Course detail

Business Research Methods

FP-IBbrmPAcad. year: 2025/2026

The aim of this module is to develop and present an individual research project using research methods that apply to the knowledge acquired during the lectures. The student should individually investigate either a practical problem in the selected company or conduct research in the field. Then pass the exam at the end of the semester. Student individually chooses a research topic or an issue that will be processed through the chosen research strategy and methods, especially with regard to her/his potential focus of the diploma thesis. The topic can be focused on the analysis of a problem within the company, e.g. in the field of management, marketing or strategic management. Student should then collect relevant information from the company's environment and, based on it, critically analyze the current situation and propose further solutions to a specific managerial or strategic problem. Or the student can conduct research in the field in the field of opinions, attitudes of individuals on a selected topic or the behavior of customers, companies, etc.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. František Milichovský, Ph.D., MBA, DiS.

Department

Institute of Management (ÚM)

Entry knowledge

The following knowledge, skills and competences are required for the course:

  • Knowledge: at least bachelor's degree statistics. MS office in Excell, Word and PoverPoint amounts.
  • Skills: The ability to communicate with respondents, collect data and process them. The ability to defend the research results not only in front of the lecturer in the university, but also in front of the company management.
  • Competence: working in a particular company. Communicate with business owners about a research problem.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Students will have to defend their research (max. 50 points) on a selected topic in class. The project (50 points) will be evaluated as follows: consultation on individual phases 15 points, preparation of the research project according to instructions 25 points, presentation 10 points. A minimum of 25 points out of a possible 50 is required to obtain credit.

The final exam (50 points) will consist of a written part containing 4 open-ended questions. Each question is evaluated with a maximum of 25 points. To successfully complete the course, students must obtain at least 25 points. The final evaluation is then determined according to the following scale:

A 90-100 points
B 80-89 points
C 70-79 points
D 60-69 points
E 50-59 points
F less than 49 points

Completion of the course for students with individual study: students will only complete a research project according to the assignment specified in the course news.

Attendance at lectures is recommended, as is the study literature. Checking attendance is the responsibility of the lecturer.

Aims

The objective of the module is working out and presents a research project by using of research methods presented in the module. In this module students may/should apply knowledge gathered during lectures and seminars. Students may/should solve a practical problem of a chosen company within the field of management, marketing, strategic management, etc.

Learning outcomes can be characterized as:

  1. Description of the research process and proposal of the research scheme.
  2. Defining the state of scientific knowledge, describing the state of the company's surroundings and the situation in the company.
  3. Definition of data sources and methods of their collection for secondary research.
  4. Data collection methods in primary research.
  5. Presentation and defense of research results

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

SAUNDERS, M., LEWIS, P., THORNHILL, A. Research methods for business students. 3rd edition. London: Prentice Hall, 2003. 504 p. ISBN 0-273-65804-2.

Recommended reading

BLOCK, M., BLOCK, T. Business-to-business market research. 2nd ed. Mason: Texere, 2005. 277 p. ISBN 0-324-22230-0.
COOPER, D., EMORY, W. Business research methods. 5th ed. Chicago: Irwin, 1995. 681 p. ISBN 0-256-13777-3.
EASTERBY-SMITH, M., THORPE, R., LOWE, A.. Management research. 2nd ed. London: SAGE Publications, 2002. 194 p. ISBN 0-7619-7285-4.
HAMERSVELD, M., DE BONT, C. Market research handbook. 5th ed. Chichester: John Wiley, 2007. 627 p. ISBN 978-0-470-51768-0.

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MGR-IBM Master's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. František Milichovský, Ph.D., MBA, DiS.

Syllabus

Content of lectures:

  1. Course structure, research project structure, presentation structure.
  2. Research in business, scientific thinking, research process, research design, conceptual diagram and conceptual model.
  3. State of scientific knowledge. Literature review. Primary and secondary research.
  4. Data collection methods in primary research. Quantitative research, types of sample selection. Calculation of the research sample.
  5. Construction of the questionnaire, scales.
  6. Qualitative approach, discussion of research results.

Exercise

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. František Milichovský, Ph.D., MBA, DiS.

Syllabus


Seminars:
Seminars:
1. Introduction to seminars - organizational aspects, generating research ideas. Definition and purpose of research, time management of research, bottlenecks of the research process.
2. Qualities of a good researcher - deciding on a research approach and choosing a research strategy.
3. Collection of research data - conducting research, secondary research. Research data collection, primary research: observation, interviews, questionnaires.
4. Analysis and interpretation of research results - qualitative approach. Analysis and interpretation of research results - quantitative approach.
5. Consultation on research topics.
6. Consultation on the presentation of the research project.
Consultations within the seminars will take place outside regular classes in the teacher's office.

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course