Management and Business Research

Get 24 months FREE access to an interactive eBook when purchasing the paperback* The Sixth Edition continues to give students a comprehensive overview of what is needed to carry-out successful and effective research, with practical hands-on guidance on how to conduct a dissertation project or research thesis, in business and management. New to This Edition: Complimentary fully integrated interactive eBook version. Coverage of online data collection, netnography, big data and data visualization. Research philosophy in chapter 3 is further supported and enhanced by an author video overview available online and a pull out at the back of the book that gives a useful visual representation of each key component of the research process using a tree as a metaphor. Annotated further reading recommendations. An important new feature is the "Research in Action" textboxes, which consist of engaging accounts of real-world research experiences from academics, practitioners and students. Examples include measuring the impact of development programmes on Chinese rural communities, and qualitative data being used to measure the experiences of UK taxi drivers. Each contributor has also given a practical 'top tip' for doing research successfully. The book is complemented by a FREE Interactive eBook and online resources including PowerPoint slides, datasets, multiple-choice questions, e-flashcards and links to additional online material. Suitable reading for any student carrying out a research project, dissertation or thesis in business and management. *Interactivity only available through the eBook included as part of paperback product (ISBN 9781526446954). Access not guaranteed on second-hand copies (as access code may have previously been redeemed).

About the Author :
Mark Easterby-Smith passed away in 2020. He was an Emeritus Professor at the University of Lancaster. His field was organizational learning. He had a first degree in Engineering Science and a PhD in Organizational Behaviour from Durham University and was an active researcher for over 30 years with primary interests in methodology and learning processes. He carried out evaluation studies in many European companies, and led research projects on management development, organizational learning, dynamic capabilities and knowledge transfer across international organizations in the UK, India and China. Mark published numerous academic papers and over ten books including: Auditing Management Development (Gower, 1980); The Challenge to Western Management Development (Routledge, 1989); Evaluation of Management Education, Training and Development (Gower, 1994); Organizational Learning and the Learning Organization (Sage, 1998); The Handbook of Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management, 2nd edn (Wiley, 2011). At Lancaster he was, variously, Director of the School's Doctoral Programme, Director of the Graduate Management School and Head of Department. Externally he spent several years as a visiting faculty member on the International Teachers' Programme, acting as Director when it was held at the London Business School in 1984. During the early 1990s he was national co-ordinator of the Management Teaching Fellowship Scheme funded by the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which was responsible for training 180 new faculty members across UK management schools. He was a former member of the ESRC Post-graduate Training Board and was President of the British Academy of Management in 2006 and Dean of Fellows in 2008. Richard Thorpe is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Leeds where he was latterly Professor of Management Development and Pro Dean for Research at Leeds University Business School. His early industrial experience informed the way his ethos has developed. Common themes are a strong commitment to process methodologies and a focus on action in all its forms; an interest in and commitment to the development of doctoral students and the development of capacity within the sector; and a commitment to collaborative working on projects of mutual interest. Following a number of years in industry, he joined Strathclyde University as a researcher studying incentive payment schemes. This led to collaboration on Payment Schemes and Productivity (Macmillan, 1986). In 1980 he joined Glasgow University where he widened his research interests to include small firm growth and development as well as making regular contributions to the Scottish Business School's doctoral programme. In 1983 he attended the International Teachers' Programme in Sweden where he met Mark and embarked on a PhD under Mark's supervision. Collaboration continued through the 1990s with the ESRC Teaching Fellowship Scheme. In 1996 he was instrumental in establishing the Graduate Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University and in 2003 joined the ESRC Training and Development Board. There, he was involved in establishing the training guidelines for both doctorate and professional doctorate provision and more recently in initiatives to address capacity building in management and business. In 2003 he contributed to the ESRC's Evolution of Business Knowledge programme. His research interests have included: performance, remuneration and entrepreneurship, management learning and development and leadership, and he has published (with others) a number of books including: Remuneration Systems (Financial Times/Prentice Hall, 2000); Management and Language: The Manager as Practical Author (Sage, 2003); The SAGE Dictionary of Qualitative Management Research (Sage, 2008); Performance Management: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (Palgrave, 2008); Gower Handbook of Leadership and Management Development (Gower, 2010) ) and more recently, two research methods books, Management Research, in the Sage 'A very Short, Fairly Interesting and reasonably Cheap Book About' series and A Guide to Professional Doctorates in Business and Management (Sage, 2015). He was a past Present of the British Academy of Management in 2007, Dean of Fellows in 2012 and in 2009-2015 he was Chair of the Society for the Advancement of Management Studies. In this latter role he initiated the ESRC/SAMS/UKCES Management and Business Fellowship Scheme.

Review :
A highly insightful and easy read which provides a great overview about current methods of qualitative research, their advantages, disadvantages as well as their practical application and thus, it prepares researchers to conduct research in a profound manner. The design of the book, especially the usage of the colours appear to be very modern and "lively. The section about interviews, especially with regard to laddering and probes are excellent in order to understand how to get the most out of the interview and therefore the research.--Christian Bretter I find the design of the book very reader-friendly. The language is simple to understand, and the illustrations and examples are excellent. The length of discussion is appropriate, with the right amount of information presented. I have never done a dissertation in my previous studies, and I have no idea how to collect data. In particular, I do not know what types of data collection there are, and the pros and cons for each type. Therefore, information on data collection is of most help to me. A comprehensive and well written textbook on research. An excellent resource for management and business students.--Alan Chan I've already written my methodology, however, I'll be going back through it using the tree metaphor. I had been approaching my methodology from a fairly superficial perspective, just looking at the 'bark' you could say. However, it'll be really helpful to look deeper into the other sections of the tree trunk to ensure my method is based on the correct assumptions. Additionally, I'm a visual learner and can get lost in blocks of text, therefore, the visual representation is very helpful. To all students, starting your dissertation can be a very daunting task and I know that I rushed into it without fully understanding the process. Therefore, I would say if you, like me, feel completely overwhelmed by your dissertation project then this is an excellent resource to help guide you through the process.--Eleanor Pownall-Gray The 'tree metaphor' has provided me with an excellent visual aid of how to approach my future research projects. Prior to seeing this metaphor I struggled with the putting the wide range of features of research into an identifiable perspective. The metaphor assists an understanding of the rich depth required to understand what is required to understand research as if it was itself a topic of investigation. This book is an accessible and coherent guide to learning the philosophy and practical underpinnings of conducting research.--Sinead Shean The area of Research Methods is often perceived as either daunting or tiresome to those starting their research journey, however this book through its well-structured and engaging format resolves these concerns. The combination of resources not only provides stimulation but also caters to a wealth of different learning styles and is very accessible. A great book for those at undergraduate or PhD level. --Fran Ackermann This book provides a number of routes to effective learning, be it visual aids, interactive group work or online access, to name but three. It is clearly laid out and the variety of learning tools keeps the learner engaged. The 'tree metaphor' feature is a great 'big picture' view, we all like a good metaphor to help us get our heads round what for many will be a new subject area. It really assists the reader to visualise the essence of the discreet building blocks required to complete a comprehensive research project. The exercises are good for tactile learning, and the ebook for those requiring an alternative access point for learning.--Andrew Wool The book gives very comprehensive coverage of the research process in an accessible way that is relevant to newcomers and hardened practitioners. From my perspective, the book is very relevant for preparing for my MBA dissertation. The opening chapters help with the difficult task of identifying a suitable research subject and reading around the topic. The later chapters describe the research process and methods of data gathering. Especially useful are the chapters on statistical analysis which can be daunting for many students who have not had formal training.--Andy Vicat