1. Business Research Methods Dr Robert Shaw School of Management Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

2. Today 1.The hegemony of science 2.Three kinds of research 3.New directions in business research 4.How to write 5.How to publish

3. 1. The hegemony of science 1.The word “hegemony” 2.Courses for students 3.The ascent & challenges of science a. Physics as the exemplar Understanding b. Social sciences Understanding c. Business research Understanding

4. hegemony Leadership, predominance, preponderance; esp. the leadership or predominant authority of one state of a confederacy or union over the others: originally used in reference to the states of ancient Greece, whence transferred to the German states, and in other modern applications. Oxford English Dictionary Hegemony. (n.d.). In Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved from http://dictionary.oed.com (Hegemony, n.d.)

6. Business methods courses 1.Textbooks 2.Confusion about purposes 3.Classification of methods a. Base on what is done (analogy: menu) b. Needs to be base on epistemology and/or ontology Philosophical Purpose

7. 2. Three kinds of research 1.Kinds of papers a. Scientific (basic, fundamental) b. Operational research (applied) c. Philosophical (conceptual, argumentative) 2.Examples of each a. Structure of the paper b. Epistemological / ontological stance c. The production of such papers

8. Scientific research in business 1.Common Surveys Experimental designs 2.Assumptions / ground Epistemology Ontology 3.Philosophy of science Positivism Constructivism Phenomenology

9. Scientific papers 1.An example (next seven slides) Structure of the paper Prescribed method Known standards Engagement with the tradition 2.The traditions of research The narrowing of the focus The proliferation of sub-disciplines 3.Origin of problems - confusion with purposes

17. Scientific papers 1.An example (next seven slides) Structure of the paper Prescribed method Known standards Engagement with the tradition 2.The traditions of research The narrowing of the focus The proliferation of sub-disciplines 3.Origin of problems - confusion with purposes

18. Operational research in business 1.Examples Marketing Policy Evaluation Applied research Consulting 2.Structure of the paper In-house use Report format Often mimics science 3.Epistemological stance Technology – a tool

21. 3. New directions 1.Science in business research More about less Detached from real problems The interdisciplinary movement & new requirements Understanding in the social sciences 2.Philosophy as business research Phenomenology Philosophy of management Philosophy of science Philosophy of technology Critical management theory

22. 4. How to write 1.Pros and cons Scientific enquiries Operational enquiries Philosophical enquiries 2.Technology Screens Grammar & spell checker Bibliographic software (Endnote) Dictionary and thesaurus Academic databases Library Others

27. My kind of writing 1.Find a project – you need something to say 2.Write the abstract 3.Commit to a conference 4.Write, write, write – produce organically 5.Search online for relevant papers 6.Support your writing with references 7.Present it as quickly as possible 8.Re-write for publication 9.Submit for referees report

31. 4. How to publish 1.Control of journals 2.Academic societies 3.Open access journals 4.Set realistic goals