Basics of Academic Research in Business

LEARNING OUTCOMES Understand business academic research writing requirements Use APA writing and referencing style Discuss knowledge, theory, construct, variable, factor, indicator Develop a simple research model 1.1 Compare management information systems (MIS) and information technology (IT) MIS is not IT. MIS is a business function. IT is a computer-based tool. Most organizations have an IT Department that is responsible for performing the MIS function. This is similar to an organization having an Accounting Department that is responsible for performing the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. 1.2 Describe the relationships among people, information technology, and information IT in and of itself is not useful unless the right people know how to use and manage IT efficiently and effectively People, information, and information technology (in that order of priority) are inextricably linked If one fails, they all fail 2

APA citation style for academic research Established by the American Psychological Association Rules and conventions for documenting sources used in a research paper. Used for in-text citations and Reference list Sources: Cornell University: https://www.library.cornell.edu/research/citation/apa Publication Manual of the APA: http://www.apastyle.org/manual/ Internet source citation: http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2010/11/how-to-cite- something-you-found-on-a-website-in-apa-style.html 1. Fall of the Berlin Wall The events of November 9, 1989, tilted the worldwide balance of power toward democracies and free markets 2. Netscape IPO The August 9, 1995, offering sparked massive investment in fiberoptic cables 3. Work flow software The rise of applications from PayPal to VPNs enabled faster, closer coordination among far-flung employees 4. Open-sourcing Self-organizing communities, such as Linux, launched a collaborative revolution 5. Outsourcing Migrating business functions to India saved money and a Third World economy 6. Offshoring Contract manufacturing elevated China to economic prominence 7. Supply-chaining Robust networks of suppliers, retailers, and customers increased business efficiency 8. Insourcing Logistics giants took control of customer supply chains, helping mom-and-pop shops go global 9. Informing Power searching allowed everyone to use the Internet as a “personal supply chain of knowledge” 10. Wireless Wireless technologies pumped up collaboration, making it mobile and personal 3 3

APA style In-text source citation Single author: author’s last name and year at appropriate point Example 1: According to the technology acceptance model (Davis, 1989) Example 2: Davis (1989) argues that perception is the key factor … Multiple authors: authors’ last names and year Example 1: As suggested by Simon and Welsh (1999) Example 2: Gathering intelligence is the first phase of decision making (Simon & Welsh, 1999) 1. Fall of the Berlin Wall The events of November 9, 1989, tilted the worldwide balance of power toward democracies and free markets 2. Netscape IPO The August 9, 1995, offering sparked massive investment in fiberoptic cables 3. Work flow software The rise of applications from PayPal to VPNs enabled faster, closer coordination among far-flung employees 4. Open-sourcing Self-organizing communities, such as Linux, launched a collaborative revolution 5. Outsourcing Migrating business functions to India saved money and a Third World economy 6. Offshoring Contract manufacturing elevated China to economic prominence 7. Supply-chaining Robust networks of suppliers, retailers, and customers increased business efficiency 8. Insourcing Logistics giants took control of customer supply chains, helping mom-and-pop shops go global 9. Informing Power searching allowed everyone to use the Internet as a “personal supply chain of knowledge” 10. Wireless Wireless technologies pumped up collaboration, making it mobile and personal 4 4

APA style Reference list Order: Entries should be arranged in alphabetical order by authors' last names. Authors: Write out the last name and initials for middle and first names. Use an ampersand (&) instead of the word "and" when listing multiple authors of a single work. e.g. Smith, J. D., & Jones, M. Titles: Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title or subtitle, and any proper names that are part of a title. Pagination: Use the abbreviation p. or pp. to designate page numbers of articles from periodicals that do not use volume numbers, especially newspapers. These abbreviations are also used to designate pages in encyclopedia articles and chapters from edited books Example: Davis, F., Bagozzi, R., Warshaw, P. (1989). User acceptance of technology: A comparison of two theoretical models. Management Science, 35 (8), 982-1003. Ginzberg, M. J. (1981). Early Diagnosis of MIS Implementation Failure: Promising Results and Unanswered Questions. Management Science. 27, 459-478. 1. Fall of the Berlin Wall The events of November 9, 1989, tilted the worldwide balance of power toward democracies and free markets 2. Netscape IPO The August 9, 1995, offering sparked massive investment in fiberoptic cables 3. Work flow software The rise of applications from PayPal to VPNs enabled faster, closer coordination among far-flung employees 4. Open-sourcing Self-organizing communities, such as Linux, launched a collaborative revolution 5. Outsourcing Migrating business functions to India saved money and a Third World economy 6. Offshoring Contract manufacturing elevated China to economic prominence 7. Supply-chaining Robust networks of suppliers, retailers, and customers increased business efficiency 8. Insourcing Logistics giants took control of customer supply chains, helping mom-and-pop shops go global 9. Informing Power searching allowed everyone to use the Internet as a “personal supply chain of knowledge” 10. Wireless Wireless technologies pumped up collaboration, making it mobile and personal 5 5

APA style Reference list 1. Fall of the Berlin Wall The events of November 9, 1989, tilted the worldwide balance of power toward democracies and free markets 2. Netscape IPO The August 9, 1995, offering sparked massive investment in fiberoptic cables 3. Work flow software The rise of applications from PayPal to VPNs enabled faster, closer coordination among far-flung employees 4. Open-sourcing Self-organizing communities, such as Linux, launched a collaborative revolution 5. Outsourcing Migrating business functions to India saved money and a Third World economy 6. Offshoring Contract manufacturing elevated China to economic prominence 7. Supply-chaining Robust networks of suppliers, retailers, and customers increased business efficiency 8. Insourcing Logistics giants took control of customer supply chains, helping mom-and-pop shops go global 9. Informing Power searching allowed everyone to use the Internet as a “personal supply chain of knowledge” 10. Wireless Wireless technologies pumped up collaboration, making it mobile and personal 6 6

Knowledge and Theory Knowledge – What we know to be true or to have been proven – Theoretical or practical understanding of a subject Question: What are the main sources of knowledge? Theory – A set of assumptions, propositions, or accepted facts that attempts to provide a ... rational explanation of cause-and-effect relationships among a group of observed phenomenon. Source: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/theory.html Theories are formulated to challenge and extend existing knowledge Example: Surveys have shown that 60% of workers earning low salaries with high job freedom are very satisfied with their job. A theory could be that the impact of Salary on Job Satisfaction depends on the level of Job Freedom 1.1 Compare management information systems (MIS) and information technology (IT) MIS is not IT. MIS is a business function. IT is a computer-based tool. Most organizations have an IT Department that is responsible for performing the MIS function. This is similar to an organization having an Accounting Department that is responsible for performing the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. 1.2 Describe the relationships among people, information technology, and information IT in and of itself is not useful unless the right people know how to use and manage IT efficiently and effectively People, information, and information technology (in that order of priority) are inextricably linked If one fails, they all fail Job Freedom Job Satisfaction Salary 7

What is a Research model or Research framework? “Conceptual framework [that] guides research by providing a visual representation of [relationships between] theoretical constructs (and variables) of interest.” Source: http://web.stanford.edu/group/ncpi/unspecified/student_assess_toolkit/conceptualModels.html “Collection of interrelated concepts… [that] guides your research, determining what things you will measure, and what statistical relationships you will look for.” Source: http://www.analytictech.com/mb313/elements.htm 1.1 Compare management information systems (MIS) and information technology (IT) MIS is not IT. MIS is a business function. IT is a computer-based tool. Most organizations have an IT Department that is responsible for performing the MIS function. This is similar to an organization having an Accounting Department that is responsible for performing the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. 1.2 Describe the relationships among people, information technology, and information IT in and of itself is not useful unless the right people know how to use and manage IT efficiently and effectively People, information, and information technology (in that order of priority) are inextricably linked If one fails, they all fail 8

Types of variable Variables – Also called Factors or Constructs are phenomena or facts whose values can be “measured” and whose values can change. Examples: Social status, Job satisfaction, salary, Job freedom Dependent variable – The variable you are trying to explain or predict. The variable that depends on the other variables. AKA the outcome Independent variables - AKA predictors or explanatory variables, are the factors that you think explain the variation in the dependent variable Moderating variable – or moderator is a variable that modifies the relationship between two other variables Indicator – What is used to measure a variable that is not directly measurable. Example 1: The following indicators may be used to measure a supervisor’s managerial status: number of people under their supervision, their annual budget, etc. Example 2: the following indicators can be used to measure social status: wealth, prestige, power, etc. 1.1 Compare management information systems (MIS) and information technology (IT) MIS is not IT. MIS is a business function. IT is a computer-based tool. Most organizations have an IT Department that is responsible for performing the MIS function. This is similar to an organization having an Accounting Department that is responsible for performing the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. 1.2 Describe the relationships among people, information technology, and information IT in and of itself is not useful unless the right people know how to use and manage IT efficiently and effectively People, information, and information technology (in that order of priority) are inextricably linked If one fails, they all fail Payroll schedule 9

Possible impact of IS and IQ What could be the main impact or outcome of Information Quality and IS Quality? _______________________________________________ Name possible indicators for that outcome. 1.1 Compare management information systems (MIS) and information technology (IT) MIS is not IT. MIS is a business function. IT is a computer-based tool. Most organizations have an IT Department that is responsible for performing the MIS function. This is similar to an organization having an Accounting Department that is responsible for performing the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. 1.2 Describe the relationships among people, information technology, and information IT in and of itself is not useful unless the right people know how to use and manage IT efficiently and effectively People, information, and information technology (in that order of priority) are inextricably linked If one fails, they all fail 10

Designing a Research framework Based on the discussion, use the sheet provided by the instructor to design a research framework for the impact of ISQ and IQ outlining the relationships between the factors involved Make sure that your research framework lists the main indicators that may be used to measure each of the factors involved. 1.1 Compare management information systems (MIS) and information technology (IT) MIS is not IT. MIS is a business function. IT is a computer-based tool. Most organizations have an IT Department that is responsible for performing the MIS function. This is similar to an organization having an Accounting Department that is responsible for performing the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. 1.2 Describe the relationships among people, information technology, and information IT in and of itself is not useful unless the right people know how to use and manage IT efficiently and effectively People, information, and information technology (in that order of priority) are inextricably linked If one fails, they all fail 11