MST-31306 Advanced Business Research (ABR)

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

MST-24306 Management and Marketing; MST-21306 Advanced Management and Marketing.

Contents:

Advanced Business Research (ABR) aims at executing a systematic research on a management issue for a specific organization (commercial or non-commercial). The management issue can be on strategy, operations, supply chains, human resources, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The study should be systematic as a result of applying management theory and scientific methods, the teamwork. The study will be carried out in a team of maximum four students. ABR is a perfect preparation for an MSc thesis. You will focus on a real-life company or other organization, e.g. in your own social environment.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- understand the unique complexity of research projects in management studies;
- formulate an adequate research proposal tailored to a managerial issue;
- select from the variety of possible sources the relevant management-literature;
- apply various management theories to a specific management issue;
- design the methodology for the empirical research and execute the empirical research;
- report on the basis of the evidence and the literature.

Activities:

Before ABR starts, you are advised to look around for a team, a case study organisation, and a management issue.
ABR starts with introductory lectures on how to do business research: designing managerial research projects, using of management theory, writing skills and managerial research methods. Next there are meetings with a supervisor, presentations, discussions and additional lectures. A progress report has to be handed in.
You are encouraged to participate in the open exchange of comments, suggestions and ideas. Each team will present twice and assess the presentations of others. You will have to submit a final team-report. During the week for exams mixed-teams will discuss the output of each other's work.

Examination:

- individual contribution to team work and final exam (30%);
- individual mid-term exam with both multiple choice and open questions (30%);
- team Presentations (10%);
- team Final Report (30%).
A bonus can be earned by attending the lectures.
Each component needs a minimum mark of 5.5 to pass.

Literature:

Kumar, R. (2005). Research Methodology. A step-by-step guide for beginners. SAGE Publications Ltd. 2nd ed. 432 p. ISBN: 9781446269978.