Analyzing higher level research skills
Research refers to the process of coming up with solutions to a known problem after there has been conducted a thorough study and analysis of the situational factors.
Otherwise; research can be defined as a process via which people attempt to achieve (with the support of data and systematically) the solution to a problem.
Types of research
The following are some of the researches that a business manager may conduct;
Basic research
This research is said to be fundamental or pure.
It involves generation of a knowledge body by endeavoring to comprehend how some problems within the organization can be checked.
The findings of this research have a direct contribution to the generating of knowledge in the different functioning areas of business.
With respect this research; the major motivation is simply to expand man’s knowledge, not to invent or create something.
There is little commercial value to the resultant discoveries from basic research.
An appropriate scenario where basic research can be used is in the basic science investigations, which involves probing for answers to various questions such as:
• What are neutrons, electrons and protons composed of?
• How did the universe commence?
• How slime molds reproduce?
• What is the actual genetic code of the fruit fly?
Applied research
It involves solving a current problem that is faced by the manager in the working environment, requiring a timely solution.
This research is mostly designed to find solutions to practical problems facing the modern world, rather than to acquire knowledge.
The goal of this research may be formulated to improve the basic human condition.
Applied research can be used to investigate various ways to:
• Cure or treat a certain disease.
• Improve the production of agricultural crops.
• Enhance the energy efficiency of offices, homes, or even modes of transport.
Market and consumer research
This is a research conducted by the business manager so as to collect information about its potential consumers and their purchasing habits.
Its main goal is to obtain better understanding of the consumers’ needs.
This forms a very stable ground for the business to make decisions pertaining pricing, advertising and new product offerings so as to best counter the market’s demand.
It also facilitates the determination of whether a business strategy is unlikely to be effective or underperforming after which the business can reduce costs where necessary.
Competition research
The need for a business to watch out on its competition resulted in research of the plans and activities of competitors (competitive intelligence).
This enables the business to identify and act upon their opportunities and potential weakness for the sake of its growth.
In addition to that, competitive intelligence can highlight the specific places in which the competitors effectively meet consumers’ needs.
Equipped with this information, the business manager can make effective strategic decisions to best rank the business to secure a potential place in the market.
Research skills in business management
The following are some of the skills that a business manager should put in consideration so as to acquire effective management;
• Predicting; the business manager have skills to evaluate alternatives, apply evaluation criteria and weigh up risk.
• Knowledge in collecting, analyzing and organizing information.
• Skills to identify potential opportunities that are not obvious to others.
• Skills to evaluate assumptions putting the context of circumstances and data into consideration.
• Effective skills in mentoring, coaching and giving feedback.
The above named research skills enable the business manager;
• To make appropriate decisions.
• To handle competition in an effective manner.
• To carry out satisfactory processes of risk evaluation.
• To hire consultants and researchers more effectively.
• To establish attractive investment areas.
Students’ research skills
As a student, I currently know some basic reasoning principles.
Logic facilitates examination of the validity of opinions and assumptions.
This has entailed familiarizing with the following terms;
• Inductive reasoning; which commences from specific observations or facts to reach a general conclusion. It relies on: complete, accurate, adequate and relevant evidence sufficient enough to prove the point.
• Deductive reasoning; involves making a general observation and working back to a specific example. It relies majorly on inference rules.
• Argument; a device in which a proposition or claim is proved using inference or evidence.
• Assumption; believing that the person building the argument is self-evident and no need to prove.
• Fallacy; a clearly faulty premise.
• Proposition; the claim considered in the argument (it can either be true or false).
Other research skills include the ability to:
• Gauge whether materials and information are appropriate for a certain purpose and up-to-date.
• Weigh up opinions, solutions or arguments against appropriate criteria.
• Check whether the argument and evidence provided actually support the conclusion.
• Check for hidden assumptions or bias.
• Think of a reasoning line up to its conclusion.
• Assess whether the used examples or evidence materially prove the author’s claim.
These skills have been obtained via various methods such as:
Using concept maps
These are tools for representing and organizing concepts, information and ideas diagrammatically, via a series of interconnected boxes, lines and circles.
This has been of great benefit by enabling students to:
• Link existing knowledge to quit new ideas.
• Systematically organize ideas in a logical rather than rigid structure which can be updated.
• Establish and enhance linkages between ideas that already the students have.
Group problem solving
Solving a problem as a group has often helped the group members (students) think better.
This is facilitated by the exchanges and mutual articulation.
Students teaching students
Presence of chances of students to interact amongst themselves and assist each other in different aspects has highly contributed to the improved research skills within the students.
Oral test on basic vocabulary
This was mostly achieved by giving students a vocabulary list, putting them into groups of threes or twos and asking them to explain what the terms mean in turns.
Debating
It has been a great way to actually develop students’ skills in; critical evaluation, research, analysis, teamwork and oral presentation.
It can be used to build critical thinking about challenge assumptions, controversial issues and generate awareness of other alternative points-of-view.
The various skills that are developed via debating include:
• Oral communication; persuasive verbal arguments enhance the language skills.
• Structuring an argument; ability to define terms, premise and topic as well as providing supportive evidence and examples.
• Research skills; ability to trace and utilize current and relevant findings or literature as well as identify and summarize the key points in a topic.
• Teamwork; collaboration on a common task helps in understanding of role in order of debate.
• Time management skills; effective use of time in preparing and delivering arguments.
However; there are other research skills that I need to gain to facilitate smooth and satisfactory handling of the actual daily obligations.
These skills include:
Research methodology
This mainly involves establishing a familiar environment with the following characteristics of research methodology;
• Research poses a need for a clear articulation of a goal.
• Research follows a specific procedure or plan.
• Research originates with a problem or question.
• Research usually entails dividing the subject problem into much more manageable sub-problems.
• Research accepts only some specific assumptions.
• Research is always guided by the specific question, hypothesis or research problem.
• Research requires both the collection and interpretation of data in an attempt to resolve the actual problem that is said to have initiated the research.
Qualitative research skills
This research is based on attitudes, beliefs, intentions and opinions.
It helps to master how customers may respond to new product or why they behave in a particular way.
It can highlight some issues which can be well explored in quantitative research.
This can be achieved via focus groups and interviews.
Quantitative research skills
This research is based on quite larger samples hence it’s more statistically valid.
The results of this research are generally in numerical form.
This can mainly be achieved via various forms of surveys.
Section 2
MYA Surgery Limited
MYA (Make Yourself Amazing) Ltd is one of UK’s leading providers of cosmetic surgery services. The company has diverse products for all its clients and it has a large customer base. The company has developed specialty in a range of cosmetic procedures including breast enhancement, nose, chin, ear alteration. MYA Ltd promotes the philosophy of body confidence, arguing for the concept of body improvement improves one’s self-confidence. The company operates under the able leadership of John Ryan, a pioneer in this field of cosmetic surgery (otherwise referred to as plastic surgery). The company boasts of having some of the most skilled and experienced surgeons in the industry and is reputed as a passionate, forward thinking company. MYA’s elite team of breast enhancement specialists provide a full range of both surgical and non-surgical procedures. It is such wealth of knowledge and expertise that gives the company the ability to comprehend what a customer needs from surgery. The company is customer-oriented as it offers a range of affordable, flexible finance packages designed to help the customer create a new self. In addition, MYA Ltd has rich national network that includes consultation centres in such locations as Leeds, London, Newcastle and Manchester. The company also plans to open more centre clinics in other prestigious cities and thus increase both its customer base and profitability. According to the plans of the management, the company will establish at least one branch every year until they are established in every region in the country and beyond.
MYA’s BOOK VALUE
MYA Company has undergone tremendous changes since its inception. The company has diversified its services and products as well as increased their branches. The net book value of the company has continually grown due to high investment and increasing profit. This book value is further expected to grow as the company diversifies its products and increase their branches. The tables below show the actual book value and the projected book value for the next three years.
MYA Ltd Book Value
Year Value in Pounds
2009 £1,659,986.00
2010 £2,070,137.00
2011 £2,864,882.00
Projected book value of MYA Company
The projected book value of the company will continue to increase until the continued investment in activities is halted. The projected increase in the company’s book value is approximately 8% per annum.
Year Projected book value
2013 3105100
2014 3804000
2015 4205000
Employees
MYA’s Ltd has employed a highly skilled and experience workforce and the current high rate of growth promises to create more employment opportunities at the company in the near future. The introduction of new products as well as opening new branches is the main influence of the potential increase of personnel in the company.
MYA Ltd’s Employee numbers
year employees
2007 102
2008 121
2009 132
2010 176
2011 197
MYA projected employees
Year Projected Employees
2013 300
2014 330
2015 400
Sales Revenues
MYA Ltd continues to experience significant growth in sales due to diversification of its products and increase in number of customers. There is minimal competition, a factor that has made the company to enjoy monopoly-like status in the UK market. In addition, MYA Ltd has great customer loyalty as a result of the company’s high quality services in cosmetic surgery and products. This allows MYA Ltd to offer its services and products at premium prices relative to the competition. The company is further trusted for its highly skilled and experienced staff that offer excellent customer service. Introduction of a new product would not prove problematic for MYA Ltd considering that it already have well-known and trusted brands in the marketplace. However, this is not to say that MYA Ltd is not engaging in marketing and promotional activities to increase its brand awareness. The company has developed targeted advertisement messages as well as appealing offers meant to its increase market share and improve product visibility in most places. The projected sales of the company are increasing at a very high rate because the customer base is expected to rise and new products will be introduced. There will also be new branches so that more customers will be able to access the products. The table below shows MYA Ltd’s actual sales for past years and the projected sales for next three years.
Year Sales pound
2007 304,000
2008 402,980
2009 528,679
2010 625,770
2011 809,200
2012 1,100,250
Projected Sales
Year Sales in pounds
2013 1,600,000
2014 1,900,500
2015 2,100,400
2016 2,500,000
Section 3
MYA surgery limited is a company that offers variety of surgical products and services. The company has gone through tremendous growth since its inception in 2007. The company has employed many people and it is growing very fast due to the different products which they offer.I have chosen this company for my training because I believe that it will equip me with the relevant skills and competences. The company offers variety of products and this will give me to practice management at different levels of the organization. In management, there are extremely many management skills and competences that are taught in preparation of ones career. I would like to be a business manager so that I can manage people and make decisions which have positive impact to the people around me. Different managers have strengths and weaknesses in various skills and competences. The most common competences and skills required of manages include the following; motivating people so that they can produce maximum by compensating their efforts. (Graham, Shiba, Walden, 2001, p.43)
When I was working at MYA years, all these skills were evident in all levels of management. In the company, there were different groups doing specific tasks and with different leaders and communication system. The groups are motivated in different ways in respect to their output. In my self assessment test, I was exceedingly interested in working in groups. I like being the group leader since I can manage the group dynamics. In MYA Company, there are many groups of people who are specialized in different fields. This has enabled me to gain skills of working in groups. In my future career plans, I would like to own a company and manage it myself. The competences are incredibly essential in the entire running of the company. They are inter related in that they all aim at achieve organizational goals and objectives. The effectiveness of a manager is determined by the outcome of the organization in regard to the set objectives and goals. If the skills and competences are effective, the organization will manage to achieve their goals and objectives. In most organization, the managers lack some skills and competences leading to poor management. This is the main reason they do not achieve as it is expected of them. In most organizations, the workers are required to work together and make decisions that will enhance in achievement of organizational objectives. In my uncles company, we were grouped in teams, and this was especially challenging on my part since it was difficult to make a quick decision due to consultations amongst the group members. In the organization, different personnel did more work than others. The organization had a policy of rewarding people and groups based on the output they delivered. This was extraordinarily critical, and it encouraged people to work extremely hard to get more rewards. (Scott, Spriegel, Clothier, 1961, p.22)
Communication played a very critical roe in the company as in ensure that all the stakeholders in the company would get the right information at the right time. Although the company has applied enough information technology to spread their information, there is a lot that needs to be done. The company management should set up a communication department which will provide all the information to the clients. MYA Company provides a wide range of services and products to the clients which make it stand out. There is massive competition from neighboring companies especially Transform company which offers similar services and product. MYA Company has overcome this competition by providing cheaper services and products while ensuring that the level of quality remain high. Although the company has many services, I realized that there is a big gap for new products which are very basic. The company should introduce aesthetic tattooing which is widely used by most people. There is great market for this product and if introduced in the company there will be great increase in number of the customer. The medical tattooing will have wide scope of activities such as tattooing eyebrows, eyeliner and treatment of people with hair problems. The company should also introduce treatment for women with breast cancer since this is very common. I believe that if these improvements are introduced in the company more people will be helped. In the MYA Company there are many staffs who are employed. The workers in this company do a lot of work and work for many hours per day. The workers have had a significant impact to the company and this has influenced the income to increase. According to my assessment, the personnel in this company should be well compensated so that they can feel motivated to provide their skills. The workers salary should be reviewed and the working conditions should be improved so that the safety of the workers is taken into consideration. The employees of the companies work as individuals and not inn work teams. I would like to see the employees of this company working in teams. The teams will help in solving problems faster, division of labor and specialization and build interpersonal relationships. The company has many opportunities that it can exploit, and the management team must come up with strategic plans which take into account the changing taste and preferences.
References
Creswell, John W., and Vicki L. Clark.Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications, 2007. Print.
Irāmacāmi, Tuḷaci. Principles of management. Rev. ed. Mumbai [India: Himalaya Pub. House, 2010. Print.
Johri, Amit. Business analysis. Mumbai [India: Himalaya Pub. House, 2010. Print.
Robbins, Stephen P., and Mary K. Coulter.Management. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.
http://www.mya.co.uk/
Spirituality in Health Care 5pages 2days, 150shs
After taking the tutorial: Spirituality in Health care, as described in the Warm up Exercise, analyze that tutorial, applying the processes and steps included there according to the models of health care described in Chapter 6 of your textbook. Prepare a reflection paper that describes: • The models of health care followed in the tutorial, in whole or in part. • The ages and groups that this might be most or least appropriate for • Your own level of comfort in using this type of approach. Website for tutorial below.http://www.csh.umn.edu/free-online-learning-modules/index.htm
health behavior change strategies 8pages 1, 6hrsday 200shs
In this assignment, you will apply evaluate health behavior change strategies. The National Prevention Strategy (NPS) of the United States Department of Health and Health Services focuses on four Strategic Directions to facilitate health behavior changes. These are outlined in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Prevention Strategy Report. Imagine that the government is revising these policies and has called on you, as an expert in health behavior change, to analyze and evaluate these policies. Prepare a white paper report in which you examine these strategies and analyze which models or theories these strategies are following. You will also note any gaps in the strategies, according to the models you have studied. Approach the white paper in the following way: • Give a brief overview of the strategies promoted in the NPS • Analyze these strategies according to the five behavior health change models and theories that you have identified through your readings and additional research. Do these strategies seem to follow one particular model? Or do they represent a variety of models. • Following on your analysis, and what you have learned about the benefits and drawbacks of each model, discuss how the application of the models and theories shown in these strategies are beneficial. What gaps in health behavior change to you think will remain. o How will the strategy likely be successful or not in different phases of behavior changes o Which age and ethnic groups are more or less likely to be impacted by the programs to implement these strategies? o What particular health related behaviors are more or less likely to be impacted by these strategies? • Review the National Prevention Strategy website, and note how the strategies are marketed to the public, as well as any health change marketing programs that are part of the strategy. Analyze these in terms of your knowledge of health change marketing. What are the positive points of the marketing used? What gaps remain? • What ecological factors have been considered in these strategies? • How well do these strategies address the long-term maintenance of health behavior change? • Conclude with your recommendations: Should the models underlying the strategy be changed, and if so how? How can the model be made more applicable to diverse groups? What marketing plans would you recommend? What other strategic changes would you propose to this plan? • Add any other comments you think are applicable. Note: International students may evaluate health care initiatives in their own country; if you choose to do so, be sure to present an English language version of those initiatives to your instructor as well as an analysis that considers the models and marketing used in the initiative. Be sure to incorporate the research you located in Week 4 to support your white paper findings.
