CHAPTER 2 The Ingredients of Successful Research MANAGEMENT RESEARCH Third Edition, 2008 Prof. M. Easterby-Smith, Prof. R. Thorpe, Prof. Paul R. Jackson

Learning Objectives  To gain insights into factors that affect the relative success of doing research.  To appreciate the need for a focus from the outset of any research project.  To consider a number of issues that will assist in getting the research started.

The Ingredients of Successful Management Research  Motivation and Interest  Support and Supervision  Style and Creativity  Personal Qualities and Skills

Motivations for Doing Management Research  To make a contribution to knowledge  As a vehicle for learning  As basis for personal growth and advancement  As means of enhancing managerial skills, or  To develop a new research methodology

Support & Supervision for Management Research  Support is important because the process of doing research can be tough  Support can be offered by: Supervisors ‘Support Set’ of Colleagues Conferences/The Wider Research Community Practitioners

Style and Creativity  It is important that your research is both of good quality and is original  Aspects that reflect how an original contribution might be gained: Blind Luck - Chance Being in Motion –continuous focused interest Having a Prepared Mind –being aware & ready to see new relationships & solutions when they appear Individualized Action – Maintaining personal interests that may cross disciplinary boundaries

Style and Creativity  Weick’s ‘Disciplined Imagination’: Structuring One’s Creative Thinking in such a way that both orders Initial Theorizing ad Stimulates Theory Building in Preparation for the Conduct of the Investigation

3 Further Characteristics of Good Research:  Based on an Open System of Thought – acceptant of new ideas and open to criticism from others  Examines Data Critically Providing the logic of the relationship between data analysis and findings from which Conclusions are drawn  Generalizability –the research has a wider relevance for theory and for practice (Source: Philips & Pugh, 2005)

Personal Skills and Qualities  Doing Research requires a mix of Research Skills which can be learned and developed For example by doing SPSS or NVivo courses or practising doing interviews  Personal Qualities Can be obtained through life experiences, exchanging experiences with others going through the PhD process, and reflecting on strengths and weaknesses

Getting Started  Define the Area of Interest  Undertake a Review of the Literature on Previous Research in Relevant Areas  Find a Clear Focus in the Research as soon as possible  Find (Preliminary) Data to start working with

Further Readings  Cryer, P. (2000) The Research Student’s Guide to Success. Buckingham: Open University Press.  Marshall, S. and Green, N. (2007) Your PhD Companion: A Handy Mix of Practical Tips, Sound Advice and Helpful Commentary to see you through your PhD, 2nd edn. Oxford: Cromwell Press.  Rugg, G. and Petre, M. (2004) The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research. Maidenhead: Open University Press.  Weick, K. E. (2001) Theory Construction as Disciplined Imagination, Academy of Management Review, 14 (4):