CASE 7

Implementing strategic change initiatives Q.1 Outline the advantages and disadvantages of Mo Cheng’s decisio n to pilot her questionn aire with h er friends. Ans:

A pilot test is used to refine the questionnaire so that the respondent will not have any problem in answering the question and there will be no problem in recording the data. In addition pilot test enable the researcher to obtain some assessment of the qu estions’ validity and reliability of data that will be collected. However, Mo Cheng had pilot tested with her friends without reference to the literature or thought about the relevance of the pilot group. As the pilot participants and the final respondents were not from the same population so she was more confused than earlier. Q.2 Critically review Mo Cheng’s approach to sampling and her sub sequ ent data collection strategy. Can Mo Cheng m eet her stated objective? Ans:

Researchers have have to face with the challenge challenge of choosing choosing sample that are the representative representati ve of the population when deciding her sampling design and technique Mo Cheng also face the same problem. She followed a classical sampling strategy of first defining her target population as all middle-ranking army officers in her country before determining her sampling frame as the officers in post in her city.



However, the total number of officers was only estimation by her father and she was unable to provide a list for her sampling frame. She was keen to collect 125 responses it was based on derived using a formula from her text book. She had relied on her father to distribute and collect the questionnaires questionnaires on her behalf. No effort was made to screen to eliminate inappropriate elements or to prevent inadvertent omissions. In doing so, she had ignored traditional probability sampling principles of equal chance selection. Mo Cheng can still achieve her objective, even when using a non-probability sampling technique. What she should avoid is to make claims that the study results can be generalized to a wider population. Q.3 What advice would you give as Mo Cheng’s p r o j e c t t u t o r t o i m p r o v e t h e q u a li l i t y o f h e r s t u d y d a t a ? G i v e r e as as o n s f o r y o u r a n s w e r ? Ans:

Dr. Smith felt that the research topic was interested and achievable he had asked Mo Cheng to go away and improve her research design and methodology. When considering options to help Mo Cheng, Dr. Smith should start by checking the time left to final submission. Dr. Smith must guide her about her pilot testing choosing the sample, population and sample frame. Dr. Smith must also guide her to the literature that is suitable for her research project.


Case Study Research

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