Business Research: Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media

This essay reflects on the learning experience gained from researching the advantages and disadvantages of using social networks in business. It highlights the importance of social media in modern business practices, including promotion, communication, marketing, and recruitment. The reflection details how the research process enhanced skills such as team management, time management, and analytical thinking. Personal observations during the research revealed diverse opinions on social media's impact, with some viewing it as a boon and others as a waste of resources. The essay also discusses the usefulness of business research methods, including data collection and analysis techniques, and evaluates the learning gained from literature reviews and practical implementations, such as understanding how companies like Netflix leverage social networks. Ultimately, the essay concludes that the research process has provided valuable insights into the strategic use of social media and its potential to transform business operations, while also acknowledging potential negative impacts.

Business Research
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Social Network in Business

Individual Learning reflection
Usefulness of learning experience
Reflection writing is writing about own experiences and learning gained whole taking up the
course and during the process of learning. I got to learn the basics of research and how to
develop research problems to conclude it with a solid reasoning. The research is conducted
on the ‘Advantages and disadvantages of using social networks in business and it is seen
that I have not only learned about the topic but also about the process of research, methods
of research, data collection and different sources and how to analyse that data for better
understanding.
Social media have become a part of business in present times and it is involved in day to day
practices of the business (Hajli, 2014). Social media is not only used for promoting the
business but also for business communication, developing global marketing techniques, for
recruitment and selection, for gaining marketing insights and more (Tiago and Veríssimo,
2014). I have also learned that the new business models like Netflix uses social media in
order to establish itself among its target customers.
Ways to connect future with the learning process
The business research has made me learn a lot which I can use in future. The skill and
abilities which I have developed during the course of time can be used in future to improve
my grades in the course and for proving myself in the job. The qualities gained during
research process are team management, time management, and communication and inter
personal skills, confidence building, practical learning and more can be used in my personal
life in order to get more effective results than before. The research process is all about
finding out the solution to the research problems which we do in our lives almost daily. We
strive to get answers to all our questions which can solve our hurdles in life. This is how the
research can serve me in future.
The personal observations during the research
The happenings of the research involves the use of online and offline sources in order to
collect data. I heard many people saying that social media is a boon for their business while

on the other hand, some of them said, social media is nothing but a waste of time, money
and efforts. I saw a lot of videos which shows that social media is useful for the business. I
have also developed assignment 1 and 2 so that the findings can be gained on the research
problems. I have seen that the businesses of modern times uses social networks so that
they can promote themselves across a wide network around the globe.
I have observed that social networks in business acts as a catalyst and improves the
performance of the business. It provides a push to the business to perform well and better
than its competitors keeping the needs and demands of its customers in mind. This helps in
the customisation of products and services delivery to the customers and increases the
customer loyalty (Kane, 2015). This also develops business and makes it able to fight
competition with the available players in the market (Tiwari, 2012).
Usefulness of Business Research and Research learning process
The business research process includes the methods of data collection and analysis
(Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2015). It involves practical implementations of these
methods (Eriksson and Kovalainen, 2015). I have learned about various data collection
methods and data analysis methods which can also be used by me in future in any company
data analysis. This business research has developed my learning by using all such techniques
which could increases the abilities of an individual. I have learned about many strategies and
techniques which helps in understanding the business scenario well. It developed my
analytical mind which allows me to calculate, analyse and then take any step. This will
benefit me for the whole life even in my personal and professional life.
The preparation of business research report includes understanding various techniques and
methods which are used to conduct the research (Sekaran and Bougie, 2016). I have learned
the different between qualitative and quantitative research and also came across the terms
like Sampling and types of sampling. I have never been through these methods or
techniques and only studied these methods in subjects but applying them practically over
here develops and improves my understanding. This can help me in entering into research
and development field later on.

Evaluation of learning
The learning gained was about the positive and negative sides of using social networks in
business. Different literature reviews are sourced which helped me in gaining various new
insights about social networks. The companies like Netflix are using social networks to
increase their connectivity and thereby increasing the members of the same (Griffith, 2015).
I learned that’s social media promotions are done in lower cost and it is much more
effective than other mediums in present environment of business. With the help of social
media, people are able to share their experiences and feedback which can be both negative
and positive for the company (Zaglia, 2013).
I felt that this research project has developed my personality and motivated me to provide
best of myself in my course. The research report will be presented in much better way now
in front of my professors which will help me in getting good grades. This experience is based
upon the guidelines provided by my teachers and will also be innovative as I have learned
various new methods to collect data and analyse them for the purpose of getting the
conclusion.
How the learning experience will serve me in my future career
This learning experience will be very useful for me for managing my career professionally.
These tactics learned to use social media for the promotion of business will help me in my
own promotion in job. I will be able to keep my views and opinions in the meetings with
seniors which will enhance my visibility in the job. The knowledge gained and skills
possessed while working on this research will help me developing my business and in
building good terms and communication with others.
Social media is the hot topic which is discussion around the world (Tiwari, 2012). Social
media is an amazing platform which can transform the business and its visibility in the
market. There are many businesses which have gained popularity just because they have
made themselves active on social media (Kumar, et. al., 2013). The business of clothing,
electronics, hotels, restaurants and more have become famous as they need to be super

active in terms of social networks. This learning process has given me various new insights
which I can use further when I will start my own business.
In future, I can also take advanced classes for using social media for professional purposes
which will help me in becoming expert in this field. It will help me in making judgements as
to which social media platform will be suitable for the business and products.
Conclusion
This research process has made capable of knowing the actual use of social media. Till now, I
was in the impression that social media platforms are just used for the purpose of personal
interactions and fun but this research has made me aware of the advantages of social media
for the business and for an individual. It has also made me aware of some negative sides of
social media which I have to take care of in future.

References
Eriksson, P. and Kovalainen, A., 2015.
Qualitative methods in business research: A practical
guide to social research. USA: Sage.
Griffith, M.E. 2015. Downgraded to Netflix and Chill: Freedom of Expression and the Chilling
Effect on User-Generated Content in Europe.
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Hajli, M. N., 2014. A study of the impact of social media on consumers.
International Journal
of Market Research. Vol. 56 Issue 3.
Kane, G.C., 2015. Enterprise social media: Current capabilities and future possibilities.
MIS
Quarterly Executive,
14(1).
Kumar, A., Gupta, S.K., Rai, A.K. and Sinha, S. 2013. Social networking sites and their security
issues.
International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications,
3(4), pp.1-5.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A., 2015.
Research Methods for Students. 7th ed.
Pearson.
Sekaran, U., and Bougie, R., 2016.
Research methods for business: A skill building approach.
USA: John Wiley & Sons.
Tiago, M.T.P.M.B. and Veríssimo, J.M.C., 2014. Digital marketing and social media: Why
bother?.
Business Horizons, 57(6), pp.703-708.
Tiwari, H., 2012. Pros and Cons Of Social Networking Sites.
International Journal for Science
and Emerging Technologies with Latest Trends, 1(1).
Zaglia, M.E. 2013. Brand communities embedded in social networks.
Journal of business
research,
66(2), pp.216-223.