Managers Perception on Dividend in Mauritius - Assignment Example

Section A Discuss how you would choose the approach and design for tackling the research question. In your answer give some consideration to the relative philosophical paradigms, and how these have influence your thinking. In assessing the Managers' Perception on Dividend in Mauritius I would choose to conduct a single case study method utilizing structured interviews with the managers as the managers are in the unique position of offering insight into the rationale behind the choice of dividends as opposed to traditional interest rates. In choosing an appropriate methodological approach one has to be able to determine thee nature of the data to be collect, the methods which are available to analyze that data along with the basic tenets of qualitative and quantitative research. In understanding the differences between qualitative and quantitative methods one is first able to determine which method is most appropriate. This can be done most effectively by examining the literature on the research topic and assessing how the data was collected for that body of research as well as the way in which the data was analyzed. Based on an examination of the literature, the researcher then determines the nature of the data to be collected as well as the most appropriate method for its analysis. Additionally, the researcher should be aware that quantitative methods prove to offer the highest level of scientific evidence in that depending on the research design it can determine causation, correlation and make inferences. These qualities are absent in quantitative research. Other considerations include the fact that unlike quantitative research methods qualitative methods are inductive in nature, extremely subjective, process oriented and explanatory. These qualities prove to be more anthropological than scientific (orientated toward natural science) in nature. In business and management, however, qualitative methods may prove to be very effective in that it can arrive at an understanding of the way in which individuals behave through a description. Essentially, the utility of qualitative or quantitative methods are highly dependent on the research question/hypothesis as well the data being collected (Holden & Lynch, 2004). 2. What are the ethical issues that you believe to be most prominent in consideration of this piece of research Discuss the issues involved in the data collection, and the need for confidentiality and sensitivity. The investigation into the perception of the managers in Mauritius with regards to dividends is no different than any other body of research utilizing human subjects. In conducting this body of research as well as any other research involving human subjects, there are precautionary measures that may be undertaken. These measures take the current ethical framework for protecting subjects and are delineated in the principles of autonomy, beneficence, and justice. First, the principle of autonomy speaks directly to the requirement of research subjects to be treated as independent individuals. In so doing, they are free to decide whether or not they wish to participate in the research study and are free to drop out of the study at any point in time. Secondly, the principle of beneficence speaks directly to the notion that the researcher is obligated to maximize the benefits of the research while minimizing the potential of harm to the research subjects. If the benefits outweigh the risks, it is ethical to proceed with the body of research. If the risks to the subjects outweigh the benefits then it would be unethical to proceed with the body of research. Finally the principle of justice involves the equitable distribution of the burdens and benefits associated with conducting the body of research whereby certain individuals or group of individuals do not bear disproportionate risks while others bear disproportionate benefits. 3. Critically evaluate the relevance of the following research designs for this study and from this evaluation draw conclusions on the merits of each. Case study In the case of perception of the managers in Mauritius with regards to dividends the methodology of case study stands out since the aim of this research is to gain an understanding of the complicated issue of the choice between investing and obtaining the benefits of that investment in the form of dividends as opposed to utilizing the traditional method of obtaining interest through the conservative method of savings accounts. It is a good method of adding an experiential component to the body of research. It adds emphasis on the context in which an examination is taking place. Researchers have utilized the approach of case studies for many years and across a wide variety of disciplines. Social scientists for example have utilized case studies to examine contemporary situations utilizing real-life paradigms. Despite the fact that case studies prove to be very effective in that it can provide us with excellent descriptive data with regards to a research question, it falls short in its ability to be valuable in that by its nature, it can only examine a relatively small number of cases. Essentially, the results of case studies prove to be inadequate for the purposes of generalizability. Another shortcoming of the case study method is the fact that it is highly objective and as such is prone to bias (Eisenhardt,1989). Action research Action research proves to be inadequate when applied to the case of the perception of the managers in Mauritius with regards to dividends. The methodology of action research is one that offers the potential to apply the fruits of research in an attempt to solve a pressing problem. In so doing, it requires a collaborative effort on the part of practitioners and researchers. This collaboration is intended to improve the practice of practitioners while fostering a better understanding of the underlying concepts by the researchers. It not only describes the way in which individuals and organizations behave but it incorporates an element of change which serves to offer a reflective look at the underlying systems within an organization (Reason & Bradbury, 2001). In attempting to apply this methodology to Mauritius, there is no practical way of solving the inquiry into the utility of dividends by establishing a collaborative relationship between the managers and the researchers. Secondary research The methodology of secondary research proves to be irrelevant to the study of Mauritius since the economy of Mauritius proves to be unique. The uniqueness is established through the high interest rates received on saving account. It is however, necessary to go examine secondary research on a theoretical level. The methodology of secondary research is employed when the researcher wishes to use data that has been already collected by other researchers. This method is very effective in conducting marketing research as well as research in other areas of business. Secondary research is appropriate when a research project requires a summary and analysis of existing data. This research methodology can use sources which include the reports of previous research studies, content from newspapers, magazines and journal as well as statistics taken from governmental sources and other reliable sources of statistics. Secondary research can be very useful in developing a competitive strategy (Learnmarketing.net, 2006). Survey-based research Survey-based research encompasses the collection of data with regards to the absence or presence as well as the degree of the presence of very specific characteristics of interest. It includes data which can be gotten from the public domain as well as documents internal to the organization such as reports, memorandums and letters. It is conducted through the utility of observational measures aimed at assessing the level to which a characteristic is present. This may be conducted utilizing a survey which is structured in such a manner as to utilize a likert scale as well as other scales aimed at assessing the presence of a characteristic as well as the degree of its presence. In examining the study at hand, I think that a survey-based methodology proves to be very ineffective in that its potential to offer a solution to the problem at hand is very limited. It may offer some insight but I do not feel that a survey is directed enough to extricate information on the level that a study of the dividends in Mauritius demands. Section B 4. Discuss how you would go about collecting qualitative data to help you investigate the research questions Identify the strengths and weakness of your proposed data collection methods using theory and concepts associated with "research methods". The nature of the data needed to arrive at an understanding of the perception of the managers in Mauritius with regards to dividends requires an in-depth examination of the thoughts of the managers of Mauritius. In so doing, a structured interview proves to be most beneficial. In so doing, a qualitative research methodology is essential. First and foremost, the main purpose of qualitative research is to gain an understanding of the participants as well as to offer insight into the way in which the subjects act in their natural surroundings. Essentially, it is a descriptive method of gaining understanding of specific study subjects. It utilizes words in lieu of numbers and utilizes a method of analyzing the data that involves the explanation of the qualities of research subjects. Qualitative methods of research include structured and unstructured case studies/interviews, group interviews and focus group discussions. These methods are utilized to highlight themes or patterns that emerge during the course of study and are utilized as a means of understanding and manage the data as they relate to the research question or hypothesis. As a direct result of the descriptive nature of qualitative methods, there are many inherent weaknesses. Two of the most fundamental of those weaknesses is the inability to generalize the findings of research utilizing qualitative methods and the highly objective nature of the data collected (Holden & Lynch, 2004). 5. Give examples of the issues and themes that you might explore during your collection of qualitative data. In an attempt to collect qualitative data of the nature required in the study of the perception of the managers in Mauritius with regards to dividends, it would be prudent to examine the risks associated with collecting the data as well as risk management techniques utilized by the company. Specifically in exploring the risk management techniques utilized by the company, it is vital to obtain an understanding of the controversial issues within the company and the implications of those issues with regards to policy as well as the individuals who enforce the policies and the way in which policy enforcement is undertaken. In examining this notion, I have to keep in mind that proper data collection can be very effective in minimizing the internal risks as well as enable the company to communicate policy decisions by offering empirical support. 6. Discuss how you propose to analyse the qualitative data generated by your investigation. In analyzing the qualitative data obtained from the structured interviews of the managers of Mauritius, I would first organize the data in a meaningful manner. In the process of data reduction is one which involves the strategic selection of data wherein focus, simplicity, abstraction and transformation of the data is accomplished. In so doing it forces the researcher to make a cognizant choice as to which aspects of the gathered data should be assessed. In this manner, the researcher is able to transcend the esoteric descriptions presented in the data if taken at face value and arrive at a more focused analysis. In the process of data reduction, much of the descriptive element is lost but the tradeoff is a much more focused and useful research project. One technique which may prove useful in my analysis of the data would be to develop a series of flowcharts that delineate the decision points and align the data with the flowcharts. This flowchart or series of flowcharts will prove essential in the display of the data. This will essentially make data analysis easier. Finally, based on the reduction and display of the data, I will be able to draw conclusions and arrive at some rudimentary assumptions (Kvale, 1995). Section C 7. Discuss how you would go about collecting quantitative data to help you investigate the research questions Identify the strengths and weakness of your proposed data collection methods using theory and concepts associated with "research methods". I feel that quantitative research does not offer the necessary details in order to answer the questions with regards to the perception of the managers in Mauritius with regards to dividends. A more qualitative approach would prove to be more beneficial, however, if forced to collect quantitative data I would have to begin by being cognizant of the fact that quantitative research, unlike qualitative research, represents the collection of data which are numerical in nature and are subjected to analysis utilizing statistical methods. Quantitative methods are more structured and standardized thus effectively minimizes the objectivity of the data collected. These methods can be used as a means of comparing two groups in order to establish an underlying similarity or difference on a specific numerical variable or variables. These methods are especially useful in making inferences and generalizing the data obtained (Holden & Lynch, 2004). In collecting quantitative data, I would focus on more on concrete numbers rather than esoteric descriptions. The data collection would include the compilation of concrete numerical data such as financial statistics, employment statistics including pay rate, staffing levels and employee competencies. This data can be obtained through the utility of questionnaires. Data collection utilizing concrete numbers and quantities is significantly easer to interpret as there are numerous statistical packages aimed at interpreting the data. In so doing, I would examine the relevance of using various types of descriptive statistics that can ensure that the data collected is more understandable. The statistical methods available include numerical counts or frequencies, percentages, measures of central tendency such as the mean, mode and median as well as measures of variability which include a determination of the range, standard deviation and variance (Taylor-Powell, 1996). The strengths of collecting quantitative data through the utility of questionnaires include: The numerical nature of the data facilitates ease in statistical analysis Quantitative data is more readily accessible and is less prone to errors in interpretation Quantitative data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses The researcher tends to remain objectively separated from the subject matter The weaknesses of collecting quantitative data through the utility of questionnaires include: The loss of contextual details The relevance and appropriateness of the data present within the company Problems with the questionnaire. These problems may arise as a result of the way in which the questions are framed. In order to prevent these problems, the questionnaires should be reviewed and if need be revised. 8. Give examples of the issues and themes that you might explore during your collection of quantitative data. By the nature of the information required in order to address the research question of the perception of the managers in Mauritius with regards to dividends, it is prudent that the researcher be aware of the notion that the research findings may be influenced by external factors. Especially when dealing with charitable organizations, factors such as the state of the economy, the reputation of the charity and the willingness of individuals to support the cause of the charity can play a vital role in the bottom-line of the charity. For instance, if the economy is one that is in recession, individual donors are less likely to donate to the charity. This may adversely affect the staffing levels, the budget and the underlying goals of the charity. Yet another crucial issue of quantitative research is the notion that it effectively and efficiently removes the context from the data. In being devoid of the context in which the research has been conducted much detail is removed from the research. This can somewhat impede the relevance of the body of research. Much of the descriptive element is removed in favor of the ability to make inferences and thus assuring that the results of the study is generalizable. Another issue involves the notion that statistics can be somewhat esoteric in nature to non-researchers. It is the duty of the researcher to demystify findings of a research study as a means of making the study understandable and relevant to non-researchers. 9. Discuss how you propose to analyze the quantitative data generated by your investigation In beginning to understand the qualitative data obtained from the study of perception of the managers in Mauritius with regards to dividends, I intend to obtain data internal to the organization. This data could possibly include the number or percentage of individuals who choose more aggressive investment methods as compared to those who utilize the no-risk alternative of saving through the utility of traditional savings accounts. In so doing, I would study the measures of central tendency as well as variability in the data and subsequently assessing whether there are statistically significant differences between the study groups. The analysis of this data can be presented in graphical form as in charts and graphs or in a tabular form. These charts may be trending charts and the graphs may be comparative graphs. In presenting a small amount of data, I would weigh the communication benefits of utilizing tables as opposed to graphs. For example, data in which there are very few data points would not require a graphical display while data in which there are a great deal of data points would be best displayed in a tabular form. The data with very few data points can easily be summarized utilizing text. References Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 352-550 Holden, M.T. & Lynch, P. (2004). Choosing the Appropriate Methodology: Understanding Research Philosophy. The Marketing Review, 4(4), 397-409. Kvale, S. (1995). The Social Construction of Validity. Qualitative Inquiry, (1):19-40. Learnmarketing.net (2006). Secondary research and limitations of secondary research. Retrieved 11 January, 2006 from, http://www.learnmarketing.net/secondaryresearch.htm Taylor-Powell, E. (1996). Analyzing quantitative data. Retrieved 11 January, 2006 from, http://learningstore.uwex.edu/pdf/G3658-6.pdf. Read More