Management and Business Research - Hardcover

Easterby-Smith, Mark; Thorpe, Richard; Jackson, Paul R; Jaspersen, Lena J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1526424797 ISBN 13: 9781526424792

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2018

Synopsis

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:

• 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 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.

About this title

About the Author

Mark Easterby-Smith is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Lancaster. His field is organizational learning. He has a first degree in Engineering Science and a PhD in Organizational Behaviour from Durham University and  has been an active researcher for over 30 years with primary interests in methodology and learning processes. He has carried out evaluation studies in many European companies, and has led research projects on management development, organizational learning, dynamic capabilities and knowledge transfer across international organizations in the UK, India and China.

Review

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.
Author: Fran Ackermann Published On: 2018-04-09

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.

Author: Alan Chan

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. Author: 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.

Author: Andy Vicat

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. Author: 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. Author: Sinead Shean

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. Author: Christian Bretter

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1526424797
• ISBN 13: 9781526424792
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 6
• Number of pages: 464