A Focus On Research Methodology Business Essay

A Focus On uncertainty Methodology Business Essay3.1 IntroductionThe previous chapter discussed about the existing literature of how the plan process and harvesting biography cycle works within a company. This chapter go forth focus on investigate ruleology which is the set of method, providing a magisterial technique to accomplish search aims and objectives and question questions. As per Kumar (2005), seek methodology is the way to answer all the look questions. The enquiryer allow clarify the types of question methods and too it will illustrate the correct process to meet the research aims and objectives, info collection process and evaluation of the selective information.The centre point of any research is to data collection and the abstract. Saunders et al. (2009, p-106) described this centre point as a centre of an onion which has different layers that need to be peeled away to ticktock into the centre point. This onion is known as a research onion, which is shown belowFigure 3.1 seek Onion root word Saunders et al. (2009)3.2 Research philosophyAccording to Saunders et al. (2009) research philosophy is the term that develops the knowledge and there is a strong relation between the nature of that knowledge and the research. To support to select the research strategy method it is important to take the supposition of the research. As per Johnson and Clark (2006) stated in Saunders et al. (2009, p.108) the centering and business research workers need to be aware of the philosophies that be chosen for research report. They also added the significance of the research need to understand by investigation.In addition, there is been supportive statement by Saunders et al. (2009, p.108), The important issue is non so a lot whether our research should be philosophically informed, but it is how well we are able to reflect upon our philosophical choices and defend them in relation to the alternatives we could have adopted. According to research onion from Saunders et al. (2009, p.108), there are four main arenas which cover the research philosophy. These are as followsPragmatismInterpretivismRealismPositivism3.2.1 PragmatismIn research philosophy pragmatism is the near important determination that focuses on the research question. In this smash it is also possible to argue within some(prenominal) positivist and interpretivist view. This is also applicable for practical advent. It helps to collect and analyze data by integrating different perspectives. (Saunders et al. (2009, p.109)3.2.2 InterpretivismThe term interpretivism stands for, as a researcher it is required to be aware of the difference between humans in their role as affable actors. According to Saunders et al. (2009, p.116),The difference between conducting research among people rather than objects such as trucks and computers. The term social actors is rather significant here. In the same way we interpret our everyday social roles in accordance with th e meaning we lay out to these roles. In addition, we interpret the social roles of others in accordance with our own set of meaning.3.2.3 RealismRealism is another important point of research philosophy which focuses on scientific enquiry. In other word, the existence of autonomous reality of the human mind is the realism. As per Saunders et al. (2009, p.114), quoted that,The philosophy of realism is that there is a reality quite independent of the mind. In this sense, realism is opposed to idealism, the scheme that only the mind and its contents exist. Realism is a branch of epistemology which is similar to positivism in that it assumes a scientific show up to the development of knowledge.3.2.4 PositivismPositivism is the epistemological view that promotes working with a clear social reality. As a researcher when reflects their research with positivism philosophy, then that research adopt the natural scientist philosophical stance. Saunders et al. (2009, p.113)The research idea came from the business background of author which has driven to develop the knowledge of product life cycle and pattern process from the customer perception of Nokia mobile phone. To generate a research it is important to develop research shot. According to Porte (2010), in order to focus the study, to give the flow of reading, researcher should able to meet the research question or hypothesis. As a researcher the following hypothesis can be identifiedH1 Rapid changes in the product attributes over last few years as customers taste changes with diversified culture.H2 Technology facilitated more innovation and increasing rate of product obsolescence resulting changes in the product life cycle strategy.H3 Growing trend of open market economy is the effort of innovation.3.3 Research approachesThe final outcome of the research is determined by the way the brook is being figure of speeched. This is the first step to investigate the phenomenon and the type philosophy that will be g uided to investigate the process. As Saunders et al. (2009, p.124) stated thatThe extent to which you are clear about the theory at the beginning of your research raises an important question concerning the design of tour research cipher. This is whether your research should use the deductive approach, in which you develop a theory and hypothesis (or hypotheses) and design a research strategy to screen the hypothesis, or the inductive approach, in which you would collect data and develop theory as a result of your data abstract, insofar as is useful to enlarge these research approaches to the different research philosophies. at that place are two types of research approaches. These are as followdeductive approachInductive approach3.3.1 Deductive approachDeductive approach is the method of purely formed theories arises as a globalization from observable data that are going to be explained. This approach was first introduced by Sir Isaac Newton (1643- 1726) in the late 17th centu ry. (Holzinger, 2010).Research hypothesis and theory can be tested by collecting and analysis the data. According to Saunders et al. (2009, p.125), the theoretical plan of research approach needs to test by implementing the strategy which is particularly designed to test the hypothesis. Moreover Pathirage et al. (2008) added, deductive approach moves from theory to data.3.3.2 Inductive approachThis is an alternative approach to conduct the research. Drosg (2009) stated that, inductive research depends on the variation of data values, which is a set of data of statically analysis. This kind of research is directly involved with the management research, because it involve with data analysis, issues and problems. Afterwards the researchers develop the theory based on those investigations.However, Crowther and Lancaster (2008) mentioned that inductive approach is plastic for sample size and data, because it does not require any established theory.Deductive emphasisesInductive emphasise sScientific principlesGaining an understanding of the meanings humans attach to events.Moving from theory to dataA close understanding of the research contextThe need to explain casual relationship between variables.The collection of qualitative data.The collection of quantitative data.A more flexible structure to permit changes of research emphasis as the research progresses.The application of controls to ensure validity of data.A realisation that the researcher is part of the research process.The operationalisation of concepts to ensure clarity of definition.Less concern with the need to generalise.A highly structured approach.Researcher independence of what is being researched.The necessity to select samples of decent size in order to generalise conclusions.Table 3.1 Major differences between deductive and inductive approaches to research. Source Saunders et al. (2009, p.127)This research is to design to investigate the impact and fix of product life cycle and customer percepti ons on business innovation strategy. As per higher up discussion, this research will conduct through deductive approach. This will apply the related theory of product life cycle and innovation process it will also find out the effectiveness of these theories with Nokia mobile company.3.4 Research designResearch design reflects on research questions. This is to be contingent with research objectives which are obtained from research questions. Saunders et al. (2009, p.137) stated that, researcher need valid reason for research design and the justification of research rely on research questions, objectives and research philosophy. According to Heppner et al. (2008) research design is the centre component of scientific question and the most difficult part is selecting a research design whose strengths and weaknesses help the researcher to examine research questions.3.5 Research StrategyResearch strategy is the general plan to answer the research questions. As per Saunders et al. (2009 , p.141) no research strategy is inherently superior this is not important which label is attached with strategy, but this is most important whether this strategy will allow the researcher to answer the research questions. The following research strategy can be identified (Saunders et al.,2009, p.141)Experiment keep abreastCase studyAction researchGrounded theoryEthnographyArchival researchExperiment This type of research is based on natural comprehension research. However, social science and specially psychology types of research are fall into this category. This involves with a link of two variables.Survey This is a deductive research. The main area of this research is business and management research. As a result, it more likely exercised for exploratory and descriptive research.Case study Robson (2002, p.178) cited in Saunders et al. (2009, p.145) a strategy for doing research which involves an empirical investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon within its real life context using multiple of evidence. Case study mainly concentrates to come across and understand the knowledge of a specific area.Action research This research is concerned about the change management and collaboration with practitioner and researcher. This is a management research.Grounded theory This is an inductive research. Here theory is developed and data is generated by further observation.Ethnography The strategy that focus on the description and interpretation of the social world from the first hand side. This type of research is very time consuming.Archival research This final strategy considers the administrative records and documents for its principle source of data.From above discussion, it has been decided by the author, this research topic will go along with case study strategy. This research is based on theory of product life cycle and innovation strategy, which is fall into deductive approach and supported by this strategy. This research will build the knowledge o f product life cycle and innovation process by collecting the information from Nokia Research Centre and will compare with the most up to date theory.3.6 Data collection methodThere are two kinds of data collection process for research project (Saunders et al. (2009). These are as followPrimary data andsecondary winding data.3.6.1 Primary dataThe data gathered solely for research purposes to meet the research question is known as unproblematic data. Saunders et al. (2009, p.598) quoted, data self-collected specially for the research project being undertaken. The primary data can be collected through interviews, surveys, questionnaires and discussions. This reflects on the real scenario of the project and there is presence of validation by the alternate data.3.6.2 Secondary dataThe data that have already been published and reanalysing for some other reason is called secondary data. According to Saunders et al. (2009, p.256-258) secondary data contains both sensitive and published data. These data can be both quantitative and qualitative and can be used in both descriptive and explanatory research. Secondary data can be collected through documentary, multiple source and survey.Advantages and disadvantages of primary and secondary dataAdvantagesDisadvantagesPrimary DataSpecifically addresses the research questionCollecting and analysing data can be expensiveReliability, credibility and accuracy are knownResearcher must have the necessary skills to conduct primary researchCan address almost any research questionPrimary research is time consumingSecondary DataCan be very cost effectiveReliability, credibility and accuracy may not be knownCan usually be gathered quicklyUnits of measurement may not be appropriateDoes not require the same expert skills as primary data collectionData may not be presented in a usable formatInterpretation and analysis skills are still requiredData may be untimely or out of dateSource or sponsor of the research may not be knownTable 3.2 Advantages and disadvantages of primary and secondary data Source Morgan and Summers (2005)This research will conduct by collecting both primary and secondary data to attain the aims and objectives. Secondary data will be collected from journals, newspapers, internet (online publications) and specially Nokia Research Centre (NRC). The primary data will be collected by conducting questionnaire design on 200 customers to get the outcome of the customer perception of Nokia mobile phone.3.7 Quantitative vs. QualitativeSaunders et al. (2009, p. 151) quoted that,Quantitative is predominantly used as a synonym for any data collection techniques (such as questionnaire) or data analysis procedure (such as graphs or statistics) that generates or uses numerical data. In contrast, qualitative is used predominantly as a synonym for any data collection techniques (such as an interview) or data analysis procedure (such as categorising data) that generates or uses non- numerical data.The resear cher will use both quantitative and qualitative data for this research. However, this research is mostly based on qualitative data as this research will consider with the modern theory of product life cycle and innovation process. The quantitative data will also be considered to calculate the customer perceptions.3.8 Evaluation techniquesEvaluation techniques depend on the types of research and how the data will be analysed. The researcher will analyse both quantitative and qualitative data. There are some specific ways to measure these kinds of data. UWE (n.d.) stated that, the quantitative data analysis often consider descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data analysis may do by considering analysis of visual data and analysis of narrative data.To evaluate the both primary and secondary data, the researcher will represent them with graphical, tabular and chart context. The researcher will also investigate the Nokia Research Centre (NRC) website for their product lif e cycle and innovation strategy to compare with the most recent situation.3.9 LimitationsThis research project has certain demarcation line in context of the entire study. However, this limitation can be taken as a scope for further research. The first limitation of this study is not taking any primary data direct from Nokia head office, which is situated in Europe and this research is conducting from London.3.10 SummaryThis study will collect the data from secondary sources and designing questionnaires for the customers. This methodology of the task can be a number of procedures that have followed to prepare a meaningful report. The findings and analysis will be discussed in the following chaper.