In order to conduct sound research in the discipline of management, it is critical that you develop an awareness of research approaches and techniques. The purpose of this text is to foster your capacity to understand the appropriate method of research to undertake and what outcomes you could reasonably expect from that research. By using this text, you will be encouraged to become critical of the use of different techniques and methods applied in this research field.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this text is to develop your understanding of the research process suitable for the management discipline. Having completed this text, it is expected that you will be able to:

• critically analyse, interpret, and understand basic research designs in the management discipline;

• identify management-related issues for research;

• build the capacity to develop research questions grounded in a theoretical and conceptual framework;

• compare the appropriateness and use of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques as a means of investigating and answering research questions in the management discipline;

• outline the process of collecting primary data, and identify, search for, and locate secondary data and knowledge relevant to management research;

• summarise the role and introductory use of computer software packages and facilities in the collection, analysis, and presentation of research findings;

• demonstrate a general understanding of the role of management research in academic, industry, government, and professional and community organisations; and

• develop academic writing skills appropriate to the discipline for reporting on business management research projects.

Text content

Every day, managers are involved in designing projects, jobs, organisational or departmental structures, and ways of matching individual and group needs in organisations.