Research Reflection Report: MBA Major Project Analysis and Findings

This research reflection report details an MBA student's major project focused on cosmetics usage in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The report outlines the research methods employed, including positivism, deductive, and inductive approaches, and the rationale behind these choices. It discusses the importance of various literature sources, including international journals and books, for understanding the background of cosmetics usage and developing a theoretical framework. The report highlights key areas of knowledge gained, such as the concept of organic cosmetics and data analysis techniques. It reflects on the skills acquired through the MBA program, research process, and project application, emphasizing leadership, risk management, and communication skills. The report also addresses critical discoveries, such as financial management of a new business venture, and identifies barriers encountered during the research and project completion, including sample size limitations and data analysis challenges. Furthermore, the report discusses the business and management skills learned, such as conducting literature reviews and financial management, and assesses the achievement of the project's objectives, which included understanding local customer attitudes towards organic cosmetics. The findings, including market share and purchase frequency data, are evaluated for their usefulness to both the student and a future employer.

Student name: WRITE YOUR NAMES HERE AS THEY ARE IN YOUR PASSPORT
Student ID number: WRITE YOUR SCHOOL ID NUMBER HERE
RESEARCH
REFLECTION REPORT
(should contain the details given
below) Please type your responses in the spaces below:
Marks
available
Research Methods &Processes
How and why have you
chosen/decided on the research
methods and processes which you
are using/have used for the
development of your Major
Project?
How would you describe these to:
1) a reader of your Major Project
and/or
2) a future employer
(max. 275 words)
I have understood the need of the combination of
research methods in this research which would help
me to understand the broad picture. I have used the
positivism to understand the real data of Gulshan
area pertaining to use of cosmetics. I have also
decided to use the deductive as well as inductive
approach so that I can understand both the
perspectives. I used deductive approach to ponder
over the existing research. I have used the inductive
approach to understand the new trends concerning
purchase of cosmetics products. My sole intention
of conducting the research was to understand the
facts concerning cosmetics products usage in
Dhaka. This is the reason of using the descriptive
design research.
To reader-
My usage of variety of research techniques would
be interesting to the readers and they would gain
clarity of understanding of the issue. I have used
both primary and secondary data collection methods
to understand both the perspective of current trends
of cosmetics use and the particular industry.
To future employer-
I have used a combination of methods of research
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techniques which would help me to understand the
research methodology in a better way. This would
also ensure that I would be able to do them in a
professional setting in future.
Literature &sources
1) What are the most important
theories/I literature sources
/evidence sources which you are
using to justify your research and
You’re Major Project?
2) Why are these sources important
And fundamental to your work?
(max. 275 words)
I have used a wide source of international journals
and books for understanding the background of
cosmetics usage in Gulshan. I have studied a
diverse range of journals and other scholarly
articles. I have done critical evaluation of the
journals related to our subject and have gained
insights from them. I have used the concept
statement to make the readers aware about the
particular topic of organic concepts. I have made
the meaning of organic cosmetics clear by using a
number of informative sources.
These sources are important because of the
following reasons-
 These sources have made me to identify the
different data sources and the various key
concepts
 The articles helped me to understand the
different perspectives of the authors and
recent works in this field
 It has helped me to create a theoretical
framework
 Improved my understanding of the particular
field
 These sources have provided a basis for
performing the research in a better way
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Your Knowledge
What key areas of knowledge have
you gained from undertaking your
Research and the Major Project?
Indicate why these are so important
toyou?
(max. 200 words)
 I have learnt about the concept of organic
cosmetics in detail and the current situation
in Dhaka.
 I have also learnt about the art of making
goals and objectives of a research.
 Doing a research methodology is tough and
I have done wide variety of data collection
and analysis. This has expanded my area of
knowledge.
 I have understood the analysis of the
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collected data with the help of illustrations
and how to make entry in MS Excel
 They are important in future professional
life also
 My knowledge would help me to secure
high grades in university
 Knowledge is important for getting future
good employment in the suitable sectors
Your Learning
What are the most important
aspects/examples of learning
and/or skills which you have
gained from:
(1) undertaking the MBA
programme,
(2) following through your
research, and
(3) applying your knowledge and
what you have learnt in your Major
Project
(max. 200 words)
I have learnt a lot of skills while doing this course-
 I have learnt leadership skills from the
MBA degree as my assignments has led me
to demonstrate my skills in handling real-
life business issues
 My MBA degree has taught me to manage
the risks well and to make effective
decisions.
 I have improved my interpersonal as well as
communication skills after going through
the MBA program
 My research helped me to gain theoretical
knowledge in a more varied manner
 I am able to apply my knowledge in
practical by implementing the data
collection methods
 When I would be joining a professional
concern, then I would be able to do market
research by collecting data
 I would also be able to do market analysis
as I am aware of the different ways of
analyzing data
 I have become more confident while
pursuing this course
 I have become more open to participants
who would help me in formulating the best
research
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Critical Thinking and your ideas
In carrying out your research, your
analysis, your evaluation of
evidence, and in identifying or
proposing conclusions, what has
been the most important discovery,
or piece of evidence, or theory, or
I have learnt the art of financial management of a
new business venture. I was not aware of the
financial calculations that are involved in this kind
of projects. I came to learn the amount of revenue
that can be incurred by the company with the sale
of their beauty products. I have understood the fact 10

viewpoint, or critical idea, or
critical addition to your knowledge,
or other item of importance and
Why?
(max. 200 words)
that the application of formulas is important for
gaining the right estimate of the business. This
would be important for gaining the financial
projections when I would be employed in a firm.
There would be several financial calculations in
day to day business, which I need to take care of.
There can be balance sheet, profit and loss
statement and so on. I have achieved financial
proficiency in this course and hence would be able
to handle these tasks in my future job role as well.
Barriers met
What were the main difficulties
and barriers which you were faced
with in:
(l) undertaking your research, and
(2) completing your Major project
(max. 200 words)
I faced many barriers when undertaking this
project. The main barriers while doing the research
are-
 I was not getting enough participants to
complete the data collection process. I was
also able to interview 50 customers only
which was a small sample size. The small
sample size was due to the non-availability
of adequate number of participants for
research.
 I was not aware of the data analysis
techniques in the beginning so was unable
to speed up the process of data analysis.
I faced difficulties during the completion of major
project-
 I was not given adequate time for data
collection process for which I needed to
visit outside my university campus.
 My goals were not so defined at the
beginning, which created issues for proper
functioning of my project.
 I did not have any contingency plan for my
project and hence I faced issues when I was
unable to find adequate number of
participants for collecting data.
 I had poor communication due to which I
was unable to conduct the interviews
 I also lacked writing skills, which made it
difficult to write down the business
development plan.
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Your Professional Development
What are the most important
business and/or management
skill(s) or academic idea(s) or
lesson(s) which you have learnt
from undertaking your research and
Your Major Project - and why?
(200 words)
I have learnt about the art of doing adequate
research. I did proper background research
regarding conduct of literature review. I have learnt
that it is important to review good quality journals
and books, which would enrich my quality of
paper. I have found out that we cannot take random
websites from internet. The sources should be
authentic ones and they should be scholarly articles.
Also, I have learnt the correct format of referencing
articles, journals and others, which is in accordance
with the standard university format.
This would be important in my future endeavor in
both academic as well as professional life.
I have also learnt the basics of financial
management when I was involved in the data
collection and data analysis. I understood the use of
Excel and how to do data interpretation. It would
help me in future professional scenario in which I
would be supposed to be aware of the financial
terms as well as concepts.
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Objectives
Based on your research and the
work which you have done in the
MBA Programme and its use in
your Major Project, what were and
how far have the objectives of your
major project been achieved?
(max. 250 words)
I have made the research by taking into account the
high-profile customers of Dhaka. My research
objectives have been successfully met by the
research. I was determined to understand the
attitudes of local customers and my study
successfully demonstrated that the local high-
profile customers are looking for organic
cosmetics. This also made me confident regarding
carrying out the research in this particular market
segment.
My research objective of finding the preferences of
the different high-profile customers was fulfilled
and I found out that they are not in favor of using
artificial cosmetics products. This also helped me to
get sufficient data which actually helped me to
carry out this unique research.
I also found out that the natural as well as organic
cosmetic products are profitable and hence this
business is a profitable one. I have learnt the art of
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finding shortcomings in a product and how to
address them with the development or introduction
of new products. These new products would
contain useful ingredients that would be beneficial
for customers.
Findings & outcomes
How useful and/or feasible are the
findings, recommendations,
conclusions, or outcomes of your
Major Project to you and/or to a
FutureEmployer?
You must justify your answer with
Specific examples.
(max. 200 words)
I have found out about the market share of the
cosmetics sector in Bangladesh. This would help
me to position the new company in a better manner
in the market. I have also found out about the
purchase frequency of people regarding the
cosmetics products. For example, I observed that
34% of customers purchased cosmetics based on
their requirements. All these actual data have made
my major project lucrative and I can present them
well to my future employer.
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TOTAL
100