Saunders et al. (2016) define research as “a Process that People Undertake in a Systematic Way in order to Find out Things: Integrative Research and Consultancy Project Case Study, LSBF, Singapore

Saunders et al. (2016) define research as “a process that people undertake in a systematic way in order to find out things, thereby increasing their knowledge”

There are several inherently important characteristics of research: “[It] is based on logical relationships and not just beliefs” (ibid); “[It] will involve an explanation of the method or methods used to collect the data, will argue why the results obtained are meaningful and will explain any limitations that are associated with them” (ibid); It has a purpose, including, but not limited to “describing, explaining, understanding, criticizing and analyzing” (ibid). Business research presents additional challenges to the researcher. It is multi-disciplinary and involves dealing with the assumptions of all the fields it draws on.

It involves the researcher working with people who are often very highly educated. And finally, it is often expected to lead to some sort of practical consequence – when it is not perceived to, the researcher’s access to resources (i.e. people or data) may be limited. As we can see, research demands much of the researcher.

We will all inevitably have our own approach to research in terms of how we work, write, manage our time, etc. Considering that, the path to success will have many different routes. However, when considering the starting point, it’s hard to disagree with a quote from professional skater PJ Ladd: “Respect the building blocks, master the fundamentals, and the potential is unlimited.”

Among the building blocks of a good dissertation are the research question(s), research aims, research objectives, and hypotheses. Your research question(s) will express “what your research is about and will become the focal point of your research project” (Saunders et al., 2016, p. 60). The aims will suggest what your study will do. The objectives are similar, suggesting how, or what practical steps the study will take to answer the research questions. Hypotheses, which come in various forms, are the answers you predict will come out of the study. They are what you will test in the course of your research.

Based on the above, please complete the following tasks: Briefly introduce your research topic. Justify the focus of your study by providing links to relevant theory and presenting industry background; Draft research question(s), research aims, research objectives, and hypotheses. If you will not use hypotheses in your research, briefly state why; Write an assessment of your research question on the basis of the SMART Suggest alternatives to your research question(s) and explain why you chose Please read the task and information provided carefully.