Business and Management Research (ELIB 202)

Business and management research (ELIB 202)

I.  INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor: / Rawaa Muhandes
Office Number: / 624
e-mail: /
Term/year / Semester two /2015
Office hours: / W. M. 9-11 and 12:30-2:30
S. T. 12-2

II.  COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides an overview of the nature of business and management research. It introduces the students to the fundamental tools of research methodology. It also includes training in the areas of primary and secondary data collection and qualitative and quantitative methods of organizing data and utilization of research findings.

III. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to:

A.  Describe the nature of business and management research.

B.  Define the research process.

C.  Recognize the different business research designs.

D.  Develop a business research proposal.

E.  Discuss major techniques of data collection.

F.  Explain major sampling designs and strategies.

G.  Implement a research project.

IV. COURSE TOPICS:

A.  The nature of business and management research.

B.  Formulating and clarifying the research topic.

C.  Brainstorming and critically reviewing the literature.

D.  Negotiating access and research ethics.

E.  Selecting samples.

F.  Using secondary data.

G.  Collecting primary data through observation.

-  Semi-structured, in-depth and group interviews

-  Questionnaires

H.  Writing and presenting the project report.

V.  PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES:

Research paper

This course requires students to conduct a research and develop a proposal and a final report to apply the following:

-  The most appropriate methodology

-  Data collection tools

-  Analysis

-  A presentation of the project

VI. TEXTBOOKS / RESOURCES:

A.  Assigned Textbook:

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students (5th ed.). Essex: Prentice Hal.

B.  Alternative Textbooks:

Ghauri, P, & Gronhaug, K. (2005). Research methods in business studies: A Practical guide (3rd. ed.). Essex: Prentice Hall.

ISBN-10: 0273681567.

VII. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES

1. Assignments & Homework submission: Please follow these guidelines.

ü  All writing must be spell-checked, well-organised, neat and reviewed (proofread) for errors in grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and capitalisation.

ü  Assignments are to be completed on time and follow the prescribed format.

ü  Papers/projects that are late will receive an automatic reduction of 10% per day late.

ü  Assignments will NOT be accepted after the instructor has returned the graded assignment, and a grade of "0" will automatically be assigned for this component of the course. Extensions will not be given except in extreme circumstances and only after consultation with your instructor.

2. Academic Integrity: All work that you submit must be your own

The writing you do in this course must be your own. Presenting the work of others, whether it is used without acknowledgment (plagiarism) or submitted by you but written by someone else (cheating), violates the university’s policy on academic integrity.

• An Academic Integrity Offense Report will be filed and kept in the Office of the Unit’s Director. Sanctions may include failure for the assignment, a grade reduction for the course, or failure for the course.

• Using and citing sources in writing: If you use outside sources (Internet, books, articles) for your writing assignments, you must include a complete citation (reference) to these sources. In addition, every name or quotation included in your paper must be referenced in a Bibliography or Reference list. If the written work is not properly cited that particular assignment must be completely revised to avoid charges of plagiarism.

3. Attendance Policy:

Students are required to attend all classes in which they are enrolled. Each class meeting has its own dynamics and provides a unique opportunity for learning. According to the university’s policy on attendance, students who neglect their academic work, including assignments, may be refused permission to write the final examination in a course. Absences for reasons of serious illness, death in the student’s immediate family, or required participation in a university-sponsored event are, with the appropriate documentation, excused absences, and students will be given an opportunity to make up class examinations or other graded assignments. Faculty members are under no obligation to allow make-up work for unexcused absences

VIII.  SEMESTER PLAN:

Weeks / Course Topics
W 1
(12, Feb,
2015) / ·  Orientation( Discuss course outline and weekly breakdown)
·  Formulating groups
·  What is critical thinking?
·  Getting critical in research and reading
·  Reading it: Tips for reading and taking notes
W2 (19,Feb) / ·  Introduction to research
·  The nature of business and management research.
·  Research process
·  Activity: Brainstorming research areas
W3 (26, Feb) / ·  Identifying useful resources (visiting the library, using the Internet, evaluating web sources)
W 4 (5, March) / ·  Selecting a topic and guidelines for formulating the research topic
Narrowing down topic.
W5 (12.March) / ·  Critically reviewing the literature
·  Referencing
·  Write up- Draft Introduction
W 6 (19.March) / ·  Research Methodology
·  Selecting samples
·  Data collection tools: Surveys& Questionnaires, Interviews, observation, etc.
·  Questionnaire structure, tips and introductory note
-----------Term Break (20 March – 28 March,2015)------
W 7 (2.April) / ·  Oral Presentation Skills: Tips and guidelines
·  Peer critiquing , reviewing and piloting questionnaire
·  Negotiating access and research ethics / -  Submit the introduction and literature review Section (3 points)
W 8
(9.April) / ·  Data collection
·  Online survey tools (survey monkey, googledocs,etc)
·  Finalizing and approving data collection tool / -  Oral presentation: Introduction and literature review(2.5 points)
-  Submitting the final data collection tool section (3points)
W 9
(16.April) / ·  Drafting and editing the methodology and results sections
W 10
(23.April) / ·  Data Analysis (Excel,SPSS,megastat) – Creating graphs
·  Describing data and using graphs
·  Drafting discussion and conclusion / Submitting methodology and result sections (3points)
W 11
(30.April) / ·  Writing the Abstract
·  Choosing keywords / Submitting the discussion and conclusion section (3points)
W 12
(7.May) / ·  Presenting the methodology, result and discussion
·  What is research poster? / Oral presentation: methodology, result and discussion (2.5 points)
W13
(14May) / ·  Edit, proofread and submit final report (hard copy & softcopy)
·  Final presentation and evaluation / ·  Final report submission (3points)

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

A. General instructions

·  You are required to produce a research report. The aim of the report is:

o  To introduce the topic and scope of your proposed project and to establish the project aim

o  To demonstrate reading around the topic area and to appraise literature which is useful for your project

o  To appraise the sources and methods you will use to collect data for your project

o  To indicate the main tasks to be carried out and a time plan for the project

·  The report should be typed in Times New Roman, 12 point font size, with 1.5 line spacing. The maximum length is 15 A4 pages, including references.

·  The report will normally be submitted in Week 14. The actual date for submission will be given in the first session.

Oral presentation Evaluation Rubric

Category / Description / Scale
Opening and introduction / Greet Audience, introduce oneself, set the agenda, make eye contact, formal dress / .5
Technical aspect (ppt slides) / Clarity, layout, color, amount of text, organization, grammar, spelling, creativity, effort / .5
content / Quality of information, facts, amount of information, choice, usefulness, multimedia use / .5
Language use and delivery / Fluency, grammar, voice, body language, confidence, giving attention, subject knowledge, handling questions / .5
Overall / üPresentation: useful, informative, clear, original, enjoyable
üPresenter: efficient communication skills, well prepared / .5
(Total 2.5)

Research report Rubric (15%)

Category / Description / Scale
1-3 / 4-6 / 7-9 / 10-12 / 13-15
Cover page / Student name, class, ID, email, semester, instructor name, Title
Abstract / Clear and concise statement of purpose, context, methods and main findings
Introduction / 1.Describes issues showing its importance
2. gives clear & relevant background information
3. Appropriate & clear research questions
4. Relevant literature review using a minimum of 10 sources.
Methods / Description and step by step list of how the study was performed is given
Questionnaire / -Coherent and understood
-Introductory paragraph with correct grammar
-Choice of relevant question
Results (Data) / -Results and data are clearly recorded, organized so it is easy to see trends.
- All appropriate labels are included
- Clear labels and titles for tables and graph
Discussion & analysis / The data and observations are analyzed accurately, trends are noted and enough data was taken to establish conclusion
Conclusion / 1.Summarizes the essential data used to draw conclusions.
2.Provide overall solutions, recommendation and future agenda
References / At the end of the proposal include an alphabetical list of any references used. References should be made in the text of your proposal using the ‘Harvard’ system,
Conditions not met / Plagiarism / 10 points
Table of content missing / 2
Appendices, page numbering missing / 1-2

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