The managing director of a company, established before the dawn of independence is facing a problem. The company which was initially profitable and...

The managing director of a company, established before the dawn of independence is facing a problem. The company which was initially profitable and attracted very many graduates to work with is currently unprofitable. It is operating, in the MD’s opinion, inefficiently. The company offers a wide range of communications facilities including parcel services in the country, region and worldwide. Initially, the company was a monopolist but the changing world market trends and globalization; survival will be more difficult in the future. In particular, many communications and parcel service delivery companies
are bypassing its services by not only offering door to door delivery but also offering the services at affordable rates. In addition, many of the companies that have joined the communications and parcel services have stationed themselves in various strategic positions so that customers can reach at their service delivery points at ease. As a research consultant, the MD has commissioned you to undertake a comprehensive study on the firm as a whole to determine possible strategies the company can undertake to face the existing problem.

i) State an appropriate research title for the research.
ii) Identify a possible research problem from the above case study for a proposed study.
iii) Formulate three possible research objectives and three possible research questions for the
proposed study.
iv) In formulating your objectives above, what factors did you take into consideration?
v) Briefly explain some ways that you would use to improve the reliability and validity of the study
vi) Explain any four ethical considerations that you would bear in mind while conducting your
research.
Vii) Conceptualize variables in the above situation that could be used in a conceptual framework

Answers

I)Research title
A study on factors leading to poor performance of the company.

II) Research problem.
The company was performing good and attracting more graduates but recently the performance has declined since it no longer enjoys the monopoly power it was enjoying previously. Competitors have entered into the industry and provide better services at affordable rates and they are also strategically located.There is need to determine factors leading to decline in performance in this company because so many people depends on it for employment and services.

III) Research objectives
a) To determine how the current market trend affect the operation efficiency of the company.
b)To find out extent to which competitors affect the operations of the company.
c)To investigate extent to which strategic position of the company affects its operation.

Research Questions
a) How does the current market trend affect the operation efficiency of the company.
b) To what extent does competitors affect the operation of the company.
c)How does the strategic position of the company affects its operation.

IV) Factors to consider while formulating objectives.
a)should be closely related to the statement of the problem.
b) They should specify what you Will do in your study, where and for what purpose.
c) Should systematically address the key factors that are assumed to influence or cause a problem.

V) improving reliability and validity of the study.
a) The choice of sample size should reflect the population and have a correct sample size which is obtained through systematic and scientific selection.
b) Researcher should avoid being biased in the entire process and icase of quantitative research appropriate statistical analysis of data should be applied.
c) Ethical issues and standards should be observed.

VI) Ethical consideration when doing research.
Confidentiality, co-authorship and human rights should not be violated.

Animal welfare,safety and healthy standards must be considered.

VII) Variables
a) Dependent
Company performance
b)Independent variables
Strategic position of the company, competitors ( affordable rate and door to door services), current market trend( globalization)

sande kevin answered the question on December 26, 2017 at 13:41

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