DISCUSSION Title: "Designing the Blueprint: Applying Research Methods to a Real-World Business Problem" Task Instructions: Imagine you are a consultant hired by a mid-sized organization facing a sig

WEEK 2 TO DO

INCLUDE THIS REFERENCE

Bordens, K. S. (2021). Research Design and Methods: A Process Approach: 2025 Release. McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US). https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9781264169634

DISCUSSION

Title: "Designing the Blueprint: Applying Research Methods to a Real-World Business Problem"

Task Instructions:

Imagine you are a consultant hired by a mid-sized organization facing a significant business challenge (e.g., high employee turnover, declining customer satisfaction, inefficiencies in supply chain, market expansion failure, etc.).

Based on this scenario:

1. Briefly describe the specific business problem your chosen organization is facing (real or hypothetical).

2. Identify a suitable research question that would guide an investigation into this problem.

3. Select and justify the most appropriate research method(s) for addressing this research question. Your justification should:

   • Distinguish between qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method approaches.

   • Explain why this method aligns with the nature of the problem and data required.

4. Describe how you would collect and analyze data using the selected method(s), referencing the scientific method where appropriate.

Your post should demonstrate your understanding of:

• The difference between various research methods

• The role of the scientific method in business research

• How research design supports evidence-based decision-making in a real-world context

To earn full credit, you must post at least 600 words and cite two outside scholarly resources and your textbook (at least three sources) 

ASSIGNMENT

Designing a Research Strategy to Investigate a Critical Business Challenge

Objective:

To apply knowledge of research methods and the scientific method to develop a structured and justified research approach aimed at solving a real-world business problem relevant to your industry or domain of interest.

Assignment Prompt:

You are a senior consultant hired by a mid-to-large-sized organization (real or hypothetical) facing a significant business challenge or opportunity. Your task is to design a research strategy that will guide how this challenge should be investigated using academic rigor and practical relevance.

In approximately 2000–3000 words, respond to the following:

Assignment Components:

1. Business Problem Statement (150–200 words):

   • Identify a realistic and significant business problem in your current or past industry, or an industry of interest.

   • Briefly explain why this problem is strategically important to the organization and worth investigating.

2. Application of the Scientific Method (200–300 words):

   • Describe how the scientific method would be applied to approach this problem.

   • Clearly state a research question and a testable hypothesis based on the business problem identified.

3. Choice of Research Approach (200–300 words):

   • Justify your choice of research approach (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods).

   • Discuss how your chosen approach aligns with the nature of the problem, type of data needed, and the desired outcomes of the research.

4. Data Collection Methods (200–300 words):

   • Identify at least two appropriate data collection methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, archival data, etc.).

   • Explain how and why these methods are suitable, and what kind of data they will generate in the context of your problem.

5. Data Analysis Strategy (200–300 words):

   • Describe how the collected data will be analyzed.

   • Justify your analysis methods (e.g., statistical testing, thematic analysis, regression modeling, content analysis, etc.) based on the research question and method chosen.

6. Limitations and Ethical Considerations (150–200 words):

   • Identify potential limitations of your proposed research strategy.

   • Highlight at least two ethical considerations and explain how you would address them.