DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND POINTS TO PONDER -- Chapter One

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND POINTS TO PONDER

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

2.            For what specific purpose is Basic Research important?

3.            When is applied research, as distinct from basic research, useful?

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

5.            Explain giving reasons which is more important -applied or basic research.

6.            Give two specific instances where an external research team would be useful and two other scenarios where an internal research team will be deployed, with adequate explanations as to why each scenario is justified for an external or internal team.

7.           

Describe a situation where research will help you as a manager to make a good decision.

8.

Given the situations below, (a) discuss with reasons, whether they will fall into the category of Applied or Basic research, and (b) for scenario 1 explain with reasons, who will conduct the research.

Scenario 1

To Acquire or Not to Acquire: That is the Question

Companies are much interested in acquiring other firms even when the latter operate in totally unrelated realms of business. For example, Gencore Industries manufacturing asphalt plants for road construction acquired Ingersoll-Rand in 1996, and later acquired yet another company engaged in the business of food processing. Such acquisitions are claimed to "work miracles". However, given the volatility of the stock market and the slowing down of business, many companies are not sure whether such acquisitions are becoming too risky. At the same time, they also wonder if they are missing out on a great business opportunity if they fail to engage in this activity. Some research is needed here!

Scenario 2

Reasons for Absenteeism

A university professor desired to analyze in depth the reasons for absenteeism of employees in organizations. 

Scenario 3

Effects of Nasal Spray on Flu

A research scientist surveys 1000 employees in different organizational settings to study the efficacy of several types of nasal sprays in controlling the flu virus. He subsequently publishes his findings in a highly respected medical journal.

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

The manager, while managing people, products, events, and environments will

invariably face problems, big and small, and will have to seek ways to find long

lasting effective solutions. This can be achieved only through knowledge of

research even if consultants are engaged to solve problems.

2.            For what specific purpose is Basic Research important?

Basic research is important for generating and building upon the existing knowledge in the areas of interest. It offers the foundation for applied research by which one can circumvent reinventing the wheel.

3.            When is applied research, as distinct from basic research, useful?

Applied research is useful in solving specific problems in particular situations

where early action might be needed to solve problems in organizations.

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

The manager who knows how to relate to researchers facilitates the problem

solving process and benefits the research team as well as the organization. The

one who is not adept at this will frustrate and be frustrated during the research

process and thereafter.

Being capable of handling the manager-researcher relationship is thus a big

advantage and some of the nuances of handling research teams are:

(i)

knowing how much and what information to give to the team;

(ii)          

meaningful and purposeful interactions with the team members;

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(iii)          stating up front what records of the company will and will not be accessible to the team members and expressing the core values of the system.

5.            Explain giving reasons which is more important -applied or basic research.

Both are equally important. Without basic research, applied research cannot work as well, and if the results of basic research are not applied, such research would be futile. Whereas basic research is the foundation of knowledge, applied research is its practical application and helps to provide the additional information base for theory building and further generation of knowledge.

6.            Give two specific instances where an external research team would be useful and two other scenarios where an internal research team will be deployed, with adequate explanations as to why each scenario is justified for an external or internal team.

The answers will vary.

For the external team, the suggestions could be:

a.           

to help non-tech companies to build up sophisticated technology in their environment; (only those with specialized knowledge of technology can help non-tech companies)

b.           

to evaluate the successful and deficient operations of the company (to avoid bias of internal team members).

For the internal team, it could be:

a.           

to figure out how the companies affected by the September 11 th disaster can rebuild themselves; (internal team would be more knowledgeable about the company and could rebuild faster);

b.           

to solve the problem of consistent losses of a small division of a large company (only a small pocket of a large company is involved and the situation can be rectified by the internal team).

7.           

Describe a situation where research will help you as a manager to make a good decision.

8.

Given the situations below, (a) discuss with reasons, whether they will fall into the category of Applied or Basic research, and (b) for scenario 1 explain with reasons, who will conduct the research.

Again, the answers will vary. One scenario is that a work team fails to deliver results time and again.

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Scenario 1

To Acquire or Not to Acquire: That is the Question

Companies are much interested in acquiring other firms even when the latter operate in totally unrelated realms of business. For example, Gencore Industries manufacturing asphalt plants for road construction acquired Ingersoll-Rand in 1996, and later acquired yet another company engaged in the business of food processing. Such acquisitions are claimed to "work miracles". However, given the volatility of the stock market and the slowing down of business, many companies are not sure whether such acquisitions are becoming too risky. At the same time, they also wonder if they are missing out on a great business opportunity if they fail to engage in this activity. Some research is needed here!

This is a general issue that relates to all or most companies contemplating acquisitions. Of course, the results of the study are likely to be useful to, and applied by all the concerned companies. This could fall into the realm of basic or applied research, depending on who sponsors the study. If one company or a consortium of companies investigates the issue to find an answer for immediate application, then it will be applied research On the other hand, if a Finance professor in a university undertakes the study as a matter of academic interest, it will be basic research. Either an individual such as a professor or a finance expert can do this basic research, or a company or consortium of companies can undertake the applied research.

Scenario 2

Reasons for Absenteeism

A university professor desired to analyze in depth the reasons for absenteeism of employees in organizations. Fortunately, a company within 20 miles of the campus, employed her as a consultant to study this very issue.

The basic research aspiration of the professor has taken the form of applied research in this particular system, where they would apply the findings of her research to solve the problem. No doubt, the professor would continue her

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research in a variety of organizations to add to the existing base of knowledge on absenteeism and continue the topic as a basic research project.

Scenario 3

Effects of Nasal Spray on Flu

A research scientist surveys 1000 employees in different organizational settings to study the efficacy of several types of nasal sprays in controlling the flu virus. He subsequently publishes his findings in a highly respected medical journal.

This will be a case of basic research, the purpose of which was to study the efficacy of different nasal sprays and add to the body of existing medical knowledge.

SUGGESTED STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE NEXT WEEK

Read Chapter 1 and make sure that the chapter objectives have been met for you. Also, come prepared with answers for discussions on the questions at the end of the chapter.

Read Chapter 2 to get a feel for its contents.