Contents of the Business Research Proposal

Contents of the Proposal

The proposal for the research project work should include the following contents: 1. Title 2. Background Background of of the area of research research project project-- why is this this research research necessary necessary from the the organizational organizational perspective . !ro"lem statement including phenomenon under study# study# research $uestion# research o"jectives %as is situation of the o"jectives& 'ationale %(mportance) %(mportance) Benefits& of the the research project project indicating a need of this en$uiry to address pertinent pro"lems- this can "e included in the "ackground of the area of research project as well *. Brief literat literature ure review review and concept conceptual ual sketch sketch or theoret theoretical ical framework framework## if necessary necessary +. !lanned !lanned methodolo methodology gy with possi" possi"le le in$uiry in$uiry tool)s tool)s to "e used and pro"a"le pro"a"le source source of empirical empirical data ,. pected pected finding findingss and their their potential potential contri" contri"utio ution n to a practicing practicing manager  manager  /. 'eferences 0. ork plan plan of the the resea research rch proj project ect work  work  9. Don’t Don’t forget forget the the APA APA style style of forma format. t.

Structuring the Research Proposal Problem Statement

(n this section# the study states the management dilemma# its "ackground# its conse$uences# and the resulting management $uestion. The importance of answering the management $uestion should "e emphasized here if a separate module on the importance)"enefits of study is not included later in the  proposal. (n addition# addition# this section should should include any restrictions restrictions or areas of the management management $uestion that will not "e addressed. !ro"lem statements too "roadly defined cannot "e addressed ade$uately in one study. study. (t is important that the management $uestion distinguish the primary pro"lem f rom related pro"lems clearly. Be sure your  pro"lem statement is clear clear without the use of idioms idioms or clichs. 3fter reading this this section# it should should "e clear that what the management dilemma and the $uestion# its significance# and why something should "e done to change the status $uo4

Research Objectives

This module addresses the purpose of the investigation. (t is here that you lay out eactly what is "eing  planned "y the proposed proposed research. (n a descriptive descriptive study# study# the o"jectives can can "e stated as the research $uestion. 'ecall that the research $uestion can "e further "roken down into investigative $uestions. (f the  proposal is for a causal study# study# then the o"jectives o"jectives can "e restated as a hypothesis. hypothesis.

The o"jectives module flows naturally from the pro"lem statement# giving specific# concrete# and achieva"le goals. (t is "est to list the o"jectives in order of importance. %research $uestion followed "y underlying investigative $uestions&. The research o"jectives section is the "asis for judging the remainder of the proposal and# ultimately# the final report. 5erify the consistency of the proposal "y checking to see that each o"jective is discussed in the research design# data analysis# and results sections.

iterature Revie!

The literature revie! section eamines recent %or historically significant& research studies# company data# or industry reports that act as a "asis for the proposed study. Begin your discussion of the related literature and relevant secondary data from a comprehensive perspective# moving to more specific studies that are associated with your pro"lem. (f the pro"lem has a historical "ackground# "egin with the earliest references. 3 literature review might reveal that the organization)sponsor can answer the management $uestion with a secondary data search rather than the collection of primary data.

3void the etraneous details of the literature6 do a "rief review of the information# not a comprehensive report. 3lways refer to the original source. (f you find something of interest in a $uotation# find the original pu"lication and ensure you understand it. (n this way# you will avoid any errors of  interpretation or transcription. mphasize the important results and conclusions of other studies# the relevant data and trends from previous research# and particular methods or designs that could "e duplicated or should "e avoided. 7iscuss how the literature applies to the study you are proposing6 show the weaknesses or faults in the design# discussing how you would avoid similar pro"lems. (f  your proposal deals solely with secondary data# discuss the relevance of the data and the "ias or lack  of "ias inherent in it.

The literature review may also eplain the need for the proposed work to appraise the shortcomings and) or informational gaps in secondary data sources. This analysis may go "eyond scrutinizing the availa"ility or conclusions of past studies and their data# to eamining the accuracy of secondary sources# the credi"ility of these sources# and the appropriateness of earlier studies.

8lose the literature review section "y summarizing the important aspects of the literature and interpreting them in terms of your pro"lem. 'efine the pro"lem as necessary in light of your findings and design conceptual framework as per your literature review.

Research Design

9p to now# you have told the management what the pro"lem is# what your study goals are# and why it is

important for you to do the study. The proposal has presented the studys value and "enefits. The design module descri"es what you are going to do in technical terms. This section should include as many su"sections as needed to show the phases of the project. !rovide information on your proposed design for tasks such as sample selection and size# data collection method# instrumentation# procedures# and ethical re$uirements. hen more than one way eists to approach the design# discuss the methods you have rejected and why your selected approach is superior.

Data Analysis "Can be inclu#e# in Research Design section un#er metho#ology$

3 "rief section on the methods used for analyzing the data is appropriate for large-scale contract research projects and doctoral theses. ith smaller projects# the proposed data analysis would "e included within the research design section. (t is in this section that you descri"e your proposed handling of the data and the theoretical "asis for using the selected techni$ues. The o"ject of this section is to assure the management you are following correct assumptions and using theoretically sound data analysis procedures. . The data analysis section is so important to evaluating contract research proposals that the researcher  should contact an epert to review the latest techni$ues availa"le for use in the particular research study and compare these to the proposed techni$ues in real scenario. .

%ature an# &orm of Results "'(pecte# Results$

9pon finishing this section# one should "e a"le to go "ack to the statement of the management $uestion and research o"jectives and discover that each goal of the study has "een covered. ;ne should also specify the types of data to "e o"tained and the interpretations that will "e made in the analysis.

This section also contains the statement telling the management eactly what types of information will "e received.
)or*+ Plan

(n this section# your timeline for conducting research. (n professional Business 'esearch# there are sections of "udget re$uired.