Research Methods in Management: A concise introduction to research in management and business consultancy

271 Pages·2005·1.18 MB·English

by  Geoff Lancaster

Research Methods in Management
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Research Methods in Management
A concise introduction to research in
management and business consultancy
Geoff Lancaster
AMSTERDAM ●BOSTON ●HEIDELBERG●LONDON●NEW YORK ●OXFORD
PARIS ●SAN DIEGO ●SAN FRANCISCO ●SINGAPORE●SYDNEY●TOKYO
Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann
Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP
30 Corporate Drive, Burlington, MA01803
First published 2005
Copyright © 2005, Geoff Lancaster. All rights reserved
The right of Geoff Lancaster to be identified as the author of this work
has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988
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or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Acatalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data
Acatalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
ISBN 0 7506 6212 3
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Typeset by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd, Chennai, India
Printed and bound in Great Britain
Contents
About the Author ix
Acknowledgements xi
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Background and major themes 1
1.2 Using this book 3
1.3 Chapter structure/studying each chapter 5
1.4 The research/consultancy project 6
1.5 Concluding comments 8
2 Managing Your Development as a Manager 9
Learning outcomes 9
2.1 The importance of continued professional
development for the manager 10
2.2 Approaches to professional development:
self-development 11
2.3 Action learning: process and principles 13
2.4 Working with and learning from others 14
2.5 Planning a self-development programme 14
2.6 Concluding comments 18
2.7 References 19
2.8 Glossary 19
3 Introduction to Research in Management 20
Learning outcomes 20
3.1 The theoretical antecedents tomanagement research:
epistemological versus ontological orientations 21
3.2 Deductive versus inductive research 22
3.3 Nomothetic versus ideographic research 27
3.4 Problems and issues in management
consultancy-type research 30
vi Contents
3.5 Concluding Comments 33
3.6 References 34
3.7 Glossary 34
4 Management Consultancy and Research 36
Learning outcomes 36
4.1 The consultant and consultancy: development
and meaning 37
4.2 Why organizations use consultants: advantages
and contributions 38
4.3 Disadvantages and limitations of management consultants 40
4.4 Management consultancy – types, roles and
activities 42
4.5 Non-directive versus directive consultancy models 43
4.6 Other Styles of consulting 44
4.7 Internal versus external consultants 47
4.8 Developments in management consultancy
approaches and techniques 47
4.9 Professional and ethical issues in management
consultancy and research 48
4.10 Concluding comments 49
4.11 References 50
4.12 Glossary 50
5 The Consultancy Research Process 51
Learning outcomes 51
5.1 Management consultancy and research:
an overview 52
5.2 Initiating the consultancy/research process:
meeting/identifying the client 53
5.3 The consultancy research project/topic 56
5.4 Planning and agreeing the consultancy/research brief 59
5.5 Designing and agreeing to the research plan 60
5.6 Completing the consultancy cycle 61
5.7 Concluding comments 62
5.8 References 62
5.9 Glossary 63
6 An Overview of Data Collection: Approaches,
Methods and Techniques 64
Learning outcomes 64
6.1 Data, information and decisions 65
6.2 Types of data 65
6.3 Methods of data collection 68
6.4 Issues in data collection 69
6.5 Choosing between data collection methods 74
Contents vii
6.6 Concluding comments 77
6.7 References 77
6.8 Glossary 78
7 Data Collection: Secondary Data 79
Learning outcomes 79
7.1 Secondary data: meaning and scope 80
7.2 Planning secondary data collection 82
7.3 Internal secondary data 85
7.4 External secondary data 87
7.5 Criteria for evaluating secondary data 92
7.6 Concluding comments 94
7.7 References 94
7.8 Glossary 95
8 Data Collection: Observational Research 97
Learning outcomes 97
8.1 The nature and purpose of observational
research 98
8.2 Observation approaches and techniques 99
8.3 Planning and implementing observational
research 105
8.4. Other issues in observational research 108
8.5 Concluding comments 110
8.6 References 111
8.7 Glossary 112
9 Data Collection: Experimental, Quasi-experimental
and Action Research 113
Learning outcomes 113
9.1 The nature and purpose of experimentation:
classical experimentation 114
9.2 Structuring experimental research design:
key steps 118
9.3 Quasi-experimentation 121
9.4 Action research 123
9.5 Concluding comments 127
9.6 References 127
9.7 Glossary 128
10 Data Collection: Asking Questions 129
Learning outcomes 129
10.1 Questioning as a means of data collection 130
10.2 Interviews 133
10.3 Questionnaires, surveys and samples 137
10.4 Surveys 146
viii Contents
10.5 Concluding comments 151
10.6 References 152
10.6 Glossary 152
11 Analysing Data 154
Learning outcomes 154
11.1 Analysis: nature and roles 155
11.2 The purpose of analysis 157
11.3 Quantitative versus qualitative data analysis 159
11.4 Semiotics 166
11.5 Steps in analysing qualitative data 170
11.6 Issues in and approaches to analysing qualitative data 172
11.7 Concluding comments 173
11.8 References 173
11.9 Glossary 174
12 Actioning Research 176
Learning outcomes 176
12.1 Interpreting and diagnosing research findings,
making recommendations and taking decisions 177
12.2 Designing the implementation and action plans 179
12.3 Implementation and follow up 180
12.4 Control and evaluation: disengagement 182
12.5 Concluding comments 184
12.6 References 185
12.7 Glossary 185
Appendix I: Activity Solutions 186
Appendix II: Bibliography 194
Appendix III: Internet Gateways, Research and Databases,
Search Engines and Directories for
Social Science Researchers 201
Appendix IV: Amalgamated Glossary 203
Appendix V: Referencing and Advice on Presentation 209
Index 255
About the Author
Professor Geoff Lancaster MSc, PhD, FCIM, FLCC
Chairman, Durham Associates Group, Castle Eden, Co. Durham, with offices
in London and Hull, UK; Bahrain; Jeddah and Dhahran, KSA; Dubai, UAE;
Kish, Iran; Muscat, Oman; Doha, Qatar; Lusaka, Zambia and Johannesburg,
South Africa. The company was established in 1990 to engage in business con-
sultancy and education. An international division was established in 1994, and
the company received the Queen’s Award for Exporting in 1999.