Master in Management
- Course Syllabi:
-
MM 512
Budget and Finance -
MM 513
Strategic Management -
MM 514
Practical Research, Analysis & Decision Making -
MM 515
Management Information Systems -
MM 516
Organizational Leadership & Communication -
MM 517
Human Resource Environment -
MM 518
Marketing for Private & Nonprofit Organizations -
MM 519
Legal Issues in Management -
MM 520
Orientation to Graduate Study for the Management Professional -
MM 521
Business, Government & Society -
MM 598
Capstone Project - Electives
-
Course Syllabus
Practical Research, Analysis & Decision Making
MM 514
Fall 2007
John Laughlin, DPA
552-6718
laughlin@sou.edu
CE 136
Course Description
This course introduces students to past and current thinking regarding the relationship between practice and research, and the role of the practicing professional in research. The course provides students with the skills and understandings to critically review research reports, discuss ethical issues related to research, and carry out a pilot study. Emphasis is on the application of research to improve outcomes for management decisions. Students are expected to have some familiarity with databases, management information systems and basic statistics.
Course Objectives
- Understand the relative position of research as a "way of knowing" in the management profession.
- Identify criteria for evaluating research-based knowledge.
- Critically examine the relationship between research and practice with a focus on understanding how research findings and research methods can be used to alter and evaluate management outcomes.
- Understand the professional's role regarding ethical issues relating to research and communication of research findings to clients, respondents, and professional colleagues.
- Be familiar with data analysis techniques and statistical applications used to solve management problems.
- Carry out a pilot research project.
Text
Siskind, Neil J. Exploring Research, sixth edition. Prentice Hall Publishers, 2006.
Learning Activities
- Reading required text
- Class participation and discussion
- Pilot study assignment and critique
Assignments and Evaluation
1. Class Participation
Because of the concentrated nature of this course, class participation is essential. Missing one class is similar to missing several weeks of a normally scheduled course. I understand circumstances may intrude on class time, but missing more than one class without prior approval will result in an "incomplete" for the course and additional work to make up for the missed time. If you must miss class, it is your responsibility to consult with any member of the class for information you missed.
We will divide our time among lectures, discussion, exercises and small-group tasks. Because this is a graduate level class, you and your colleagues have much to offer each other and we will have opportunities to hear from each other and share our perspectives and experiences on research. The major in-class assignment is preparation and presentation of a proposed research project.
2. Research Critique
Students are to find, read and evaluate two published research papers. The research papers should pertain to the same subject and represent two different research techniques.
The purpose of this assignment is twofold, first, to identify different approaches to doing research. You might look for survey research, case studies, historical studies or any of the other research techniques discussed in the textbook. Make sure you find material based on research, not opinion. The second purpose of this assignment is to help you to familiarize yourself with the databases available to you through the SOU Library. You can pick any subject area that you're interested in; it does not have to relate to your capstone interest.
3. Pilot Study for Capstone Project
A pilot study/research proposal for your capstone project will be due on December 5. This paper will include the major components of a full research proposal based on the management question you formulated in class discussions. As a pilot study/proposal, you are expected to gather supplementary data to justify the approach you propose to take when you conduct the full study. Based on what you learn from your pilot study, you will adapt or reshape your methodology when you undertake the actual capstone project this winter and spring.
The pilot study/proposal is divided into five parts. The five parts are:
- Introduction and Problem Statement
- Review of Literature
- Methodology
- Results
- Pilot Study Critique
A brief description follows; considerable time in class will be spent adding to these descriptions.
- Introduction and Problem Statement
- This section serves as an introduction to the research paper. It should clearly explain who the research is for, who the participants in research will be, what is the reason for the research, and when the research will be done. Keep in mind that most people reading this research paper will not know the answer to any of the above questions. Of particular importance is a clearly stated management question or issue that is being addressed. A person reading this section for the first time should clearly understand the managerial context within which the research is being done. The research problem (problem statement) should be at the end of this section. (2-3 pages)
- Review of Literature*
- In a classic research project, as opposed to this applied research project, much of the review of literature is focused on prior research in the general field that the current research is being done. In applied research, this section is focused on the larger economic, social and business issues as they apply to the project. A cursory look at past research should be undertaken, but not in the same detail that would be expected in a classic research project. For example, if you are researching the target market for a particular restaurant in downtown Ashland, this section should be focused on a brief description of the general economic and business climate at the time of the study, as well as any economic, social or business indicators for the restaurant industry at the local, state and national level. Much of what will be found in the target market study needs to be understood relative to the broader business and economic environment. All works cited need to be documented in a formal bibliography (MLA or APA style). (2-3 pages)
Methodology
- This is a critical section of any research project and must be completed prior to undertaking the actual research. In this section, a detailed plan is outlined for how the data is to be collected. This would include the sample or population to be studied, the questions that will be asked, and the statistical analysis to be performed. This is the researcher's road map. The careful planning carried out in this section is what will distinguish the project as good research rather than simply data gathering. (3-7 pages)
- Results*
- Because this is often the most-read section of any report, it must be very clearly written. This is not a place for offering your own opinions of what the data means, only the data itself presented in a objective, clear and concise manner. The results section should begin with a summary questionnaire which is generally a copy of the questionnaire with the numerical tallies for each question. This is followed by a detailed description of the collected data. It may include graphs, statistical analysis or other presentational methods. The presentation of this data should serve as a trial run for the capstone report you will complete in the spring. (3-5 pages)
- Critique
- The final section of this assignment is a critique of the pilot study. The purpose of this critique is to carefully evaluate the effectiveness of the methodology employed, to review the information gained, and to assess the feasibility of completing a full-scale project on the same subject. (2-3 pages)* The literature review and results sections will be expanded upon considerably for the capstone project itself. What you learn from the pilot study should provide additional insight into areas for further web and library research. The scope of your actual capstone research will be much broader than that of your pilot study and the modifications that you make as a result of your pilot study should provide data that you can clearly tie to your management question.
Evaluation
| Assignment | Content | Writing | Timing | Total |
| Critique of Research Reports (2) |
5 |
3 |
2 |
10 |
| In-Class Exercises |
30 |
|
|
30 |
| Pilot Study Critique |
45 |
10 |
5 |
60 |
|
Total |
100 |
Grades will be assigned on a percentage basis:
100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
Students with Documented Disabilities
Individuals in need of support because of documented disability may be eligible for academic or other accommodations through the Disability Services for Students office in the ACCESS Center.
