Test Bank for Research Methods For Business, A Skill Building Approach 8th Edition Uma Sekaran

Research Methods For Business, A Skill Building Approach 8th Edition Test Bank

1. Describe a situation where you used research to inform thinking, decisions, and/or actions in relation to a personal issue of interest.

Example:
Topic: Going to the Movies

• Problem: I wanted to go to the movies last weekend with a friend but didn’t have enough information about which movies were playing.
• Purpose: To have a good time with my friend.
• Information Collected:
• Movie listings from two cinema websites
• Trailers of three movies
• Movie reviews and summaries from IMDB
• Suggestions from my brother
• How Information Was Collected:
• Searched on iPhone
• Visited official cinema websites
• Browsed IMDB
• Talked to my brother
• Role of Theory:
• I typically don’t enjoy my brother’s movie suggestions due to our different tastes, especially since he enjoys violent films and has a different sense of humor.
• Solution:
• Ignored his suggestions and picked “Spy” based on trailers and IMDB ratings.

2. Why should a manager know about research when the job entails managing people, products, events, environments, and more?

A manager faces various problems and challenges. Even if they hire consultants, understanding research helps in identifying effective, long-term solutions and making informed decisions.

3. For what specific purpose is Basic Research important?

Basic research helps generate and build foundational knowledge. It supports applied research and prevents the redundancy of re-inventing solutions.

4. When is Applied Research useful, as distinct from Basic Research?

Applied research is helpful when solving specific problems in particular situations—especially where quick or practical action is required, such as resolving organizational issues.

5. Why is it important to be adept in handling the manager-researcher relationship?

A manager who understands how to work with researchers:

• Enhances collaboration
• Facilitates efficient problem-solving
• Avoids frustration

Key aspects include:

• Sharing relevant and limited information
• Communicating expectations clearly
• Defining access to records
• Explaining organizational values

6. Explain, giving reasons, which is more important: Applied or Basic Research.

Both are equally important.

• Basic Research builds the foundation of knowledge.
• Applied Research uses that knowledge to solve real-world problems.

Without one, the other loses effectiveness or purpose.

7. Give two specific instances for both external and internal research team use. Justify each scenario.

External Research Team:

• a. Introducing sophisticated tech in a non-tech company – requires specialized knowledge.
• b. Evaluating company operations – helps reduce internal bias.

Internal Research Team:

• a. Rebuilding after a disaster like 9/11 – internal teams have deeper organizational insight.
• b. Investigating consistent losses in a small division – internal teams are better suited to handle smaller, localized issues.

8. Describe a situation where research would help you as a manager make a good decision.

Example: A work team continuously underperforms. Research can help identify root causes—be it leadership issues, team dynamics, or resource gaps—and guide an informed resolution.

9. Given the situations below:

(a) Decide whether each situation is Applied or Basic Research.
(b) For Scenario 1, explain who should conduct the research and why.