Course detail

Business Research Methods

FP-IBbrmPAcad. year: 2024/2025

The aim of this module is to develop and present an individual research project using research methods that apply to the knowledge acquired during the lectures. The student should individually investigate either a practical problem in the selected company or conduct research in the field. Then pass the exam at the end of the semester. Student individually chooses a research topic or an issue that will be processed through the chosen research strategy and methods, especially with regard to her/his potential focus of the diploma thesis. The topic can be focused on the analysis of a problem within the company, e.g. in the field of management, marketing or strategic management. Student should then collect relevant information from the company's environment and, based on it, critically analyze the current situation and propose further solutions to a specific managerial or strategic problem. Or the student can conduct research in the field in the field of opinions, attitudes of individuals on a selected topic or the behavior of customers, companies, etc.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Vojtěch Koráb, Dr., MBA

Department

Institute of Management (ÚM)

Entry knowledge

The following knowledge, skills and competences are required for the course:
Knowledge: at least bachelor's degree statistics. MS office in Excell, Word and PoverPoint amounts.
Skills: Ability to communicate with respondents, collect data and process them.
The ability to defend the research results not only in front of the lecturer in the university, but also in front of the company management.
Competence: working in a particular company. Communicate with business owners about a research problem.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Students will have to defend their research (max. 100 points) on the selected topic for the exercise. The project (100 points) will be evaluated: literature review 20 points, research strategy 30 points, processing and interpretation of results 30 points, formal and graphic elements of the project 20 points.
To get a credit, you need a min. 60 points.
The final exam (100 points) will consist of a written part containing 4 open questions. Each question is rated for a maximum of 25 points. To successfully complete the course, the student must obtain at least 50 points. The resulting evaluation is then determined according to the scale:
And 90-100 points
B 80-89 points
C 70-79 points
D 60-69 points
E 50-59 points
F less than 49 points

Completion of the course for students with individual studies: students will only work on a research project according to the assignment specified in the course updates.

 

Attendance at lectures is recommended, as is study literature. Control is the responsibility of the lecturer. During the semester, the teacher will check:

Week 3: checking the selection of the thesis topic

Week 6: checking the selection of the research topic and the methods used

Week 12,13: presentation of the research project

Aims

The objective of the module is working out and presents a research project by using of research methods presented in the module. In this module students may/should apply knowledge gathered during lectures and seminars. Students may/should solve a practical problem of a chosen company within the field of management, marketing, strategic management, etc.

Learning outcomes can be characterized as:


a) Description of the research process and proposal of the research scheme.
b) Defining the state of scientific knowledge, describing the state of the company's surroundings and the situation in the company.
c) Definition of data sources and methods of their collection for secondary research.
d) Data collection methods in primary research.
e) Presentation and defense of research results

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

SAUNDERS, M., LEWIS, P., THORNHILL, A. Research methods for business students. 3rd edition. London: Prentice Hall, 2003. 504 p. ISBN 0-273-65804-2.

Recommended reading

BLOCK, M., BLOCK, T. Business-to-business market research. 2nd ed. Mason: Texere, 2005. 277 p. ISBN 0-324-22230-0.
COOPER, D., EMORY, W. Business research methods. 5th ed. Chicago: Irwin, 1995. 681 p. ISBN 0-256-13777-3.
EASTERBY-SMITH, M., THORPE, R., LOWE, A.. Management research. 2nd ed. London: SAGE Publications, 2002. 194 p. ISBN 0-7619-7285-4.
HAMERSVELD, M., DE BONT, C. Market research handbook. 5th ed. Chichester: John Wiley, 2007. 627 p. ISBN 978-0-470-51768-0.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MGR-IBM Master's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Vojtěch Koráb, Dr., MBA

Syllabus

Content of lectures:
1. Course structure, research project structure, presentation structure.
2. Research in business, scientific thinking, research process, research design, conceptual diagram and conceptual model.
3. State of scientific knowledge. Literature review. Primary and secondary research. The PRISMA critical literature review method.
4. Data collection methods in primary research. Quantitative research, types of sample selection. Calculation of the research sample.
5. Construction of the questionnaire, scales.
6. Qualitative approach, discussion of research results.

Exercise

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Vojtěch Koráb, Dr., MBA

Syllabus


Seminars:
Seminars:
1. Introduction to seminars - organizational aspects, generating research ideas. Definition and purpose of research, time management of research, bottlenecks of the research process.
2. Qualities of a good researcher - deciding on a research approach and choosing a research strategy.
3. Collection of research data - conducting research, secondary research. Research data collection, primary research: observation, interviews, questionnaires.
4. Analysis and interpretation of research results - qualitative approach. Analysis and interpretation of research results - quantitative approach.
5. Consultation on research topics.
6. Consultation on the presentation of the research project.
Consultations within the seminars will take place outside regular classes in the teacher's office.