7CO04 Business Research in People Practice

7CO04 Business research in people practice

Introduction to the unit

Business research in people practice is compulsory for learners in Level 7 of Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development. The learners in this unit define and identify a research issue and undertake the research in people practice. Learners use evidence to develop a research report, develop the conclusion and formulate recommendations to manage the people practice issues experienced in the business. Learners finally develop a critical reflection through the research process.

Learning objectives

The following are the learning outcomes for the unit, which are the basis to completing the unit assessment:

1. Leaners plan for people to practice research that will add value to the organisation.
2. Learners identify research methods needed in collecting research data and justify the appropriate method for the specific research in people practice.
3. Learners analyse data from the research and develop insights to support people and businesses.
4. Learners derive conclusions and propose recommendations to manage the future of the business and the people.

Learning outcome 1

The business research project

The unit requires learners to first identify a research topic in any people practice area within the business. The topic should aim to create change in the organisation and focus entirely on adding value to people and the general business environment. While selecting the research topics, learners should be guided by topics such as promoting employee engagement, retaining staff, promoting employee well-being, improving communication in the workplace and improving employee performance.

Having identified the research topic, learners should develop the research questions and then analyse evidence from journals, books, organisational reports and government reports to underpin the research questions. The analysis is fundamental in restructuring the research literature review, where the learners evaluate the different sources of evidence needed to help understand the study issue.

Developing questions to address the research issue

For the learners to understand the research agendas and engage in the development of research questions, they need to develop questions that focus on the research topic. The questions guide learners to identifying the research outcomes. Learners focus on developing concise questions that are transparent and clear for the research audiences. Through these questions, learners will develop results effective in analysing the research results.

Learning outcome 2

Research methodology

The methodology involves collecting data that researchers need to complete the research. Learners should differentiate the different forms of data that they may need to use in developing their research project. They should understand the value of the different research methods and justify the appropriate research method to enhance the completion of the research they intend to complete. The learners should be able to differentiate between primary and secondary research, qualitative and quantitative research, and the risks and benefits of using the different research methods. They should, for example, be able to differentiate between case study research, survey research, focus group discussions and observations in the study process.

When collecting data from respondents, learners should be aware of the ethical issues that they should follow and how they should relate with the surrounding environment where the research is done. A critical issue to consider is confidentiality if the interviewees or respondents provide data that the researchers analyse to bring out the research results or findings. The learners should learn about the confidentiality of storing and using the data collected from the respondents. This makes the research credible and ethical.

Learning outcome 3

Data analysis and decision-making

The data analysis stage in the research process requires researchers to decide on the choice of the research method depending on the costs and the opportunities that the method will bring towards completing the research successfully. Learners should therefore learn of the data collection, and data analysis approaches. Additionally, researchers’ interrogative in analysing the evidence needed to identify issues that enhance practical evaluation of the research topic. Therefore, learners should learn the statistical approaches to analysing data, analysing content, and learning to code to analyse data. These, however, depend on the research method that the researcher selects for the intended research that they conduct. The findings obtained after completing the research are presented in patterns that make them effective in providing evidence relating to the research. Learners should be keen to ensure that they are ethical when analysing and presenting the research findings. This is crucial as it limits the researcher from being biased.

Learning outcome 4

Conclusions and recommendations

Researchers develop conclusions after they have effectively analysed the data obtained from the respondents. The findings are integrated to bring out concepts, themes and patterns relevant to the research topic that the researcher was investigating. The learners in this level should learn how to conclude concisely and transparently while making it possible for them to develop the research report appropriately. Once the researchers have concluded and have identified issues that may have triggered the issue to be investigated, they develop recommendations, which are supposed to be people and business-focused depending on the research topic. The recommendations should be persuasive to the audiences to allow them to take action to implement them. Therefore, learners should understand how they are expected to communicate the recommendations to the research audiences. Other essential issues that learners should relate to when developing the recommendations are the costs of implementation. These potential barriers may prevent them from being implemented, and be knowledgeable about identifying mechanisms to overcome the barriers.

Critical reflection

After completing the research, learners should reflect on the lessons they have gained from the start to the project’s finish. Through the development process, they identify strengths and weaknesses, and in the process, they get to identify areas of improvement. This will make the learners gain insight and confidence into carrying out future researchers to create and support organisational change.

Winding up:

The unit creates awareness to help learners understand how they should conduct research on different practices that need change within the organisation. Learners gain knowledge on how to select a research topic, develop research questions, conduct research methodology using the appropriate research method, analyse the research data, develop the conclusions and recommendations fit to address the research issue.

Resources

Angrave, D., Charlwood, A. and Kirkpatrick, I. (2016) HR and analytics: why HR is set to fail the big data challenge. Human Resource Management Journal. Vol 26, No 1.

Creswell, J.W. and Creswell, J.D. (2018) Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. London: Sage.

Marchington, M., Wilkinson, A. Donnelly, R. and Kynighou, A. (2020) Human resource management at work: the definitive guide. 7th ed. London: CIPD Kogan Page.