Research Project Plan: Apple

This research project proposes a qualitative study to investigate the long-term effects of living in a technologically advanced world, using Apple as a case study. The rationale highlights the rapid technological changes and their impact on society, citing various authors. The aim is to identify whether these effects are predominantly positive or negative. The objectives include examining technological shifts, identifying positive and negative impacts, analyzing increased competition, and recommending ways to mitigate negative effects. The research will employ a qualitative approach using thematic analysis of primary data (a questionnaire survey of 50 Apple employees) and secondary data (books, articles, etc.). A timeline for the project is included, outlining stages from proposal drafting to data analysis and final report writing.

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RESEARCH PROJECT PLAN
(PROPOSAL)
Topic: To identify the long-term effects of living in a technological world. Are these
mostly negative or positive?: A case study on Apple
Rationale/
Backgroun
d:
According to Landes (2003) there are various changes takes place within the
countries due to the rapidly changing and fastest growing technologies.
Technological change is becoming one of the most important concern due to
which companies are going through the fast and rapid development of their
product development. There are various long term i.e. positive or negative effects
of living in this technological world. In case of comparing the lifestyle of people
in today’s time it is being identified that it is more high tech and advanced as
compared to previous years. David, Levy and Murnane (2001) states that living
in this technological world allows people to achieve great things in just a short
period of time. There are several advantages as well as disadvantages of
technological changing world.
The present study is based on the case study of Apple company which is one of
the fastest growing technological industries. It is an American multinational
technology company which design, develop and sells consumer electronics as
well as online services. The company has set an example of all the positive
impacts of the technological changes by providing high tech solution to their
consumers. Further, this study will explore long term effects on the living of
consumers within this technological changing world and era.
Introducti
on
For many years now technology has been changing rapidly the world in which
we live. Due to the fast and rapid changes in technologies people are able to do
more with one device. According to Perrow (2011) living in technological world
made the communication easier. With the help of this radical shift people can talk
and see other people living across the boundaries. It helps them in keeping in
touch. Further, this has given several opportunities not only friends and family
but also for businessman as well. Increasing technological change provides easier
access to people from different countries and this had open greater opportunities
on their business. There is a huge transformation in the technological equipment
and it has made people’s life quite relaxing. Online shopping as well as
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increasing use of social media are the best example through which advancement
can be explained.
According to Hekkert (2007) with having various positive impacts there are some
negative and adverse long term effects of technological changes. Due to the
wrong use of advanced technological change, people are going through
developing social isolation. It also created the perfect formula for depression due
to the inactive lifestyle of people. According to Bates (2003) people that suffer
from social isolation are identified to live a shorter life. Another most common
disadvantage of living in this technological world is poor sleeping. Most of the
people spent lots of time of social networking sites as well as various other online
activities. However, advances in technologies have had its positive impact on
individuals as well as business class people.
Further, technological change and advancement have developed huge
competition for almost all the technological industries (Jasanoff, 2003). It has led
to greater competition and most of the companies are surviving to develop better
strategies for their business and reduce the increasing competition.
Aim of the
research
To identify the long-term effects of living in a technological world. Are these
mostly negative or positive?: A case study on Apple
Objectives
of the
research
1. To examine the technological radical shift in this world.
2. To identify the positive as well as negative impact of the technological
changing world.
3. To examine the increasing competition within the world due to the
increasing technologies.
4. To recommend various ways through which negative effects of
technological shift can be reduced by Apple.
Research
questions
Or
Hypothesis
e
1. What are the positive as well as negative impacts of the technological
changing world?
2. To recommend various ways through which negative effects of
technological shift can be reduced by Apple?
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Research
strategy:
Qualitative
approach
v/s
Quantitati
ve
approach
Research approach provides right direction and path to researcher in order to
carry out the whole study in an effective manner. There are mainly two types of
research approaches i.e. qualitative as well quantitative. In case of applying
quantitative approach researcher need to use mathematical tools such as SPSS,
Ms-Excel etc (Saunders and et.al, 2007). Quantitative research type makes use of
hypothesis testing and conceptions If the aims of the study are defining the
particular state of problem then a research is said to be qualitative. The present
study is based on the qualitative analysis under which researcher will go through
the proper analysis of research objectives by the way of using thematic analysis.
It provides graphical representations and also prepares various themes as per the
findings.
Primary/
Secondary
Research
One of the most important tasks for any research is to go through the appropriate
data collection (Newman and Benz, 2000). In the present study researcher will go
through the both primary as well as secondary sources to carry out the whole
study.
Sources of
Data
With the help of primary data different perception of Apple’s employees can be
gathered by developing a questionnaire survey (Mitchell and Jolley, 2012). On
the other hand, secondary analysis will take place by the way of collecting data
from internet sources such as books, magazines, online articles etc.
Population
and
Sampling
In this study, simple random sampling will be used to select the sample of
Apple’s Employees. For this, 50 employees of Apple will be questioned about
the long term effects of technological change in this world.
Data
collection
methods
As per the given subject matter within this study, data will be collected by the
way of primary as well as secondary data collection (Pring, 2004). For primary
data collection, questionnaire survey will be prepared for the employees of
Apple. Researcher can derive detailed information from respondents by asking
them questions. A sample size of 50 employees of Apple from different levels
has been selected for this purpose.
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Student Name:............................................. ID...................................
Time plan
and
resources
required
Activit
y
1th
Week
2nd
Week
3 rd
Wee
k
4t
Week
5th
Week
6th
Wee
k
7th
Wee
k
8th
Wee
k
9th
Wee
k
10th
Week
Draftin
g
Researc
h
Propos
al
Literat
ure
Review
Setting
aims
and
objecti
ves
Draftin
g
literatur
e
review
Draftin
g of
method
ology
Develo
ping
questio
nnaire
Collecti
on of
Data
Analysi
s of
Data
Draft
Finding
s
Analys
e data
Remain
ing
chapter
s
comple
tion
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Student Name:............................................. ID...................................
References Bates, A. T., 2003. Managing technological change. Jossey-Bass.
David, H., Levy, F. and Murnane, R. J., 2001. The skill content of recent
technological change: An empirical exploration. National Bureau of
Economic Research.
Hekkert, M. P. and et.al., 2007. Functions of innovation systems: A new
approach for analysing technological change. Technological forecasting
and social change. 74(4). pp.413-432.
Jasanoff, S., 2003. Technologies of humility: citizen participation in governing
science. Minerva. 41(3). pp.223-244.
Landes, D. S., 2003. The unbound Prometheus: technological change and
industrial development in Western Europe from 1750 to the present.
Cambridge University Press.
Mitchell, M.L. and Jolley, J.M., 2012. Research Design Explained. 8th ed. USA:
Cengage Learning.
Newman, I. and Benz, C.R., 2000. Qualitative-Quantitative Research
Methodology: Exploring the Interactive Continuum. SIU Press.
Perrow, C., 2011. Normal accidents: Living with high risk technologies.
Princeton University Press.
Pring, R., 2004. Philosophy of Educational Research. 2nd ed. Continuum
International Publishing Group.
Saunders, M., and et.al., 2007. Research Methods for Business Students.
England: Pearson Education.
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