Unit 6 Managing a Successful Business Project Unit

Unit 6: Managing a Successful Business Project Unit 4: Research Project Unit 18: Researching Current Issues in Aviation Dwayne Cargill Lecturer Colbourne College March 20, 2017

Content � Learning Outcome 3: � LO 3 Present the project and communicate appropriate recommendations based on meaningful conclusions drawn from the evidence findings and/or analysis ◦ AC: 3. 1 use appropriate research evaluation techniques ◦ AC: 3. 2 interpret and analyze the results in terms of the original research specification ◦ AC: 3. 3 make recommendations and justify areas for further consideration

Learning Objectives � At the end of this session, Learners should be able to: ◦ For AC 3. 2: Interpret and analyze the results in terms of the original research specification �D 2: Recommend appropriate actions aviation/business industry based on findings and conclusions for the research

Introduction � The conduct of research is important for the creation of knowledge and for the evidence based decision making. It is therefore important that this is done using the appropriate methods. � Having conducted your research, it just lead to some conclusions which add value to existing knowledge. It should also direct and guide the companies in developing appropriate recommendations for moving forward. A research paper must therefore provide recommendations for solutions based on the analysis of the research finding.

Purposes of Research � Ebabbie. net (n. d. ) identify three purposes of research: § Exploration: gaining some familiarity with a topic, discovering some of its main dimensions, and possibly planning further, more structured research. § Description: as in the Census Bureau's report on how many Americans there are, a political poll predicting who will win an election § Explanation: In addition to knowing which candidates voters favor, we may go the next step to ask why? What kinds of voters--men or women Ø Having gathered analyse the data, the researcher must then identify recommendations/solutions for the problems to improve/enhance/eliminate the issues.

Conclusions and recommendations � Accounting to Burns (2015) conclusions and recommendations are positioned at the end of a report, before the appendices. They help clarify the information provided in the main body of a business or academic report. � One tip for writing conclusions and recommendations is to ensure that they give a standalone overview of the nature of your research, its findings, implications and effective ways to implement ideas. � This helps your reader to understand what your report is about, even if he doesn't have time to read it all.

Preparing Conclusions � � Dd. dgacm. org (2007) indicate that the inclusion of conclusions and recommendations in a report is dependent on the type of report. Reports of the United Nations’ Secretary-General will almost always include both and must include a section with conclusions drawn from the body of the report. Normally reports prepared for the legislative bodies should include recommendations on action to be taken by the Member States. Reports of the legislative bodies on their meetings should present the conclusions and recommendations reached by the Member States at the session. A report of a mission you have taken should present your conclusions and recommendations in a separate section at the end of the report. Many people find drafting conclusions and recommendations difficult. It helps to keep them separate in your mind. In essence, your conclusions should be a logical extension of the information contained in the report and your recommendations should be a logical extension of the conclusions.

Guidance in writing Conclusions � Burns (2015) propose the following: 1. Summarize key points and findings. This helps readers to quickly assess what the report is about and what it has achieved. It also serves as a quick reference guide if the report is discussed in a meeting or used as a basis for further research. 2. Outline the implications of your findings. A report that investigates the effect of staff training programmes on productivity and provides evidence that such schemes are effective will, logically, suggest that there is a case for investing in additional training.

Guidance… con’t 3. Write conclusions in the same order as the points discussed in the report's main body. If, for example, the first section of a product analysis report focuses on consumer research, the first conclusion should briefly encapsulate how potential customers perceive the product. 4. Strive for clarity. Use bullet points or divide conclusions into short, separate paragraphs. Breaking conclusions into bite-sized chunks helps the reader to digest them.

Writing Conclusions � � The conclusions in your report will be the main "discoveries" that appear naturally from the text. For example, if your report analyses the impact of leadership styles on employee’s performance in service industries and your research shows that the use of transformational leadership styles increases staff motivation and willingness to work harder, it is safe for your report to conclude that transformational leadership styles has a positive impact on the performance of employees in the service industry. If, however, evidence shows that the number of young people seeking treatment in drug rehabilitation centres is rising, you might in fact conclude that more people are getting help and that drug abuse is therefore decreasing among young people.

Preparing Recommendations � Your recommendations, on the other hand, seek to propose specific solutions. If you have concluded that leadership style have a positive impact on employees’ performance, then you should recommend steps to treat with this. It is not enough to recommend simply that action be taken; try to be more specific (http: //dd. dgacm. org, 2007). Your recommendations could range from the implementation of leadership training programme to a project to redefine Management competencies for new recruits. � Korbedpsych. com (2015) indicates that the recommendation must be supported by the statistical or interpretative findings from the data analysis.

Guidelines for writing Recommendations � Burn (2015) suggest the following guidelines when preparing recommendations for research: 1. Arrange recommendations in the same order as conclusions. This creates cohesion in the reader's mind because recommendations should follow on naturally from conclusions. A report concluding, for example, that a proposed software programme is costeffective and will increase productivity is likely to recommend purchasing the software. 2. Provide specific information about how recommendations can be implemented. If you are recommending that a specific project should be undertaken, suggest a suitable timescale, how it should be carried out and who should be responsible for it.

Guidelines… con’t 3. Create a professional impression. Base recommendations on objective evidence provided in the report, rather than personal opinion. Instead of saying, "I recommend that we launch this product within six months, " say something like: "Based on evidence gathered through market research, it would be financially beneficial to have the product on the market within six months. " 4. Number conclusions and recommendations. This gives readers an easy reference point for discussion and follow-up reports.

Guidelines…con’t � � � Below is a sample recommendation as outlined by korbedpsych. com (2015). Notice how the first sentence provides the empirical support for the recommendation. This studies have found that there is considerable variation in the students' judgments of acceptability of ethical study practices, providing evidence that university students are not certain about the right way to study. Thus, teachers need to spend class time educating students about positive, effective study skills. Few students understand use good study practices without explicit instruction (Weinstein, Meyer, Husman, Van Mater Stone, & Mc. Keachie, 2006). Therefore, direct instruction in study skills is necessary. For example, teachers should instruct their students on how to set goals for their education learning as well as instruction on specific study practices such as effectively reading textbooks and studying notes for the exam. When teachers spend the time necessary for teaching study skills, then students will not be uncertain about ethical study practices and will be more prepared for their exams. As Murdock and Anderman (2006) note, students who are confident in their abilities engage in less cheating behaviours. After the recommendations have been written, reread each recommendation. Consider which statistical result from the results section supports that recommendation. If there is no statistical result to support the recommendation, then it must be cancelled.

Another Approach � Making recommendations should come naturally from your conclusions and therefore be linked to your results, analysis and discussion (University of Warwick, n. d. ). � You should state your recommendations in ‘action’ terms and include where you can: ◦ ◦ ◦ who is responsible, cost/benefits, feasibility, priorities and timescales, likely outcomes/impact on the organisation (threats? opportunities? )

You may want to consider a Tabular Format RECOMMENDATIO N WHO IS RESPONSIB LE RESOURCES REQUIRED COST/BENEFI T OUTCOMES/ TIMESCALES SUCCESS PRIORITY MEASURES/ FEASIBILITY THREATS/ RATING OPPORTUNITIE S

Suggestion for Further Research � According to korbedpsych. com (2015) Every research study provides one or two answers about education, but also opens the door five to ten additional questions. This can be extended to all types of research and thus based on the Discussion/Summary of Findings and Limitations of the study, the researcher must aske the following questions: ◦ What additional research should be conducted? ◦ What questions arose because of the major finding of your study? ◦ How can other research studies improve over the limitations that were described in the Limitations section?

Suggestion for Further Research � For instance, educational researchers need to continue conducting empirical research to ascertain the factors that contribute to cheating amongst students. 1. Researchers should identify the types of malpractices that are most frequent amongst students. 2. Researchers should determine what types of factors influence students to engage in examination malpractice. 3. Experimental research should be conducted to test various strategies for preventing examination malpractice to determine which strategies are most effective.

Conclusions � If you have taken the time to gather your information for research, you want to make sure your report reflects your hard work. You must therefore ensure that it contain factually accurate information that is objectively reported and conveyed accurate and appropriate language for positive effects. An important consideration is to ensure that your reader is able to access data easily and understand what the information means to your research. � Additionally, ensure that the language you use reflects your voice, the source of the finding and the actual finding.

References � � � � Babbie, E 2004 The Practice of Social Research, 10 th ed. , Thompson Wadsorth, USA Burn, Elizabeth 2015 “How to write Conclusions and Recommendations” retrieved from http: //www. ehow. co. uk/how_12011693_writeconclusions-recommendations. html Dd. dgacm. org (2007) Writing for the United Nations retrieved from http: //dd. dgacm. org/editorialmanual/training/lessons/link_g. htm Ebabbie. net (n. d. ) Three Purposes of Research retrieved on March 19, 2017 from http: //www. ebabbie. net/resource/practice/04/purposes. html Greener S. & Martelli J 2015 Introduction to Business Research Method, 2 nd ed. , bookboon. com Korbedpsych. com (n. d. ) Conduction Educational Research retrieved on November 7, 2015 from http: //www. korbedpsych. com/R 19 Ch 5. html University of Warwick (n. d. ) Action Research Resources: Writing a Research Report retrieved March 19, 2017 from https: //www 2. warwick. ac. uk/study/cll/courses/professionaldevelopmen t/wmcett/researchprojects/action/resources/research_guidance_booklet -vron_3. doc.