Business Research Methods and Application

This assignment delves into the key aspects of business research methods. It begins by explaining simple random sampling and its role in ensuring unbiased data collection. The importance of ethical considerations in research, such as maintaining respondent privacy, is highlighted. The document further explores limitations inherent in research, including time constraints, cost factors, and sample size considerations. Finally, it emphasizes the significance of a well-structured research plan, illustrated through the use of Gantt charts for effective scheduling and project management.

Running head: BUSINESS RESEARCH
Business Research

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Reflection report
1. Evaluate the effectiveness and your usefulness of the learning experience
This reflection report is effective for me to increase the understanding of advantages and
disadvantages of outsourcing the business function. In this way, it is observed that outsourcing is
a process by which business organization can transfer their some part of the business function to
other corporations and also pay fees for it (Schniederjans, et. al., 2015). This learning experience
was useful for me to enhance my professional career as I am competent to involve in the
outsourcing of business function.
From the literature review part, I have learned that outsourcing of business function may enhance
the efficiency of business as well as provides the competitive advantage to the corporation. In
such way, it can be evaluated that there are different causes of using outsourcing the business
function named improvement is payment control, cash flow, staffing and whole business
performance (Cavusgil, et. al., 2014). This learning experience was effective for me to improve
the cash flow of company by outsourcing the business process. Through the study of literature
part, it can be also stated that outsourcing facilitates the expertise and swiftness to the
corporation and also aid to complete the task rapidly with a better result (Sekaran and Bougie,
2016). I have also learned that outsourcing of business function aids to share the risk between
service users and providers.
2. Explain how this learning process will be useful to you
During the learning process, I have observed that outsourcing of business function may generate
a fear of leakage of private information regarding company to other parties. By reading the
research proposal, I have learned that outsourcing of business function may generate quality
concern and can also delay for providing responses. Along with this, I have gained understanding

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regarding streams of outsourcing. In this way, I have observed that there is a different stream of
outsourcing the services like web design, recruitment services, information technology, and
recruitment services.
3. Describe objectively what happened in the learning process
From this research, it is also assessed that corporation can build the business plan to create an
optimum model of outsourcing. It may decline the expenses of outsourcing the business function,
improves the capabilities and outcome of outsourcing the business function. However, some
hidden expenses may increase the entire cost of business operation (Willcocks and Cullen,
2013). As a result, I am able to focus on benefits as well as limitation of outsourcing the business
function which is beneficial to effectively develop the strategy.
4. Evaluate what you learn
The business research was useful for me to develop my research skills as it has increased my
understanding of the different process of research. Further, I have increased my knowledge
regarding research design and methodology. In this way, it can be evaluated that research
methodology defines the different method which will be used to complete the research and
collecting the information (Caruth, et. al., 2013). As a result, I am able to use research
methodology while conducting the research.
5. Explain your learning process
The main reason for conducting the different activities within the research is to complete the
research in a specified time period. The key activity that was used by me is to implement
research method. In this way, it can be determined that mixed research design will be used to
collect the data as it contains the characteristics of both qualitative and quantitative research.

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This activity is used to get the reliable and valid outcome in an appropriate manner (Beckers and
Kloosterman, 2014).
Another activity is related to selecting the research approach. In this way, I have observed that
both qualitative and quantitative approach is used to maintain the research quality. Further, it can
be evaluated that qualitative approach is selected to gather the information in form of
description, opinions, and views whereas quantitative approach is used to gather the data in the
form of numerical data (Runar Edvardsson and Durst, 2014). From this research, I have also
developed my understanding regarding the collection of data. In this way, I have learned that
both primary and secondary data collection method is used to gather the information. In this way,
it can be discussed that primary data is gathered from survey through questionnaire and
secondary data is gathered from articles, journals, textbook and other web sources (Pearce,
2014). This learning experience is significant for me to use this activity in the future.
Through this research, I have gained my experience regarding sampling techniques. In this way,
I have pointed that simple random sampling is used in which every element has the same
probability of getting selected without any biases in research. This learning experience is
valuable for me to become a good researcher as I have great knowledge to choose the
participants from the population. Consequently, I can obtain reliable and valid outcome from the
research. This research is also significant to gain the understanding about ethical consideration.
In this way, it is pointed that ethics is followed while obtaining the research (Markus, and
Jacobson, 2015). Moreover, I have pointed that researcher should keep the privacy of
respondents. Along with this, I have built my knowledge regarding research limitation. In this
way, I have learned that there is a different limitation that creates complexities to do a research
such as time, cost and sample size. This learning experience is significant for me to consider the

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research limitation in the further research. Consequently, I can obtain the accurate result in a
comprehensible manner.
6. Explain Plan how this learning you will applied
From this research, I have built my understanding regarding research schedule. In this way, I
have learned that research plan provides the blueprint to complete the research. At the same time,
it is analyzed that Gantt chart is used to the graphical representation of research schedule (Runar
and Durst, 2014). This learning experience was beneficial for me to complete the each activity in
a specified time period. This learning can be applied to me in future for outsourcing the business
function. Further, this learning can be beneficial to become a good business development
manager in the future.

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References
Beckers, P., and Kloosterman, R. C. (2014) ‘Open to business? An exploration of the impact of
the built environment and zoning plans on local businesses in pre-war and post-war residential
neighborhoods in Dutch cities’, Urban Studies, 51(1), pp. 153-169.
Caruth, D. L., Haden, S. S. P., and Caruth, G. D. (2013) ‘Critical factors in human resource
outsourcing’, Journal of Management Research, 13(3), P. 1.
Cavusgil, S. T., Knight, G., Riesenberger, J. R., Rammal, H. G., and Rose, E. L. (2014)
International business. Australia: Pearson.
Markus, M. L., and Jacobson, D. D. (2015) The governance of business processes. In Handbook
on Business Process Management 2 (pp. 311-332). Berlin: Springer.
Pearce, J. A. (2014) ‘Why domestic outsourcing is leading America's reemergence in global
manufacturing’, Business Horizons, 57(1), pp. 27-36.
Runar Edvardsson, I., and Durst, S. (2014) ‘Outsourcing of knowledge processes: a literature
review’, Journal of Knowledge Management, 18(4), pp.795-811.
Schniederjans, M. J., Schniederjans, A. M., and Schniederjans, D. G. (2015) Outsourcing and
insourcing in an international context. UK: Routledge.
Sekaran, U., and Bougie, R. (2016) Research methods for business: A skill building approach.
USA: John Wiley and Sons.
Willcocks, L., and Cullen, S. (2013) Intelligent IT outsourcing. UK: Routledge.