we have described business research as a systematic

and organized effort to investigate a specific problem

encountered in the work setting.

 It is a Seven-Step Process
1. Identify a broad problem area
2. Define the problem statement
 Determining the research objectives
 The significance of the research
 Literature review
3. Framework and hypotheses
4. Determine measures & operational definitions
5. Data collection
6. Data analysis
7. Interpretation of data & research report
Slide 2-2
 Chapter 3

Defining and Refining the

Problem

Slide 3-3
 The Broad Problem Area

STEP 1: Determining a broad Problem

 A problem does not necessarily mean that
something is seriously wrong with a
current situation.
 It may indicate an interest in an issue
where finding the right answer might help
to improve an existing situation.
 Problem: any situation where a gap exists
between an actual and a desired ideal
state.
Slide 3-4
 The Broad Problem Area
 Examples of broad problem areas that a
manager could observe at the workplace:
 Training programs are not as effective as
anticipated.
 The sales volume of a product is not
picking up.
 Minority group members are not
advancing in their careers.
 The newly installed information system is
not being used by the managers for whom
it was primarily designed.
 The introduction of flexible work hours has
created more problems than it has solved
in many companies.
Slide 3-5
 The Broad Problem Area
 Examples of broad problem areas that are
linked with the literature:
 Lack of research on certain areas

 No existing theories

 Contradictions in previous research

Slide 3-6
 Symptoms versus Problems

 It is important that symptoms of problems

are not defined as the real problem.
 One way of determining that the problem,
rather than the symptom, is being
addressed is a technique called ‘5 Whys’
or ‘5 times why’.
 This approach will help you to get to the
root cause (the most basic cause) of a
problem.
Slide 3-7
 Symptoms versus Problems

 Keep asking “Why?” until the most basic cause is

arrived at.
 Example: My best employees are leaving the
organization.
 Why? They are not satisfied with their jobs.
 Why? They don’t find a challenge in their jobs.
 Why? They don’t have control over their work.
 Why? They don’t have enough influence over
planning, executing, and evaluating
their work.
 Why? We have been reluctant to delegate.

Slide 3-8
 From
From Problem
Problem to
to Feasible
Feasible Research
Research Topic
Topic

STEP 2: Define the problem statement

 We need to transform the broad problem
into a feasible topic for research by:
a) making it more specific and precise;
b) setting clear boundaries;
c) selecting a perspective from which we
investigate the subject
 Preliminary research will help us to make
these transformations.

Slide 3-9
 From
From Problem
Problem to
to Feasible
Feasible Research
Research Topic
Topic

Preliminary
Broad Research Specific
proble proble
m Reading and m
reading

Slide 3-10
 Preliminary
Preliminary Information
Information Gathering
Gathering
 Preliminary research helps to find
answers to questions such as:

 1- what is the problem?

 2- why does the problem exist?
 3- is the problem important?

Slide 3-11
 Preliminary
Preliminary Information
Information Gathering
Gathering

 Nature of information to be gathered:

1. Information on the organization and its
environment – that is, the contextual
factors.
2. Information on the topic of interest.

Slide 3-12
 Preliminary
Preliminary Information
Information Gathering
Gathering
 In general, the preliminary research
starts by collecting secondary data (early
stages in research)

 It can be supported by primary data

Slide 3-13
 First Review of the Literature

 Doing first review of the literature helps

the researcher to:
 Structure research on work already
done
 Develop problem statement with
precision and clarity
 Determine your research
approach/methodology
 Is beneficial in both basic and applied
research projects
Slide 3-14
 What
What Makes
Makes aa Good
Good Problem
Problem Statement?
Statement?
 Good problem statement includes both:
 The research objective
 Research questions

 It should be unambiguous, specific, and

focused
 It can be written directly or in a question
style

Slide 3-15
 Good Problem Statement

Good Problem Statement Should be:

 Relevant
 Feasible: you are able to answer the
research questions within the restrictions
of the research project.
 Interesting to you!

Slide 3-16
 STEP
STEP 3:
3: Determining
Determining the
the research
research aim
aim and
and
objectives
objectives
 Research objective: why of the research
 Research objective in applied research:
 to solve a specific problem in a work setting;
 to change something.
 Example:
 To determine factors that increase employee
commitment to the organization;
 Allows manager to increase commitment and hence
to decrease turnover, absenteeism and increase
performance levels.

Slide 3-17
 Research aim and objectives
 Research aim emphasizes what needs to be achieved
within the scope of the research, by the end of the
research process.
 Research objectives divide research aim into several
parts and address each part separately.

 Research aim specifies WHAT needs to be studied and

research objectives comprise a number of steps that
address HOW research aim will be achieved.
 Achievement of each research objective will lead to the
achievement of the research aim.

Slide 14-18
 Research aim and objectives
 Research title:
Effects of organizational culture on business profitability: a
case study of Petra university
 Research aim: To assess the effects of Petra university
organizational culture on business profitability
 Following Research objectives would facilitate the achievement of
this aim:
1. Analyzing the nature of organizational culture at Petra university by
September 1, 2023
2. Identifying factors impacting Petra university organizational culture
by September 16, 2023
3. Analyzing impacts of Petra university organizational culture on
employee performances by September 30, 2023
4. Providing recommendations to Petra university strategic level
management in terms of increasing the level of effectiveness of
organizational culture by October 5, 2023
Slide 14-19
 Example

The purpose of this study is twofold:

1. to identify the factors that influence the
passenger’s waiting experience and

2. to investigate the possible impact of waiting on

customer satisfaction and service evaluations.

Slide 3-20
 Research objectives

Slide 14-21
 STEP
STEP 4:
4: Determining
Determining the
the research
research Questions
Questions

 Basic Types of Questions

1. Exploratory
2. Descriptive
3. Causal

Slide 14-22
 Basic Types of Questions

 1- Exploratory questions: (Usually Qualitative)

 Not much is known about the situation at hand, or no
information is available on how similar problems or
research issues have been solved in the past.

 Example:
 A service provider wants to know why his customers
are switching to other service providers?

Slide 3-23
 Basic Types of Questions
 2-Descriptive questions: (Qualitative or Quantitative)
 Enable the researcher to describe the characteristics
of the variables of interest in a situation.
 Example:
 What is the profile of the individuals who have loan
payments outstanding for 6 months and more?
 The profile would include details of their average age,
earnings, nature of occupation, full-time/part-time
employment status, and the like. This might help him
to elicit further information or decide right away on the
types of individuals who should be made ineligible for
loans in the future.

Slide 3-24
 Basic Types of Questions

 3-Causal questions:
 Delineating one or more factors that are
causing a problem.
 Example:
 Will the sales of product X increase if we
increase the advertising budget?

Slide 3-25
 Basic Types of Questions
 Causal research

 (4) conditions should be met:

 1- Independent and dependent variables should
vary
 2- Independent should precede the dependent
 3- No other factor should be a possible cause
 4- A theory is needed

Slide 3-26
 Questions Example:

 What are the factors that affect the perceived waiting

experience of airline passengers
 To what extent do these factors affect the perception of
waiting times?
 What are the affective consequences of waiting
 How does affect mediate the relationship between waiting
and service evaluations?
 How do situational variables (such as filled time) influence
customer reactions to the waiting experience?

Slide 3-27
 STEP
STEP 4:
4: The
The significant
significant of
of the
the research
research (importance)
(importance)

 From managerial and academic views

Practical contribution means that the research is relevant if

(1) a problem exists in organization or (2) a situation that
needs to be improved

Theoretical contribution: (1) nothing is know, (2) much is

known but the knowledge is scattered, (3) contradictory
results

Slide 3-28
 The Research Proposal

 The research proposal drawn up by the

investigator is the result of a planned,
organized, and careful effort.

Slide 3-29
 Research Proposal Contains (1)

 Working title.
 Background of the study.
 The problem statement.
- The purpose of the study.
- Research questions.
 The scope of the study.
 The relevance of the study.

Slide 3-30
 Research Proposal Contains (2)

 The research design offering details on:

a. Type of study
b. Data collection methods
c. The sampling design.
d. Data analysis.
 Time frame of the study
 Budget
 Selected bibliography.

Slide 3-31