Research Methods for Managers

Third Edition of Bestselling Textbook 'With its comprehensive coverage, clear, logical structure and lucid, accessible writing style, this masterful introduction to management research sets a standard others will find hard to emulate. A highly informative "must buy", I strongly recommend this text as essential reading for all engaged in research in management.' - Peter L Jennings, University of Southampton, School of Management 'John Gill and Phil Johnson have written a text which is necessary reading for management students. But it is even more necessary reading for those managers - both of the student and/or practising variety - who in their search for a coherent and hard identity have chosen to see themselves as men and women of action rather than theorisers'-Alex Weich, Westminster Business School 'Gill and Johnson do a first class job of interpreting and personalising the mystique of research in business and management. The new edition of their book offers a wealth of detail encompassing all aspects of research in practice [with] real insights into the process of selecting a research approach and the practical, philosophical and methodological implications that ensue. The authors well-grounded experience shows throughout the work injecting a much needed dose of realism. The result is a well-balanced treatment of the crucial issues in management research. As I was reading through the work, I found myself challenging my own research perceptions and approaches. I personally rate it as a real gem. A must for the questioning research student (and the professional researcher)' - Darren Dalcher, Head of Software Forensics Centre, Middlesex University The new and updated Third Edition of this bestselling introductory text: - Is even more practical and easy to use for students with exercises & an up to date glossary of terms - Provides new and updated examples of management research in practice - Uses detailed examples drawn from published management research to illustrate issues and methodologies - Provides in-depth suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter - Provides a sound basis and will continue to assist students at first degree, diploma, MBA or Doctorate level. The authors address key philosophical matters that are fundamental to any real understanding of the methodological approaches to management research. They challenge the advocacy of some methods over others, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of different methods according to the kinds of data they afford. Research Methods for Managers enables students to take their first steps in project work, confident that they are on firm ground in their choice of methodological approaches.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Starting Management Research The Role of Theory in Research Methods Experimental Research Design Quasi-Experiments and Action Research Survey Research Design Ethnography Its Origins and Practice Issues in Ethnographic Research Making Methodological Choices The Philosophical Basis Conclusion Resolving the Dilemmas in Choosing a Research Strategy

About the Author :
John Gill, before his retirement, was Reader in Management in Sheffield Business School. In recent years Phil has participated in the generation and management of over GBP420, 000 of research funding, over GBP330,000 of which was provided by EPSRC and ESRC. Involved in much of this research have been local public and private sector organizations as sponsors of research and as research sites for both data collection and for change-management interventions. This research has concerned a range of issues including: management control; corporate governance; contractor-client relations; evolving management roles. Recently Phil has engaged in ESRC sponsored research into "Benchmarking Good Practice in Qualitative Management Research" which is part of the ESRC Research Methodology Programme. Currently Phil is a referee for a number of academic journals and reviews book proposals for several major academic publishers. He has also been a guest editor for the journal Management Decision and has recently been appointed as Associate Editor for a new international journal, Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management. Phil's education includes: BA (Hons) Sociology (Sheffield); MSc Organization Development (CNAA); MSc Advance Educational and Social Research Methods (Open University); PhD Management and Organization (CNAA).

Review :
'This book was unusual in that as well as being most informative, it was a most enjoyable read. It managed to achieve exactly what the authors said it would do. It describes in details those issues that are too often missed in contemporary research texts: - How to choose the most appropriate research approach. - Justification of research approaches used. - Philosophical underpinnings of the research approaches. - Sections on further reading. - Worked examples of the various approaches. - Useful exercises for the reader to follow to check their understanding of the substantive text. The text is easy to read, even for the new researcher. It does, however, still have enough depth to be of use to the doctoral student. The reader is led through the research project process in an 'item-by-item' and chronological order. This enables the reader to follow the logic of the steps to be undertaken, as well as preparing them for the likely delays and problems that invariably occur. In this sense this is very much a practical, hands on book that can be 'dipped' in and out of at any stage of the work being undertaken. I would certainly recommend this book to all higher degree students, and interestingly, some of my undergraduate students would find it very useful also' - Dr. Terry Thorne, Lecturer in Nursing, Samuel Fox House 'Research Methods for Managers third edition continues the well established tradition of providing both students and practitioners in social sciences with a highly readable, readily accessible and invaluable introductory resource to guide the formulation, development and operationalisation of methodological approaches to research in management. Succinctly written, yet fully comprehensive this publication stands out from the burgeoning number of research methods of research texts by addressing explicitly the key philosophical principles that lay the foundation for methodology-related decisions. Based upon the authors' extensive experience as practicing researchers, leaders of teams of researchers and supervisors of undergraduate, postgraduate and post-experience students, the text adopts a pragmatic stance toward the realities of management research in the 21st Century. The third edition has been extensively up-dated to incorporate the major new philosophical developments that influence research in social science. Topical yet practical examples of research methods in the field and new tools and techniques to assist the researcher have also been incorporated together with general up-dating to reflect the state of the art of management research. Comprehensive coverage; clear, logical structure; lucid, accessible writing style this masterful introduction to management research sets a standard others will find hard emulate. A highly informative 'must buy' recommendation and essential reading for all engaged in research in management' - Peter L Jennings, University of Southampton, School of Management 'Gill and Johnson do a first class job of interpreting and personalising the mystique of research in business and management. The new edition of their book offers a wealth of detail encompassing all aspects of research in practice. It offers real insights into the process of selecting a research approach and the practical, philosophical and methodological implications that ensue. The book is thoughtful and incisive. The authors well-grounded experience in research shows throughout the work injecting a much needed dose of realism. The result is a well-balanced treatment of the crucial issues in management research. As I was reading through the work, I found myself challenging my own research perceptions and approaches. I personally rate it as a real gem. A must for the questioning research student (and the professional researcher)' - Darren Dalcher, Head of Software Forensics Centre, Middlesex University 'John Gill & Phil Johnson have written a text which is necessary reading for management students. But it is even more necessary reading for those managers - both of the student and/or practising variety - who in their search for a coherent and hard identity have chosen to see themselves as men and women of action rather than theorisers'-Alex Weich, Westminster Business School