lesson no 6 - research proposals
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RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS1STUDY REFERENCE Chapter 4 Business Research Methods By Donald R Cooper & C William EmoryRESEARCH PROPOSALS2RESEARCH PROPOSALS WHAT IS A PROPOSAL A PROPOSAL IS A WORK PLAN, PROSPECTUS, OUTLINE, STATEMENT OF INTENT OR DRAFT PLAN IT IS ESSENTIALLY A ROAD MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION FROM WHICH A JOURNEY BEGINS, THE DESTINATION TO BE REACHED AND THE METHOD OF GETTING THEREIT TELLS US «.. WHAT WILL BE DONE WHY IT WILL BE DONE HOW IT WILTRANSCRIPT
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 1
RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 2
STUDY REFERENCESTUDY REFERENCE
Chapter 4Chapter 4
Business Research MethodsBusiness Research Methods
ByBy
Donald R Cooper & C William Donald R Cooper & C William EmoryEmory
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 3
WHAT IS A PROPOSALWHAT IS A PROPOSAL• A PROPOSAL IS A WORK PLAN,
PROSPECTUS, OUTLINE, STATEMENT OF INTENT OR DRAFT PLAN
• IT IS ESSENTIALLY A ROAD MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION FROM WHICH A JOURNEY BEGINS, THE DESTINATION TO BE REACHED AND THE METHOD OF GETTING THERE
IT TELLS US …..• WHAT WILL BE DONE• WHY IT WILL BE DONE• HOW IT WILL BE DONE• WHERE IT WILL BE DONE• TO WHOM IT WILL BE DONE• WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF DOING IT
RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 4
PURPOSE OF PROPOSALS TO PRESENT THE PROBLEM TO BE
RESEACHED AND SIGNIFY ITS IMPORTANCE
TO DISCUSS THE RESEARCH EFFORTS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE WORKED ON RELATED PROBLEMS
TO SUGGEST THE DATA NECESSARY FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND OUTLINE HOW THE DATA WILL BE GATHERED, TREATED AND INTERPRETED
(IN CASE OF CONTRACT RESEARCH) TO PRESENT ONE’S CREDENTIALS IN A MANNER THAT ENCOURAGES SELECTION OVER OTHER COMPETITORS
RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 5
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENTPROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER DESCRIBES PROBLEM & STATES
MGMT QUESTION
RESEARCHER TRANSLATES MGMT
QUESTIONINTO RESEARCH QN
RESEARCHER ELABORATESRESEARCH QN INTO
INVESTIGATIVE QUESTIONS
RESEARCHEREXPLORES
ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES
RESEARCHERREFINES RESEARCH
QUESTION
MANAGER & RESEARCHER
DISCUSS PROPOSAL.
CLARIFY AND REDEFINE
PROBLEM & OBJECTIVES OF
PROJECT
RESEARCHERPREPARESPROPOSAL
MANAGERREVIEWS
PROPOSAL
MANAGERAPPROVESPROJECT
STUDYBEGINS
THEY DISAGREE
THEY DISAGREETHEYAGREE
THEY AGREE
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 6
USES FOR THE SPONSORUSES FOR THE SPONSOR• SERVES AS THE FIRST STEP IN THE
EVALUATION PROCESS• ALLOWS THE SPONSOR TO ASSESS:
– SINCERITY OF PURPOSE– CLARITY OF DESIGN– EXTENT OF BACKGROUND MATERIAL– FITNESS FOR UNDERTAKING THE
PROJECT
• SERVES AS A DOCUMENT THAT THE SPONSOR CAN EVALUATE BASED ON THE CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL, SCHOLASTIC OR SCIENTIFIC NEEDS
RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 7
USES FOR THE SPONSORUSES FOR THE SPONSOR• ALLOWS AS ASSESSMENT OF BOTH THE
RESEARCHER AND RESEARCH DESIGN, COMPARE THEM AGAINST COMPETING PROPOSALS AND MAKE THE BEST SELECTION FOR THE PROJECT
• PROVIDES A BASIS TO EVALUATE THE RESULTS OF A PROJECT BY COMPARING THE FINAL PRODUCT WITH THE STATED OBJECTIVES AND TO ASSESS IF THE RESEARCH GOALS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED
• BRINGS A DISCIPLINE TO THE SPONSOR BY TRANSLATING THE MANAGEMENT QUESTION INTO A RESEARCH QUESTION, OUTLINING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY AND AMENDING THEM IF SO REQUIRED
RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 8
BENEFITS FOR THE RESEARCHERBENEFITS FOR THE RESEARCHER• SERVES AS A TENTATIVE WORK PLAN THAT
CHARTS THE LOGICAL STEPS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH THE STATED GOALS
• PROCESS OF WRITING A PROPOSAL ALLOWS THE RESEARCHER TO PLAN AND REVIEW THE PROJECT’S STEPS ON THE BASIS OF PREVIOUS APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEM AND REVISE THE PLAN IF AND WHERE NECESSARY
• SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPOT FLAWS IN THE LOGIC, ERRORS IN ASSUMPTIONS AND PROBLEMS NOT ADDRESSED BY OBJECTIVES & DESIGN
• BECOMES A MEANS OF MONITORING PROGRESS AND MILESTONES ACHIEVED
• FORCES TIME AND BUDGET ESTIMATES
RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 9
TYPES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSTYPES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS• INTERNAL PROPOSALS
– MORE SIMPLE AND SHORTER THAN EXTERNAL PROPOSALS
– ARE SHORTER AND MORE SELECTIVE IN THEIR STRUCTURAL LAYOUTS AND ONLY THE REQUIRED SECTIONS ARE COVERED
• EXTERNAL PROPOSALS– MAY BE SOLICITED OR UNSOLICITED– SOLICITED PROPOSALS MADE IN RESPONSE TO
RFPs– STRUCTURE MUST COVER OBJECTIVES, DESIGN,
QUALIFICATIONS, SCHEDULE & BUDGET• STUDENT PROPOSALS
• IN TERMS OF COMPLEXITY:– EXPLORATORY STUDY– SMALL SCALE STUDY– LARGE PROFESSIONAL STUDY
RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 10
STRUCTURING OF RESEARCH STRUCTURING OF RESEARCH PROPOSALPROPOSAL
• FORMULATED ON MODULAR BASIS TO CATER TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF REQUIREMENTS
• EACH MODULE IS ALSO FLEXIBLE INTERNALLY SO ITS CONTENT & LENGTH MAY BE ADAPTED TO SPECIFIC NEEDS
• BASED ON THE RELAVENT MODULES, A PROPOSAL CAN BE TAILORED FOR AN INTENDED AUDIENCE.
RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 11
MODULES TO INCLUDE IN PROPOSALS MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT
GOVGOVTT
STUDENTSTUDENTINTERNALINTERNAL EXTERNALEXTERNAL
TERMPAPER
MASTER
THESIS
DOCTORAL
THESIS
EXPLOR-ATORY
SMALL
SCALE
LARGE SCALE
EXPLOR-ATORY
SMALLSCALE
LARGE SCALE
LARGESCALE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY YE
SYES
YES YES
YES
YES
PROBLEMSTATEMENT YES YE
SYES
YES YES
YES
YES YES
YES YES
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES YES YE
SYES
YES YES
YES
YES YES
YES YES
LITERATURE REVIEW YE
SYES
YES YES YES
IMPORTANCE/ BENEFITS
YES
YES YES
YES
YES YES
RESEARCH DESIGN YES YE
SYES
YES YES
YES
YES YES YES
DATA ANALYSIS YE
SYES YES
NATURE & FORM OF RESULTS
YEYESS
YEYESS
YEYESS
YEYESS
YESYES YESYES YESYES
PROPOSAL TYPES
PROPOSALMODULES
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 12
MODULES TO INCLUDE IN PROPOSALS MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT
GOVGOVTT
STUDENTSTUDENTINTERNALINTERNAL EXTERNALEXTERNAL
TERMPAPER
MASTER
THESIS
DOCTORAL
THESIS
EXPLOR-
ATORY
SMALL
SCALE
LARGE SCALE
EXPLOR-ATORY
SMALLSCALE
LARGE SCALE
LARGESCALE
QUALIFICAT-IONS OF RESEARCHERS
YES YES
YES
YES
BUDGET YES
YES
YES YES
YES
YES
SCHEDULE YES YES
YES
YES YES
YES
YES YES YES
FACILITIES & SPECIAL RESOURCES
YES
YES YES
YES
YES YES YES
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
YES
YES
YES
BIBLIOGRAPHY YE
SYES
YES YES
YES YES
APPENDIXES/ GLOSSARY OF TERMS
YES
YES
YES YES YES
MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT
YES
YES
YES YES
PROPOSAL TYPES
PROPOSALMODULES
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 13
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY• ALLOWS A BUSINESS MANAGER/SPONSOR
TO UNDERSTAND QUICKLY THE THRUST OF THE PROPOSAL
• ESSENTIALLY AN INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT
• GOAL IS TO SECURE A POSITIVE EVALUATION BY THE EXECUTIVE WHILE THE FULL EVALUATION IS CONDUCTED BY THE STAFF
• SHOULD INCLUDE:– BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM– RESEARCH OBJECTIVES/RESEARCH
QUESTIONS– BENEFIT OF THE APPROACH ADOPTED– IN UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS, A BRIEF
DESCRIPTION OF QUALIFICATIONS OF RESEARCHER ARE ALSO RECOMMENDED
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 14
PROBLEM STATEMENT• AIMS TO CONVINCE THE SPONSOR TO CONTINUE
READING THE PROPOSAL BY CAPTURING HIS ATTENTION
• SHOULD COVER:– THE PROBLEM (MANAGEMENT QUESTION)– ITS BACKGROUND (AND) – CONSEQUENCES
• THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD ALSO BE EMPHASIZED IF A SEPARATE MODULE ON THE BENEFITS OF THE STUDY IS NOT INCLUDED
• ON READING THIS MODULE THE SPONSOR SHOULD KNOW:– THE PROBLEM– ITS SIGNIFICANCE– WHY SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO
CHANGE THE STATUS QUO
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 15
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES• FLOWS NATURALLY FROM THE
PROBLEM STATEMENT GIVING SPECIFIC, CONCRETE AND ACHIEVABLE GOALS
• ADDRESSES THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THE INVESTIGATION
• LAYS OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING PLANNED BY THE PROPOSED RESEARCH:– IN A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY, OBJECTIVES CAN
BE STATED AS RESEARCH QUESTIONS OR FURTHER BROKEN DOWN INTO INVESTIGATIVE QUESTIONS
– IN A CAUSAL STUDY, OBJECTIVES CAN BE RESTATED AS HYPOTHESIS
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 16
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• SERVES AS THE BASIS FOR JUDGING THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPOSAL AND ULTIMATELY THE FINAL REPORT
• CONSISTENCY OF THE PROPOSAL IS VERIFIED BY CHECKING TO SEE THAT EACH OBJECTIVE IS DISCUSSED IN THE RESEARCH DESIGN, DATA ANALYSIS & RESULTS SECTIONS
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 17
LITERATURE REVIEW• EXAMINES RECENT OR HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT
RESEARCH STUDIES, COMPANY DATA, OR INDUSTRY REPORTS THAT ACT AS A BASIS FOR THE PROPOSED STUDY
• BEGIN FROM A COMPREHENSIVE PERSPECTIVE AND MOVE TO MORE SPECIFIC STUDIES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROBLEM
• EXTRANEOUS DETAILS OF THE LITERATURE SHOULD BE AVOIDED AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE INFORMATION IS MADE
• FOLLOWING ASPECTS ARE FOCUSSED UPON:
– IMPORTANT RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS OF OTHER STUDIES
– RELAVANT DATA AND TRENDS FROM PREVIOUS RESEARCH
– PARTICULAR METHODS OR DESIGNS THAT COULD BE DUPLICATED OR SHOULD BE AVOIDED
– HOW THE LITERATURE UNDER REVIEW APPLIES TO THE STUDY YOU ARE PROPOSING
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 18
LITERATURE REVIEW• IDENTIFY THE WEAKNESSES OR FAULTS IN THE
DESIGN OF OTHER STUDIES AND HOW YOU PROPOSE TO AVOID REPEATING THEM
• IF YOUR PROPOSAL DEALS SOLELY WITH SECONDARY DATA, DISCUSS ITS RELAVANCE AND THE BIAS OR LACK OF BIAS INHERENT IN IT
• TO AVOID ERRORS OF INTERPRETATION AND TRANSCRIPTION, ALWAYS REFER TO THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
• MAY BE LAID OUT IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FORMS:– FROM BROADER TO NARROWER PERSPECTIVES AND
SPECIFICS– IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER– ACCORDING TO ISSUES/ AUTHORS
• CLOSE THE LITERATURE REVIEW BY SUMMARIZING IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE LITERATURE AND INTERPRETING THEM IN TERMS OF YOUR PROBLEM
• IN THE LIGHT OF FINDINGS, REFINE THE PROBLEM IF NECESSARY
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 19
IMPORTANCE/BENEFITS OF THE STUDY
• DESCRIBES EXPLICIT BENEFITS THAT WILL ACCRUE FROM THE STUDY
• ALSO REQUIRES THE RESEARCHER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS MOST TROUBLING TO THE SPONSOR AND OUTLINE ITS IMPLICATIONS AND POSSIBLE REMEDIES
• IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN UNSOLICITED EXTERNAL PROPOSALS WHERE THE SPONSOR HAS TO BE CONVINCED THAT YOUR PLAN WILL MEET THEIR NEEDS
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 20
RESEARCH DESIGN• DESCRIBES WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO IN
TECHNICAL TERMS
• SHOULD INCLUDE AS MANY SUBSECTIONS AS NEEDED TO SHOW THE PHASES OF THE PROJECT
• SHOULD ALSO COVER:
– SAMPLE SELECTION & SIZE
– DATA COLLECTION METHOD
– INSTRUMENTATION, PROCEDURES AND ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS
– DATA ANALYSIS (IN SMALLER PROJECTS)
• IF/WHEN MORE THAN ONE WAY EXISTS TO APPROACH THE DESIGN, THE METHODS THAT HAVE BEEN REJECTED ARE DISCUSSED AND IT IS EXPLAINED AS TO WHY YOU CONSIDER YOUR METHOD MORE SUPERIOR THAN OTHERS
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 21
DATA ANALYSIS
• RELAVENT FOR LARGE SCALE CONTRACT RESEARCH PROJECTS AND DOCTORAL THESES
• OBJECTIVE IS TO ASSURE THE SPONSOR THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE CORRECT ASSUMPTIONS AND USING THEORATICALLY SOUND DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURES
• DESCRIBE PROPOSED TREATMENT AND THEORATICAL BASIS FOR USING THE SELECTED TECHNIQUES
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 22
NATURE AND FORM OF RESULTS• AIMS TO TAKE BACK THE SPONSOR TO THE
PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES TO SATISFY HIM THAT EACH GOAL SET FOR THE STUDY HAS BEEN COVERED
• SPECIFIES THE TYPE OF DATA TO BE OBTAINED AND THE INTERPRETATIONS THAT WILL BE MADE IN THE ANALYSIS
• OUTLINES FORMS OF RESULTS SUCH AS STRATEGIC PLANS, MODELS, ACTION PLANS, ETC
• ALSO COVERS DISTRIBUTION OF REPORT IF MEANT FOR MORE THAN ONE SPONSOR AND FINAL DISPOSAL OF DATA COLLECTED IN THE STUDY INCLUDING ANY PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 23
QUALIFICATIONS OF RESEARCHERS• COVERS:
– QUALIFICATIONS OF INVESTIGATORS WITH THE HIGHEST DEGREE HELD
– EXPERIENCE OF PREVIOUS RESEARCH
– DESCRIPTION OF SIMILAR PROJECTS HANDLED
– EXPERIENCE AS EXECUTIVE OR EMPLOYEE OF AN ORGANIZATION INVOLVED IN RELATED FIELD
– BUSINESS & TECHNICAL RESEARCH SOCIETIES TO WHICH RESEARCHER BELONGS
– ENTIRE CV OF RESEARCHER MAY ALSO BE ADDED AS AN ANNEX
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 24
BUDGET
• SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN THE FORM REQUIRED BY THE SPONSOR
• SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN ONE TO TWO PAGES. ADDITIONAL DETAILS MAY BE COVERED IN ANNEXES
• KEEP BACKUP OF INFORMATION USED TO GENERATE THE BUDGET FIGURES FOR REFERENCE/ EXPLANATION IF NECESSARY
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 25
SCHEDULE• SHOULD INCLUDE THE MAJOR PHASES OF THE
PROJECT, THEIR TIMETABLES AND THE MILESTONES THAT SIGNIFY COMPLETION OF A PHASE
• MAJOR PHASES MAY BE:– FINALIZATION OF INVESTIGATIVE QUESTIONS– EXPLORATORY INTERVIEWS– FINAL RESEARCH PROPOSAL (IF NECESSARY)– QUESTIONAIRRE REVISION– FIELD INTERVIEWS– EDITING AND CODING– DATA ANALYSIS– REPORT GENERATION
• PREFERABLY, THE SCHEDULE MAY BE CHARTED TO ESTABLISH CRITICAL PATHS AND TASKS/PHASES THAT CAN BE HANDLED CONCURRENTLY
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 26
OTHER MODULES
• FACILITIES AND SPECIAL RESOURCES
• PROJECT MANAGEMENT
• BIBLIOGRAPHY – FOR ALL PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE LITERATURE REVIEW
• ANNEXES & APPENDICES
– GLOSSARY
– MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT
– OTHERS
MODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALSMODULES OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS 27
RESEARCH PROPOSALSRESEARCH PROPOSALS