MBA5008 Business Research Methods Report 2 Sample

MBA5008 Business Research Methods. Ass 2

Management – Report

Student Guidelines

Introduction

A research based annotated bibliography presented based on at least 10-12 research papers of interest to the research topic.

What is an annotated bibliography?

A bibliography is a list of citations to sources (books, articles, films, websites, etc.) that you’ve used when researching a topic. An annotated bibliography includes a summary and evaluation of each source. These annotations are written in paragraph form and you are expected to include the following information:

1. An explanation of the main purpose of the research paper or academic source in relation to your research topic.

2. A short summary of key findings or arguments of the source.

3. The academic/intellectual credentials of the source. What type: e.g. peer-reviewed journal/ book chapter etc.

4. Short limitations of the research.

5. The value of bibliography as a contribution to your selected research topic.

To start with your assignment follow guidelines are provided. Your unit lecturer will be available for you to discuss further.

It is best to proceed with this task keeping below steps as a guide:

• Research and review the list of topics that you would like to focus and select one or two you would like to research further. Always approach to your lecturer if you have doubts on selected topic.

• Generate a list of direct sources relevant to your topic. VIT online library access provides you a wide variety of academic resource access. Library resources will get you develop a broader understanding of what academic information/sources is available on your topic.

• You may have a long list of supporting references for your topic. Your requirement is to have 10-12 academic articles, all of which are directly relevant to your topic.

• To help you select the references Scan through the articles you select and read the abstract thoroughly to find the most relevant and recent materials (Hint: preferably focus on the most recent articles, published in the last 5 to maximum 10 years). Reduce your list of references to 10-12 references. Always remember to select sources directly related with your topic.

• Write up a summary of your references following above given 5 steps guide. This annotated bibliography is going to be stepping stone for your research project (Assignment 2).

• Upload your annotated bibliography to the given link on Learning Management System (LMS) in week 4. Structure of the annotated bibliography

• Provide the full bibliographic citation

• Provide the main purpose of the source in relation to your research topic

• Shortly explain key findings

• State academic credentials of the source (e.g. peer reviewed or not)

• State key limitations of the source

• Sample annotated bibliography

• https://www.bibliography.com/apa/developing-an-apa-annotated-bibliography/

Submission Instructions

Submit to given Turnitin link on LMS- Assignment 1

IMPORTANT NOTE:

1. Word totals is around 1200, excluding words spent on bibliographic citations.

2. You are required to show critical thinking so only summarising what is stated is not sufficient, you need to provide your original assessment of the literature.

3. Disciplinary knowledge is best demonstrated through presenting evidence from peer-reviewed publications. Make sure that a large majority of citations in your annotated bibliography is peer-reviewed.

4. Be organized in your thoughts and ideas. Incorporate correlations with your research topic. Stay on topic.

5. Be aware of grammar and sentence structure. Use proper etiquette.

Solution

Introduction:

This is an analytical reflection on a research paper titled Cross-cultural Issues in Business Ethics: A Review and Research Agenda by Natalia Ermasova. As per the MBA Assignment Expert, The intent of reflecting on the paper is to provide a comprehensive summary and evaluation of the paper. The analysis focuses on exploring the theoretical and empirical evidence relating to cross-cultural business ethics, their implications for business managers, and gaps in academic research, as well as offering suggestions for future studies. 

Background: 

Natalia Ermasova's review considers the intersection between culture, ethical behaviour, and business conduct across countries. The paper calls out the importance of cultural background when it comes to examining ethical attitudes among different nationalities. Her discussed topic reviews literature from 1984 till 2018, with special emphasis given to articles cited most often within those four decades. It involves analyzing various studies on the impact of collective/individualistic cultures on employees' willingness to engage in whistleblowing activities through a systematic narrative review. Moreover, a knowledge stock analysis is used to uncover state-of-the-art knowledge regarding cross-cultural issues in business ethics, together with its limits and gaps. We can conclude that the author demonstrates how understanding such interconnections can help managers make better decisions regarding foreign partnerships guided by awareness of distinct ethical standards between countries or cultural groups. 

The idea of applying virtue ethics and the model of cultural sense-making as analytical frameworks in the field of cross-cultural issues in business ethics can offer an important perspective on how institutions and culture can influence the ethical perceptions of employees. Having both conceptual frameworks available for study would provide managers with more insight into how different countries, cultures, and social norms might affect their understanding of business ethics. 

Summary:

"Cross-cultural Issues in Business Ethics: A Review and Research Agenda," a research article by Natalia Ermasova, examines the complex connection between culture, ethical conduct, and global business practices. The study undertakes a thorough analysis of the literature that spans the years 1984 to 2018, concentrating mostly on research looking at how culture affects workers' propensity to report wrongdoing (Ermasova, 2021). Ermasova emphasizes how important cultural origins are in determining how people behave ethically in various nations and civilizations. In order to establish a theoretical framework for comprehending these processes, the study offers analytical frameworks, including virtue ethics and the cultural sense-making model.

The study highlights the significance of this information for company managers working in foreign relationships and encourages them to take different ethical standards and cultural norms into consideration. The study attempts to explain why and how culture affects corporate ethics, yet it does not specify its research topic directly.

Analysis:

Ermasova's work excels in its extensive literature assessment, which spans many decades and draws from a diverse range of sources. This indicates a solid awareness of the subject matter as well as a methodical approach to synthesizing previous information. The study deftly incorporates theoretical frameworks, notably virtue ethics and the cultural sense-making model, which deepens the analysis by offering solid theoretical underpinnings.

While the paper contains useful information, it lacks a defined research question, which might make it difficult for readers to understand the study's main point. A carefully specified research question would bring clarity and direction to the investigation. Another area for development is the insufficient utilization of empirical evidence. The study depends extensively on current literature, which, although useful, may benefit from the addition of original research or case studies to corroborate its conclusions.

In the article, the author tries to investigate how culture influences corporate ethics in order to create a study agenda for the future. In order to achieve this aim, the study provides a respectable synthesis of prior research and important analytical frameworks showcasing a relation between cross-cultural issues and business ethics. However, due to the lack of a specific research question, empirical proof, and practical management suggestions, a detailed analysis and recommendation that will solve the problem of cross-cultural issues with the help of positive business ethics is not clearly presented. 

While the work is well-researched and backed up by a comprehensive literature analysis, it may benefit from a more focused approach and a deeper study of practical applications. The merger of virtue ethics and the cultural sense-making paradigm is impressive, but it might benefit from more specific examples and real-world applications.

Comparison

Ermasova's work, which emphasizes the role of culture in creating ethical behaviours in international business, is comparable to a number of previous research publications in this field. For example, research by De Bakker, Rasche & Ponte (2019) presented Multi-stakeholder initiatives on sustainability, which is a cross-disciplinary review and research agenda for business ethics, which is closely tied to Ermasova's emphasis on cultural backgrounds impacting ethical views.
Furthermore, Chwialkowska, Bhatti & Glowik (2020) investigate the influence of cultural values on pro-environmental behaviour. Their findings are consistent with Ermasova's emphasis on comprehending cultural impacts on corporate ethics.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Natalia Ermasova's research paper on "Cross-cultural Issues in Business Ethics" provides a thorough examination of how culture affects ethical behaviour in international commerce. While it provides useful insights and analytical frameworks, it lacks a specific research question and actual proof. Future studies should concentrate on empirical investigations to test theoretical notions and give concrete advice to corporate managers dealing with cross-cultural ethics difficulties. Despite these limitations, Ermasova's study greatly contributes to our knowledge of the intricate interplay of culture and ethics in the global corporate scene. 

References

Chwialkowska, A., Bhatti, W. A., & Glowik, M. (2020). The influence of cultural values on pro-environmental behaviour. Journal of Cleaner Production, 268, 122305.
De Bakker, F. G., Rasche, A., & Ponte, S. (2019). Multi-stakeholder initiatives on sustainability: A cross-disciplinary review and research agenda for business ethics. Business Ethics Quarterly, 29(3), 343-383.

Ermasova, N. (2021). Cross-cultural issues in business ethics: A review and research agenda. International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, 21(1), 95-121.