Business Research Methods - Assignment Example

BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS Assignment 1. Frequency distribution can be help full to know about how many applicants will come to The organization of set of data in a table showing the distribution of the data into classes or groups together with the number of observation in each class or group is called frequency distribution. In a frequency distribution one variable is considered at a time. The objective is to obtain a count of the number of responses associated with the different values of the variable. The relative occurrence, or frequency, of different values of the variable is expressed in percentage. A frequency distribution for a variable produces a table of frequency counts, percentages and cumulative percentages for all the values associated with the variables. A frequency distribution helps determine the extent of items no response. It also indicates the extent of illegitimate response. 2. Sampling distribution of the mean approximates a normal distribution; facilitate to test certain hypotheses using statistical inference. In statistical inference, assumption is made about a population parameter and then determined whether or not our sample statistics are consistent with that assumption, sample error effect is allowed. Assumption is made that to test a hypothesis that is normally called the null hypothesis. For instance, average family income is to determine that whether or not the average family income of a particular is equal to the average family income of the population as a whole. To calculate it will be assumed that both the mean and the standard deviation of the distribution of family income in the population are known. Particularly, it is assumed that the population mean is $24,000 and that the population standard deviation is $2,000. To test this hypothesis, it will be assumed that we have randomly sampled 1,600 minority group families and have found that their average family income is $23,900. The question that is to be answered is whether or not the difference between the sample mean and the population mean can be attributed to sampling error or belong to a real difference between the minority group and the population. 3. There are six step in the estimation a cost function on the basis of the as analysis current or the past cost relationship. Chose the dependent variable (the variable to be predicted, which is come type of cost), identify the cost driver (independent variable), collect data on the dependent variable and cost driver, plot the data, estimate the cost function and , evaluate the estimated cost function. Dependent variable will depend upon the purpose for estimation a cost function. The chose of the cost driver should have an economically plausible relationship. Plot of data explain the relationship between the independent variable and cost driver. Cost function is determined using the regression analysis and high low method. Regression analysis uses the all available data to estimate the standard labor cost function. Regression analysis is a statistical method that measures the average amount of change in the dependent variables that is associated with ta unit change in one or more independent variables. The dependent variable the indirect manufacturing labor cost. The dependent variable or the coat driver is machine hour simple regression analysis estimate the relationship between the dependent and one independent variable multiple regression analysis estimates the relationship between the dependent variable and multi independent variable. Intelligent application of the regression analysis requires knowledge of both operation and cost accounting. Assignment 2 Following arguments were established by the laid off employees. The women were laid off because they were married; Second argument that women were laid off due to gender discrimination; Third argument of discrimination was the Ethno-religious origin; Discrimination based of appearance (dressing, hair style etc.); Discrimination based on race; Golden shake hand was offered but was not adopted by such employees; Women were laid off because of pregnancy; Women who had worked while pregnant argued that they experienced tangible discrimination such as denial of training opportunities and changes in job description; Women were discriminated because of age; Lay was taken place de to physical disability or impairment; Women were discriminated because of political opinion; Because of ethical belief (covers the lack of a religious belief); Women also argued they had faced discrimination that may have led directly to financial loss; Few women argued that they had a health and safety risk assessment carried out. In the perspective of “Law and Society”, the main conceptual issues surrounding and antidiscrimination policies and their relations with the strengths and weaknesses of the ongoing multicultural patterns. In particular it focuses on multiple discriminations originated by the overlapping of race, ethnic and religion discriminations with gender and sexual orientation. Underling assumption for the above said assumption is based on that the women should have the equal right to work. Women should be given equal opportunity of promotion, on job training, and pregnancy leaves. Human rights applied to all genders. 3. Due to strict performance reasons the employees were laid off. It was found necessary to layoff, even these employees are given severance pay, and now the company is being forced with a wrongful termination claim and discrimination suit. Employees lay off is according to the terms of employment contract there is no violation of said contract. Court can not invalidate the agreement between the company and employees. None of the employee is laid off as for discrimination. The claim is representing that employees are discriminated by the company. While the justice was done and every thing was clear to the entire employee that at the end of the every year performance and productivity appraisal is done by the company personnel manger on the basis of predetermined performance key indicators. Employee’s appraisal is reviewed by the company as a control too as it influence employee behavior and maximize the utilization of company’s human resource. The process of appraisal is designated to review performance over the past period, with view to identify the any deficiencies, and improving it in the future. Manager and supervisor may obtain random impression of employees’ performance; they have the fair idea of their employees’ shortcomings and devote time for the improvement and development. Mangers and the supervisors can made the judgments and can justify them also. In the process of appraisal personnel manager establish the key deliverables that a individual has to produce to enable the company to achieve its objectives. Comparing the individual’s level of performance is used against a standard as mean of quality control. Overall assessment, guided assessment, grading, behavior incident methods are the techniques currently company is using to appraise the performance. All the variables those affect an individual on work place were considered before making the decision of lay off. Laid off employees were given all the chances to improve the performance, productivity and career development. Such employees were provided on job training and other motivation theories were applied with the help of the personnel production managers in order to increase the productivity. Even after giving number of chances to increase the skills for better performance and productivity, but all such efforts went in vain. At least on the grounds systematic review and assessment of the performance and potential such employees were laid off. All the appraisal report about the performance is properly documented and was shown to the lied off employees before giving then the notices. During job in the company the women who were required the maternity leaves were awarded. No other discrimination is allowed to be promoted with in the company, so the claim of discrimination is wrong. This lay off was totally on the basis of the respective employees performance. Assignment 3 A business research article is selected to evaluate on the basis of given check list. 1 The purpose of this research article is to increase the understanding of the relationship between the TQM (Total quality management) and the out come of the usages of TQM practice in Malaysia. To determine correlation among TQM practices in manufacturing companies in Malaysia. The main objectives of the articles are 1. To determine correlation among TQM practices in manufacturing companies in Malaysia. 2. To investigate the relationship between TQM practice and net profit. 3. To investigate the relationship between TQM practices and turnover. 4. To investigate the relationship between TQM practices and turnover. 2 It was said that the implementation of the TQM is dependent on company’s quality consciousness. If a company is quality oriented then it will be easy to implement this process. While some individuals were of the view that TQM has the positive impact on the earning of the company. And also increase the net and gross margin. Reason for this study was to identify the advantages due to the TQM practice in the manufacture industry in Malaysia. The fact that the quality revolution commenced in manufacturing meant that the natural evolution of TQM began with a focus on producing quality products. This involved considering what the problems with the product were and then assessing how related processes could be improved. 3 Problem stated in the research article is theoretical rational. This is a genuine problem to know about the performance about the TQM on the manufacturer industry. It is necessary to know about the advantage of TQM so that such process can be implemented in the whole county to transfer the advantages to other rest of the industry. 4 Research about the efficiency and effectiveness is quiet important, because in this management style company continuous work on the improvement of the quality of the product, process and personnel. This is a bunch of methodologies that drive company to strategic goals achievement through unceasing quality development. It is focused on production of goods and services that possess high-quality from viewpoint of customers. TQM has shown phenomenal results and now it is used in many successful enterprises all across the world. It allows obtaining faster, fundamental and more efficient business development, because it stimulates production of much better products for better prices. TQM has some short term advantages and other tangible long term advantages and such attribute has made this theory more significant to be analyzed. In big organizations this process can take few years. Long-term benefits expected from implementation of TQM - higher productivity, higher moral tonus of personnel, decreasing of costs and increasing of consumers trust. This will increase the company’s image and increase the status within the society. Minimizing the mistakes cost can be save and ultimate profit will increase. Identification of mistakes can able the company to make improvement in the product and process. TQM creates atmosphere of enthusiasm and satisfaction with performed job and welcomes awarding bonuses for creative approach to professional duties. TQM emphasizes on the team work, so individual intensively uses team style work, which allows employees to share the skills with others. Through the sharing of the experience efficiency of the unskilled employees also increases. Long-term benefits that may be expected from Total Quality Management are higher productivity, increased morale, reduced costs, and greater customer commitment. These benefits may lead to greater public support and improvement of an organization’s public image. Hypothesis used in the articles are; H1: TQM practices have significantly positive relationship with net profit H2: TQM practices have significantly positive relationship with turnover Multiple regression analysis (MRA) was used to generate models that could be used by the manufacturing companies to identify the most important variables and the relationships between independent variables and dependent variables. Samples were used in the research article. The research was carried out on public-listed manufacturing companies in Malaysia. Thirty companies (about 25% of the total population) were selected on the basis of stratified random sampling from the sampling frame of 51, consumer product companies and 76 industrial product companies listed in the first board. These companies were chosen because TOM practices were likely to be sophisticated and established. Stratification was used to improve sample estimates of population characteristics. Limitations Multicollinearity can cause problem in assessing independent variables and error in regression modeling. Multicollinearity could lead to improper variable estimations and ultimately unstable regression models formation. Reference: REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF MULTICOLLINEARITY THROUGH PRINCIPLE COMPONENT ANALYSIS: A STUDY ON TQM PRACT Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ARAWATI AGUS Business Management, P.B.P. Introduction to business, by Weiers,5th Edition Weiers,3rd Edition Weiers,Ronald Murlse Weiers Comparison of Statistical Experiments, by Erik N. Torgersen Multivariate Data Analysis, by Jr. Joseph F. Hair,Ronald L. Tatham,Jr. Hair, Joseph F.,Joseph F. Hair,Joseph Hair Essential Quantitative Methods, by Les Oakshott. 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