7CO04 Business Research in People Practice Assignment Help Outline Example

7CO04 Business Research in People Practice Assignment Help Outline Example

Task 1: Be able to plan a people practice business research project aimed at adding organisational value.

1.1 Justify terms of reference (ToR) for the business project.

1. Give a brief description of terms of reference in a business project
2. Give a brief description of a business project
3. Justification of terms of reference in a business project – Why are terms of reference important for the business project?
   1. It sets out clear expectations after completion of the business project
   2. A ToR provides a well-defined scope of work for achieving the highest value of the project
   3. A ToR promotes accountability of all stakeholders involved in the project
4. What are the implications of having a ToR in a business project, for people practice professionals in an organisation?
5. Counterargument
   1. What if there are no terms of reference? What are the negative impacts to the business project?

1.2 Critically analyse key publications and other evidence to underpin the research questions.

1. What are research questions?
2. Give a brief description of what it means by key publications underpinning the research questions. For example:
   1. Relevant literature from textbooks, internet, journals and databases.
   2. Previous studies on the subject of research
3. What other evidence underpin the research questions?
   1. Current trends
   2. Frameworks: for example
      • SPIDER (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research type)
      • CLIP (Client group, Location of provided service Improvement /Information /Innovation, Professionals)
4. The importance of using key publications and other evidence to underpin the research questions.
   1. Knowledge gaps are identified in order to develop research in a new topic/field
   2. Better research questions are developed based on evidence
   3. New solution areas to support the questions are identified
   4. Assurance of conducting a quality research
5. What are the challenges experienced when using key publications and other evidence to underpin the research questions?
6. What are the implications for people practice professionals when conducting business research?

1.3 Develop a range of questions aimed at addressing the project’s main focus and outcomes.

The projects name in our business is Social Media Content Creation and Implementation for customer growth

1. Research questions addressing the project’s main focus
   1. How do employees perceive social media content creation and implementation for the business?
   2. How does the management perceive social media content creation and implementation for the business?
   3. How can the management effectively execute social media content creation and implementation for the business?
2. Research questions addressing the project’s Outcomes
   1. How does social media content creation and implementation enhance customer growth for the business?
   2. To what extent will social media content creation and implementation enhance customer growth for the business?
   3. Does social media content creation and implementation predict customer growth for the business?

Task 2: Be able to justify the most appropriate research methods to collect data for the chosen project.

2.1 Assess differences between primary and secondary data, including the value of different research methods.

1. Give a brief description of primary data? For example;
   1. Interview transcript
   2. Observation notes
   3. Market research
   4. Student’s thesis
2. Give a brief description of secondary data? For example’
   1. Published sources
   2. Unpublished sources – customer feedback
   3. Books and journals
3. Differences between primary and secondary data
   1. The sources
   2. Methods of data collection
   3. Methods of data analysis
4. Different research methods
   1. Quantitative research – For example; correlational research, experimental, surveys
   2. Qualitative research – Case study, Ethnography, interviews, focus groups
   3. Mixed methods research – combines quantitative and qualitative methods
5. The value of different research methods
   1. Strengths
   2. Weaknesses

2.2 Justify the most appropriate research methods to support the project’s intended outcomes.

1. Give a brief description of projects intended outcomes. For example;
   1. Achievement of project’s goals and objectives
   2. Achievement of the quality of the deliverables and their impact
   3. Stakeholder satisfaction
   4. Timely completion of the project
2. The most appropriate research methods to support the project’s intended outcomes
   1. Surveys
   2. Interviews
   3. Focus groups
   4. Observations
   5. Document reviews
      • The strengths of these research methods in supporting the project’s intended outcomes.

2.3 Critically assess the ethical issues surrounding data collection, usage and storage for the project.

1. Give a brief description of ethical issues?
2. What is the context of data collection, usage and storage for the project? For example
   1. Gathering data for a specific purpose like strategic planning, and business decision-making
   2. Storing data in a safe and accessible manner
   3. Using data for making predictions, analysing outcomes and answering research questions
3. Ethical issues surrounding data collection, usage and storage for the project
   1. Privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity
   2. Consent and transparency
   3. Accountability and security
   4. Legal compliance and potential misuse
   5. Appropriate compensation
4. Why is it important for people practice professionals to consider ethical issues surrounding data collection, usage and storage for the project?
5. Counterargument – What if ethical issues are not considered? What are the negative effects?

Task 3: Be able to analyse data to make decisions and provide business and people management insights

3.1 Appraise the costs of different approaches to data collection and analysis for the project.

1. What is entailed in data collection for the project?
2. What is entailed in data analysis for the project?
3. Different approaches to data collection for the project. For example;
   1. Interviews
   2. Surveys
   3. Observation
   4. Focus groups
4. Different approaches to data analysis for the project. For example;
   1. Thematic analysis
   2. Narrative analysis
   3. Content analysis
   4. Descriptive analysis
   5. Inferential analysis
      • Costs involved in these different approaches to data collection and analysis for the project.

• • • 1. Human resource costs – analyst salaries,
      2. Operational costs; for example data storage, hardware upgrades
      3. Software licence costs

5. Why is it important for people practice professionals to understand these costs during data collection and analysis for the project?
6. Counterargument – What are the adverse effects of not considering the costs of different approaches to data collection and analysis for the project? Use examples to explain the answer

3.2 Design an appropriate strategy for analysing, organising and interpreting data collected from research.

1. Appropriate strategy for analysing, organising and interpreting data collecting from research

Analysing quantitative data – Strategy – Using Descriptive analysis

1. Organising – organising data into consistent formats
2. 1. Choose the method of data analysis – Example; data analysis using measures of central tendency
   2. Group data initiatives as they relate to specific business needs/ Align data with business objectives
   3. Evaluate the data analytics and maturity or applicability
   4. Choose the technology that works best for the situation
   5. Compare multiple-choice response rates.
3. Analysing – Group the data to identify patterns, characteristics or trends
   1. 1. Use frequency distributions to cross-tabulate to compare responses between groups.
      2. Measure the volume of response over time.
      3. Mode.
      4. Median.
      5. Mean.
4. Interpreting – inferential analysis
   1. Draw conclusions from the results
   2. Determine if results are meaningful. Using notes, answer questions including;

• • 1. Was there a change in participant’s response over time?
    2. Were participants different from the target population?
    3. Describe the significance

3.3 Present the findings of the business project clearly and logically and aimed towards the intended audience.

1. Presentation of findings – for quantitate data
   1. Charts – Visualise trends and relationships
   2. Graphs – Visualise trends and relationships
   3. Tables – communicate exact values

Task 4: Be able to propose recommendations based on conclusions derived from the research and analysis.

4.1 Justify conclusions derived from analysis of key findings, which align to the terms of reference.

1. Conclusions
   1. What do the results mean? Do these results make sense? Are they surprising, significant
   2. What are the implications?
   3. What patterns and themes emerge? Are they meaningful in a practical way?
   4. Are there any deviations of pattern? What explains the deviations?
2. Do the conclusions support the research objective?
3. Do the conclusions answer the research questions?
4. Do the conclusions create an avenue for further research?

4.2 Propose business-focused recommendations, action points and a cost-benefit analysis.

4.2.1 Recommendations:

1. From the conclusion, the following recommendations should be made;
   1. The areas of improvement
   2. Do the conclusion lead to more questions about the subject of research?
   3. Is there any need of additional data required?

4.2.2 Action points: For the success of the project, things that will put in place include;

1. Defined goals
2. Assigned responsibilities
3. Allocation of resources
4. Monitoring of progress
5. Have a set timeline
6. A defined project scope

4.2.3 Cost-benefit analysis:

1. Costs

• 1. Direct costs
  2. Indirect costs
  3. Intangible costs
  4. Opportunity costs
  5. Costs of potential risks

2. Benefits

• 1. Direct
  2. Indirect
  3. Total benefits
  4. Net benefits

3. Calculations

1. 1. Return on investment (ROI)
   2. Internal rate of return (IRR)
   3. Net present value (NPV)
   4. Payback period (PBP).
   5. Cost-benefit ratio
   6. Present value

4.3 Evaluate the success of the project, including ways in which to improve future project design and delivery.

Success of the project

1. The project will be considered success if it meets the following criteria;
   1. 1. Completion on time
      2. Completed within the agreed project scope
      3. The project meets the quality standards
      4. The project meets the business goals and objectives
      5. The stakeholders are satisfied
      6. The project delivers the expected business value and return on investment