Applied business research class MBA 44 sv 2020 (day-time)

Applied business research class
MBA 44 sv (day-time class)

Dissertation with 2 modules Synopsis Form                                                  Sept 3 2020   Proposal Oct 22 2020 Dissertation April 21

Sessions	Topics	Readings/ activities
1.       On research proposal and research methodology O May 27 (Wed)a: 10-13pm	1.       Nature and skills required for formulating dissertation proposal 2.       Basic nature on research process 3.       Introduction of local university theses portals to access dissertation reports with local contents	·       Saunders et al. (2012: section 1.2: The nature of research; 1.3: business and management research; 1.4: the  research process). ·       The HKU Scholars Hub (url address: https://hub.hku.hk/advanced-search?location=thesis). Additional advice from the university on dissertation work. Applied business research report template Slides: Business research methods slides. Slides: Introduction to business research methods
2.       Layers of management research: an introduction May 27  (Wed)b: 14:30-17:30pm	1.       From research philosophies, to inductive/ deductive reasoning, to a range of research strategies 2.       On ontology and epistemology	·       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 4, primarily the “research onion”: pg. 128) ·       Saunders et al. (2012: 145-148: inductive and deductive reasoning) ·       Saunders et al. (2012: 130-132: ontology) ·       Saunders et al. (2012: 132-134: epistemology)       Slides: slides on research paradigms.       Slides: Positivism vs interpretivism. * A sample on dissertation proposal * A sample on synopsis form (note the topic of project background also). * On management-concerns diagram * On theoretical-frameworks
3.       Quantitative vs. qualitative   research methods; inductive vs deductive reasoning May 28 (Thu)a: 10-13pm	1.       Explanation of quantitative and qualitative  research 2.       Review of dissertation report samples from local university theses portals 3.       Inductive vs deductive reasoning: an elaboration	·       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 12: analyzing quantitative data; chapter 13: analyzing qualitative data) ·       The HKU Scholars Hub (url address: https://hub.hku.hk/advanced-search?location=thesis). ·       Saunders et al. (2012: 145-148: inductive and deductive reasoning). Also see Facebook page on reasoning (url address: https://www.facebook.com/Literature-on-reasoning-1589559494676577/).      * Slides: qualitative research slides.     * Slides: quantitative research slides.     * Slides: inductive and deductive reasoning.
4.       Correlation analysis; literature  review I May 28 (Thu)b: 14:30-17:30pm	1.       Correlation analysis 2.       Literature review skills: elaboration 3.       Review of relevant academic articles on local topics related to correlation analysis and literature review	·       Saunders et al. (2012: section 12.5: examining relationships, differences and trends using statistics). ·       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 3: critically reviewing the literature). ·       Facebook page on correlation analysis (url address: https://www.facebook.com/literature.correlation.analysis/). Lecture 4 details       * Slides: Literature review.       * Slides: Correlation analysis
5.       Dissertation report writing   skills; literature review II; primary vs secondary data; case study research I May 29 (Fri)a: 10-13pm	1.       Review dissertation report writing   quality with local universities’ dissertation report samples 2.       Literature review skills – elaboration II 3.       Primary vs secondary data: nature and gathering methods 4.       Case study research I	·       The HKU Scholars Hub (url address: https://hub.hku.hk/advanced-search?location=thesis). ·       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 3: Critically reviewing the literature) ·       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 8 (using secondary data) and Chapter  9: Collecting primary data through observation) ·       Yin (1989; chapter 1: Introduction)       * Slides: primary and secondary research.       * Slides: harvard referencing.
6.       Discuss potential local dissertation topics of interest to students; case study research II; Focus group approach; survey research May 29 (Fri)b: 14:30-17:30pm	1.       Examine local potential dissertation topics of interest to students 2.       Case study research II 3.       Focus group approach 4.       Survey research	·       Class brainstorming of dissertation topics in local contexts (1 hour 30 min). ·       Yin (1989; chapters 2-6) ·       Saunders et al. (2012: 176-178: Survey) ·       Saunders et al. (2012: section 10.8: group interview and focus groups) * Slides: Case study research method. * Slides: Focus groups. * Slides: Survey method in research. * Slides: Questionnaires and survey
7.       Observational research; interview; action research June 23 (Tue)a: 10-13pm	1.       Observational   research 2.       Interview 3.       Action research 4.       Discussion of how research methods can be applied in dissertation projects in local settings, with special reference  to case study research	·       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 9: Collecting primary data through observation) ·       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 10: Collecting primary data using semi-structured, in-depth and group interviews) ·       Saunders et al. (2012: 183-184: Action research) ·       Examine the local case of 759 store annual report (url address: http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2015/0824/LTN20150824524.pdf) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. (1 hour 30 min.) lecture 7 details       * Slides: observational research.       * Slides: interview method in research.       * Slides: action research.
8.       Experiment;    ethnography; experiment June 23 (Tue)b: 14:30-17:30pm	1.       Experiment research methods (true   experiment and quasi-experiment.       Ethnographic research 5.       Discussion of how research methods can be applied in dissertation projects in local settings, with special reference  to case study research	·       Saunders et al. (2012: 174-176): Experiment ·       Saunders et al. (2012: 181-182): Ethnographic research ·       Examine the local case of HKTV network Limited annual report (url address: http://ir.hktv.com.hk/pdf/announcement/E_annual_report.pdf) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. (1 hour 30 min.) Lecture 8 details       * Slides: Experimental method in research.       * Slides: Ethnographic research.
9.       Content analysis; grounded theory June 24 (Wed)a: 10-13pm	1.       Content analysis: basic techniques 2.       Grounded theory: basic ideas, including thematic analysis 3.       Discussion of how research methods can be applied in dissertation projects in local settings, with special reference  to case study research	·       Facebook page on cotent analysis (url address: https://www.facebook.com/literature.contentanalysis.documentstudy/). ·       Saunders et al. (2012: 185-187): Grounded theory. ·       Examine the local case of Esprit annual report (url address: http://www.esprit.com/investor_relations/financial_information/annual_interim_reports/ ) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. (1 hour 30 min.) Lecture 9 details               * Slides: Content analysis in research.        * Slides: Grounded theory.        * Slides: Thematic analysis.
10. Research methods quality June 24 (Wed)b: 14:30-17:30pm	On reliability, validity, relevance, ethical considerations, feasibility, etc.	Saunders et al. (2012: 192-194): Reliability and validity. ·       Saunders et al. (2012: section 6.5; 6.6): research ethics. ·       Examine the local case of Sa Sa annual report (url address: Examine the local case of HKTV network Limited annual report (url address: http://corp.sasa.com/en/investor-relations/annual-and-interim-report) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. ) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. (1 hour 30 min.)        Lecture 10 details       * Slides: validity and reliability in research.       * Slides: Business research ethics

 

11.  July 30 (Thu)a: 10-13pm	Review of dissertation report chapters 1-2 requirements in details	Report structure template
12.  July 30 (Thu)b: 14:30-17:30pm	Review of dissertation report chapters 3-4 requirements in details	Report structure template
13. July 31 (Fri): 14:30-17:30pm	Review of dissertation report chapters 5-6; pls personal development section requirements in details Review of dissertation report structure and key tasks	Report structure template

References

Saunders, M., P.Lewis and A. Thornhill. 2012. Research Methods for Business Students, Pearson. [textbook].

Yin, R.K. 1989. Case study research: Design and Methods, Sage.

Previous teaching e -resource: 

http://josephkkhoworkdiary.blogspot.hk/2016/10/mba-sunderland-research-methods.html

FB group on Research methods

Facebook group on the agile literature review approach; articles about ALRA download function.

Facebook group on academic ideas associated to ALRA zones.

Local tutor's publications on literature review