International Field Experience on Business Management - Research Proposal Example

? Research Proposal: International Field Experience Negatively on Business Management It has become a common practice for a student, as well as managers to travel oversees with an intension of obtaining higher education. Research indicates that there are varied reasons why the number of managers, as well as students travelling oversees has been on the increase. For instance, there has been reported better performance of business in home countries of such managers, with this being attributed to international field experience. Arguably, there is a close link between business management as a practice and international field experience. On the contrary, it has been widely been cited that oversees field experience encourages brain drain given that most managers and students get absorbed oversees after completing their studies given that there are better working conditions and better pay than it is the case in their home countries. This way, home countries end up losing skilled persons. This shows that international field experience does not add value on the overall managerial skills of managers as earlier thought but instead encourages brain drain. Conclusively, international filed experience has heavy financial impacts to students, as well as the company involved, it causes brain drain, and alters the overall character traits of good managers, therefore, it should be discouraged. In this context, this paper seeks to oppose the practice of sending managers and students oversees with a view that it impacts negatively rather than positively on business management. Introduction. The thesis indicates that there is a relationship between International Field Experience and Business Management. In this context, International Field Experience refers to situations in which students, or those in management positions explore studies oversees with a view to gain knowledge, skills and experience. It is worth noting that the idea of international field experience in the development of business management is not new. However, one thing that is not certain is why it should be discouraged rather than be encouraged. Although various studies reported that international field experience has its advantages, such studies have been widely cited to be erroneous in their assumption that such practices lack disadvantages. Contrary to what is believed by many who apparently have been arm twisted to incline towards believing such studies, international field experience have more disadvantages than advantages and, therefore, they should not be encouraged. As research would have it, international field studies practically bear heavy burden to business organizations than it is thought. With, limited research conducted in support of discouraging international field experience on business management, it is an issue worth subjecting to scrutiny. For this reason, this paper proposes a study to investigate the pros and cons of international field experience with a view to oppose the practice of business organizations sending students oversees for studies. The thesis of this investigation is, therefore, that the International Field Experience bears heavy negative impacts on business management and it should be discouraged. Purpose of international field experience. This subject is of great importance in business management. Its main purpose has always been to enlighten managers a better view than it has erroneously been thought. Although, in the business students’ academic program, field experience plays a crucial role as it gives students a room for application of the knowledge gained while in the classroom, as well as giving students a chance to continue learning under a professional supervisor during the field work. It bears heavy cost to an organization and it encourages brain drain. The objective of the research. This is a research work that is set out to among other things achieve one key objective. Thus, the overarching objective was to find out supportive evidence for the negative impacts of international field experience on business management. The topic to be examined would heavy negative impact of international field experience. Research Questions There are three essential questions considered in this study. These questions can support the research in its objective of achieving the possible answer to the thesis. What does International field experience entail? Does international field experience impact negatively or positively on business management. How does the international field experience impact on the managerial skills of the managers? Limitations of the study. This study will focus mainly on international field experience and its influence in business management. This, thus, implies that study would be limited on international rather than local. This excludes a similar local experience which has not been explored. Moreover, the scope of the study does not take into consideration other field of education despite limited studies contacted in such fields. Basic assumptions. This study had to come up with various assumptions in helping achieve certain objects. Key among them is that international studies refer to studies done by individuals belonging to a certain country but taking studies away from the home country. This, thus, limits its scope to those students studying in countries that are away from their home country. One other assumption is that agricultural studies are studies that are in tandem with agricultural activities. Significance of the problem. The study problem would give out a significant insight in the business management. It would help practicing business students to find out the relevance of international education thus establish interest in business management. Besides this, this problem would help the managers to address the demands of preparing a business that can meet the challenging interconnected world. It would also help different institutions to organize for international field experience that could help the managers and directors in establishing proficiency in their business and global perspectives. Literature Review According to Madrid (2010) there are pros and cons of oversees studies. Madrid indicates that studying in foreign counties benefits the learner, but has its own limitation. He notes that there are local universities with good quality and the preference of oversees studies is not in order. Additionally, Madrid, indicate that studying in local universities save on cost as compared to studying in the universities oversees. It is also highlighted in this article that students when studying abroad are forced to incur heavy costs and the cost of living. More significant is the fact that learners are said to get exposed to cultural shocks and experience communication barriers. This subject has been supported by Marry (2010) who is of the view that oversees studies impact on an individual, as well as to the business organization. The author is of the view that obtaining education in foreign counties benefits the learner given that living in a new country broadens the mind, enables the learner to experience new cultures among others. With similar point of view as that pointed out by Madrid (2010), Marry (2010) argue that that there are local universities with good quality and therefore, any preference of oversees studies sabotages the good spirit and unit of the locals, which often happen following interactions occurring while in the learning environment. Additionally, as noted by Marry, studying in local universities save on cost as compared to studying in the universities oversees. This follows the heavy costs incurred by students, as well as high cost of living, alongside cultural shock and have communication barriers while attending the oversees studies. With an intension to provide an insight into the implications of studying abroad, Mall (2010) highlights the challenges faced by students send oversees by the companies to obtain oversees studies. According to Mall, changes experienced by such students include change in attitudes, advertising methods, as well as international education practices. Sharing the same thought with other researchers, Wayne and Margaret (2011) hold an opinion that are bountiful disadvantages of oversees studies on a business organization and, therefore, such studies should be disregarded. With similar point of view with other researchers, Wayne and Margaret (2011) are quick to note that oversees studies are beneficial to the learner, but has its own limitation. Highlighting the pros and cons of undertaking international studies, the researchers, as well note that oversees studies encourage brain drain in home countries of the managers. The researchers, as well indicate that students when studying abroad, are forced to incur heavy costs and the cost of living. Focusing on the short term impacts of studying abroad with a focus on economic impacts associated with it, Crew (200) indicate that studying oversees comes with a cost and those who opt for it choose to incur heavy costs. Crew argues that most of those who take up oversees studies do so without considering its economic impacts. All said and done, it is evident that it is erroneous to believe in encouraging business organizations to send students oversees for studies with a view that it is the only way such organizations can rise to glory. Such organizations should be critical about the whole issue and base on practical experiences of the losses incurred following such studies on an organization. One thing to content with is that there are studies that give an insight into pros and cons of undertaking international field experience. However, these studies are quite limited in various suspects. There is need for a research to conducted with a view that oversees studies have heavy impact on business organizations and should be discouraged. Perhaps the critical analysis of such studies shall steer clear any doubt on this subject. Data collection. Data collection methodology involved the use of one major approaches, which is secondary data collection. This is discussed below. The researcher shall use secondary data collection by collecting data from previous and existing research works. On the whole, secondary data refers to data that are not from the researcher’s personal sources. This means that the researcher cannot boast of being the original collector or owner of secondary data. Secondary data are not first-hand data but once the approach towards their collection is well conducted, the researcher can be assured of authentic data. To ensure such authenticity, the researcher first developed a data log. The data log involved the statement of all themes or topics that the researcher wanted to collect data on. The researcher then made a list of sources including books, internet sources, academic journals, and articles. There were about ten sources for each theme or topic at the first stage. The researcher shall then conduct detailed checks into the professional background of the various authors of the sources. Through this, there shall be two ‘best’ sources to be selected for each topic or theme. The researcher shall then collect the sources and sample from them specific materials that are useful towards the answering of the research questions posed. There shall then qualitative reviews on the materials selected from the sources. This means that the researcher shall not only gather information from the sources but also discuss the quotations by comparing ideas from different sources and drawing personal conclusions. Data Analysis The researcher’s data analysis plan shall entail two major features and these are presentation and interpretation of data. Under the presentation of data, the researcher shall make known data collected under specific themes to be built. The interpretation of data shall on the other hand involve a discussion on the data collected and the implications of the data collected. Both features of data collection shall involve the use of qualitative data analysis and quantitative data analysis. As far as qualitative data analysis is concerned, the researcher shall be at his discretion to present and interpret data. This form of data analysis shall, however, be based on empirical facts and literature presented at the literature review section. Generally, qualitative data analysis shall be suitable for use on secondary data collected through the review of related literature. Reliability and Validity Measurement of the reliability and validity of the research cannot be underestimated in any way. As a survey, it is the level of reliability and validity that will give the research the needed credibility for its findings to be generalized (Crew, 2001). Due to this, there are several factors to be put in place to ensure that the results are highly reliable and valid. Some of the factors include the selection approach used in selecting secondary sources of data for the research. In the absence of such selection mechanism, the data presented under the secondary data collection cannot be trusted as reliable and valid because they will not have any empirical backing. Another factor has to do with the use of random sampling technique to select members in the sample size. With that technique, the implication is that the researcher shall have no control whatsoever over the results. Even more is the extensive reliance on quantitative data analysis method. With quantitative data analysis, figures and values shall be displayed for all people concerned to have their own calculations to check the accuracy of results. Finally, the researcher is based on compromise to ethical standards such as the confidentiality of respondents. This means that there shall not be any legal issues to litigate the research findings. In some cases, legal litigations lead to the withdrawal of certain components of data, rendering the whole research conclusion compromised and academically paralyzed. Discussion. Field experience is a vital and beneficial phase in education and a student’s preparation for a career that is professionally oriented (Crew, 2001). From the results, it is expected that international field experience would have increased positive effects on business management. This is so because improved field experience could contribute towards a continuous flow of competent and qualified personnel into resource and agricultural management industries. Prior studies conducted in this field have reported that field experience leads to increased international experience and incorporation of global dimension into learning. Other studies conducted to investigate the relevance of international student’s placements established that overseas participants increased their extent of learning, and global community perspectives. Challenges to the research There are foreseen challenges for this study. It Is worth noting shall heavily rely on secondary sources to obtain data with a view to reduce on the cost of carrying out the research. Given that most publish reports might not be current, it might prove a taunting task to obtain reliable data for the research. This means that failure to obtain current published reports shall make the data used to be unreliable and biased, and this shall fail to guarantee the reliability of this research. Additionally, secondary resources do not guarantee first hand data and might increasing biasness. This is the major challenge of this research. References Madrid, M. (2010). Pros and Cons of Studying Abroad Retrieved from http://www.braintrack.com/study-abroad/articles/study-abroad-pros-cons Mary M. (2010). Benefits of Studying Abroad. Retrieved on 23rd Jan 2013 from http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0403/benefits_study_abroad.shtm.l Mell, B, 2010. Who Plans (Not) to Study Abroad? An Examination of U.S. Student Intent Journal of Studies in International Education November 1, 14: 491-507. Liqung T, Wayne H, & Margaret B. 2011. Study Abroad. Retrieved on 24th Jan 2013 from http://www.nytimes.com/ref/college/coll-china-education-003.html. Crew, V, (2001). Reflections on short term study and residences abroad. Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Institute of Education.. Read More