BUS703 Managing Research: Problem Definition in Research - Task 1 USC

This assignment provides solutions for BUS703 Managing Research Task 1, focusing on problem definition, research questions, and objectives across five different business scenarios. These scenarios include a tyre retailer facing declining market share, a Singaporean management consulting company seeking innovation strategies, a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company addressing supply chain management, a tourism organization promoting a health festival, and a general human resources issue. For each scenario, the assignment identifies the core management problem, formulates specific research questions, outlines research objectives, and specifies relevant subject areas with appropriate keywords for literature searches. The analysis aims to guide management in making informed decisions based on well-defined research parameters. Desklib offers a variety of similar solved assignments and past papers for students.

BUS703 Managing Research: Task 1 Answer Sheet
Name:
Student Number:
Date of Submission
Answer 1: Tyre Retailer
Answers Max
Marks
1.1 Problem and management decision (what is the specific problem or issue to be investigated?
What is the company seeking to find out? What do they not know, what management decisions
will be made?)
The management of the company have been trying to focus on the matters that pertain to the
attraction and the retention of the customers of the organisation. The management of Tyre
Retailer might focus on the structure and the physical appearance of the store in order to deal
with the retention of the clientele of the organisation. The other issue that the concerned
management needs to focus on is the matters that pertain to the comfort of the concerned
female clients of the company. The management of the concern might focus on the issues that
pertain to the matters dealing with the outlay of the concerned stores. These factors include the
factors like the height of the counters of the store, the overall environment of the store that
might have been necessary in order to retain the clients. The management should focus on the
market research on the issues that have been affecting the environment that is prevalent within
the retail stores.
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1.2 Research question (What is the specific research question they should focus on? What
information is required to answer the management problem?).
The research question that the management might need to focus on is as follows.
What are the issues that affect the environment of the retail outlet? What is the consumer
perception regarding the ambience of the retail store?
5
1.3 (Information/Research) Objectives (Given the research question, what are the smaller sub-
questions or information objectives related to this research question that should be answered?
As a guide, minimum of three and no more than six).
The research objectives of the concerned paper are as follows.
 To identify the issues with the environment of the retail outlet
 To evaluate the consumer perception regarding the ambience of the retail store
 To recommend suitable strategies to improve the retail environment.
10

1.4 What is the subject area of business management that is relevant to this problem? (ie what
is your parent discipline e.g. marketing, HRM, strategy etc) and what are the keywords to use
when conducting a literature search of research that has been done about this issue? (about 10
words)
Subject area – Market research
Keywords – Market research, consumer perception, retail environment, customer retention.
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Answer 2: Singaporean Management Consulting Company
Answers Max
Marks
2.1 Problem and management decision (what is the specific problem or issue to be investigated?
What is the company seeking to find out? What do they not know, what management decisions
will be made?)
The company in discussion has been facing issues in the matters that pertain to the innovation
that needs to be implemented within the concerned organisations in order to deal with the
matters that pertain to the advantage of the company over the other organisations that have
been functioning in the concerned area. The management should implement a survey and the
interview among the various members of the organisation in order to have a clarity on the
matters that pertain to the innovation strategies that need to be implemented in order to gain a
competitive advantage over the other companies that have been functioning within the
concerned organisation.
5
2.2 Research question (What is the specific research question they should focus on? What
information is required to answer the management problem?).
The research question that the management might need to focus on is as follows.
What is the current innovation climate with respect to the employees in the Singaporean
Management Consulting Company? What are the different aspects of innovation required for the
change in the organisational policy and procedures?
5
2.3 (Information/Research) Objectives (Given the research question, what are the smaller sub-
questions or information objectives related to this research question that should be answered?
As a guide, minimum of three and no more than six).
The research objectives of the concerned paper are as follows.
 To identify the current innovation climate with respect to the employees in the
Singaporean Management Consulting Company
 To evaluate the different aspects of innovation required for the change in the
organisational policy and procedures.
 To recommend suitable strategies to gain competitive advantage in the market
10
2.4 What is the subject area of business management that is relevant to this problem? (ie what
is your parent discipline e.g. marketing, HRM, strategy etc) and what are the keywords to use
when conducting a literature search of research that has been done about this issue? (about 10
words)
Subject area…………………………………Innovation Management
Keywords – Innovation Management, Technological Innovation, Client – Focused Innovation
Techniques
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Answer 3: Fast Moving Consumer Good (FMCG) Supply Chain
Answers Max
Marks
3.1 Problem and management decision (what is the specific problem or issue to be investigated?
What is the company seeking to find out? What do they not know, what management decisions
will be made?)
The concerned management of the organisation tends to various elements that might need to
focus on the matters that are related to the factors that are related to the supply chain
management of the organisation. The various managerial staff of the organisation might also
need to look into the matters that pertain to the maintenance of the supply chain agility of the
organisation. The management might also be advised to look into the matters that pertain to the
involvement of the factors that are related to the changes in the market trends of the
organisation. The management should be advised to look into the matters that pertain to the
involvement of the factors that are related to the impact of the various changes on the market
trends of the organisation. The management should further tend to look into the matters that
might help the company in gaining competitive advantage in the concerned market.
5
3.2 Research question (What is the specific research question they should focus on? What
information is required to answer the management problem?).
The research question that the management might need to focus on is as follows.
What are the different elements of supply chain management in the company? What are the
different factors that affect the changes in market trends? How does the change impact the
market trends on supply chain management?
5
3.3 (Information/Research) Objectives (Given the research question, what are the smaller sub-
questions or information objectives related to this research question that should be answered?
As a guide, minimum of three and no more than six).
The research objectives of the concerned paper are as follows.
 To analyse the different elements of supply chain management in the company
 To identify the different factors affecting the changes in market trends
 To identify the impact of the change in the market trends on supply chain management
 To recommend suitable strategies to gain competitive advantage in the market
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3.4 What is the subject area of business management that is relevant to this problem? (ie what
is your parent discipline e.g. marketing, HRM, strategy etc) and what are the keywords to use
when conducting a literature search of research that has been done about this issue? (about 10
words)
Subject area – Supply Chain Management
Keywords – Supply Chain Management, Factors Affecting Market Trends, Supply Chain Network
5

Answer 4: Health Festival
Answers Max
Marks
3.1 Problem and management decision (what is the specific problem or issue to be investigated?
What is the company seeking to find out? What do they not know, what management decisions
will be made?)
The management of the concerned tourism organisation in discussion, might need to focus on
the matters that pertain to the motivational factors that might be active within the industry. The
concerned management of the organisation should also focus on the matters that pertain to the
various factors that are specific to the situations within the concerned area of tourism that might
affect the various habits as depicted by the concerned tourists of the place. The management
might also need to look into the matters that pertain to the development of the effective
strategies like the promotion of the festivals that are needed in order to attract the various
tourists within the concerned area of tourism. The management should further tend to look into
the matters that might help the company in gaining competitive advantage in the concerned
market.
5
4.2 Research question (What is the specific research question they should focus on? What
information is required to answer the management problem?).
The research question that the management might need to focus on is as follows.
What are the motivational factors that affect the tourists in the current market? What are the
situation-specific factors that affect the motivation of the tourists in the current market?
5
4.3 (Information/Research) Objectives (Given the research question, what are the smaller sub-
questions or information objectives related to this research question that should be answered?
As a guide, minimum of three and no more than six).
The research objectives of the concerned paper are as follows.
 To identify the motivational factors affecting the tourists in the current market
 To evaluate the situation-specific factors affecting the motivation of the tourists
 To recommend the suitable strategies to gain competitive advantage in the market
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4.4 What is the subject area of business management that is relevant to this problem? (ie what
is your parent discipline e.g. marketing, HRM, strategy etc) and what are the keywords to use
when conducting a literature search of research that has been done about this issue? (about 10
words)
Subject area – Hospitality Management
Keywords – Motivation in Tourism, Current Market Trends in Tourism Industry Festival Tourism,
Destination Tourism, Event Management.
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Scenario 5: Human Resources
Answers Max
Marks
5.1 Problem and management decision (what is the specific problem or issue to be investigated?
What is the company seeking to find out? What do they not know, what management decisions
will be made?)
5
5.2 Research question (What is the specific research question they should focus on? What
information is required to answer the management problem?).
5
5.3 (Information/Research) Objectives (Given the research question, what are the smaller sub-
questions or information objectives related to this research question that should be answered?
As a guide, minimum of three and no more than six).
10
5.4 What is the subject area of business management that is relevant to this problem? (ie what
is your parent discipline e.g. marketing, HRM, strategy etc) and what are the keywords to use
when conducting a literature search of research that has been done about this issue? (about 10
words)
Subject area…………………………………
Keywords…………………………
5