Accounting:
* Impact of a new accounting standard on a specific industry: This could involve analyzing financial statements before and after the implementation of a standard to assess its effects on profitability, efficiency, or reporting practices.
* Effectiveness of internal controls in preventing fraud: Research could involve surveys, interviews, and document reviews to evaluate the strength of a company's internal controls and identify areas for improvement.
* Analysis of financial performance using various accounting ratios: Comparing different companies or the same company over time using key ratios to determine financial health, efficiency, and profitability.
* The impact of automation on accounting processes: Evaluating the efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of using accounting software or AI in specific accounting tasks.
Business:
* Market research for a new product or service: Surveying potential customers to gauge interest, identifying target markets, and assessing the competitive landscape.
* Effectiveness of different marketing strategies: Comparing the results of various marketing campaigns (e.g., social media vs. traditional advertising) to determine which yields the best ROI.
* Impact of customer service on customer loyalty: Analyzing customer feedback and retention rates to understand the correlation between service quality and customer loyalty.
* Analysis of consumer behavior towards a specific product category: Investigating purchasing habits, preferences, and motivations to inform marketing and product development.
* Feasibility study for a new business venture: Assessing the market demand, competition, financial projections, and potential risks involved in starting a new business.
* The effectiveness of different management styles on employee productivity: This could involve comparing employee performance under different leadership styles.
Management:
* Impact of leadership styles on employee motivation and performance: Investigating the relationship between different management styles and employee satisfaction, productivity, and turnover.
* Effectiveness of different organizational structures: Comparing the performance of companies with different organizational structures (e.g., hierarchical vs. flat).
* Analysis of human resource management practices: Evaluating the effectiveness of recruitment, training, compensation, and performance management systems.
* Improving operational efficiency through process optimization: Identifying bottlenecks in business processes and implementing changes to improve efficiency and productivity.
* Supply chain management analysis: Assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of a company's supply chain, identifying potential areas for improvement.
* Risk management in a specific industry: Identifying and assessing potential risks faced by a company and developing strategies to mitigate those risks.
Research Methods Commonly Used:
ABM students will typically utilize quantitative and qualitative research methods, often in combination:
* Surveys: Gathering data from a large number of respondents.
* Interviews: Conducting in-depth conversations with individuals to gain insights.
* Case studies: In-depth analysis of a specific company or situation.
* Experiments: Testing the effects of different variables on an outcome.
* Statistical analysis: Analyzing quantitative data to identify trends and relationships.
* Document analysis: Reviewing documents such as financial statements, reports, and marketing materials.
The key to practical research in the ABM strand is its relevance to business problems and its potential to contribute to better decision-making within organizations. The research should be clearly defined, methodology should be rigorous, and the findings should be presented in a clear and concise manner.