GROUP DISCUSSION #9: WHAT IS INTERNAL VALIDITY AND WHAT ARE THE THREATS THAT IT STANDS EXPOSED TO?

Question 5, Page #149

Question 6, Page #150

The trade-off between internal validity and external validity is that, if a researcher wants high internal validity, he/she has to settle for low external validity. 

This is because, in order to establish internal validity, the researcher has to study the causal relationship in a tightly controlled laboratory environment. However, when the relationship is exposed to external factors in the real world, it is exposed to other unforeseen circumstances that can not be predicted in the laboratory environment which affects the cause-and-effect relationship between the dependent and the independent variables.

GROUP DISCUSSION #8: DEVELOP A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE CASE STUDY IN QUESTION 6, PAGE 114

Problem statement: What is the effect of perks on employee morale?

Independent variables: 

1. Presence of perks

2. Removal of perks

Dependent variables:

1. Employee morale

Intervening variable:

1. Explanation of perks

Nature and direction of relationship:

Removal of perks shows a negative relationship to the employee morale

Presence of perks shows a positive relationship to employee morale

Explanation of perks results in no loss of employee morale

GROUP DISCUSSION #7: FOR THE SCENARIO ON PAGE 113, DEVELOP THE PROBLEM STATEMENT AND THEORECTICAL FRAMEWORK. WHAT IS EM's ENVISAGED RESEARCH METHOD?

Question #5a. Page 113:

The problem statement is "How does Exxon Mobil function like a well-oiled machine and ensure its profitability?"

Question #5b Page 113:

Develop a theoretical framework

The case study explains that Exxon Mobil has been able to remain profitable by adopting cutting edge technology which allows it to explore for oil in very effecient ways and to get more oil out of existing deposits.

Its technology is driven by its research and development department which has 1,500 Ph. Ds. Its research and development helps Exxon Mobil remain profitable by helping it to develop the cutting edge technology.

Its research and development department is driven by its people. Without its people, Exxon Mobil would not be a profitable company.

The merger of Exxon and Mobil has helped drive the profitability of both companies as they are now a much more formiddable business after the merger.

Question 5c. Page 114:

The type of research method that Exxon Mobil envisages is applied research. This is because the management of Exxon Mobil expects each research undertaken to have direct measurable impact on the business and on its competitive advantage.

GROUP DISCUSSION #6: HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT DOING A LITERATURE SURVEY IN THE AREA OF BUSINESS ETHICS?

Chapter 4, Question #5, Page #65

In this group discussion, we looked at the steps one would typically follow in order to do a literature review in the area of business eithics.

GROUP DISCUSSION #5: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A LITERATURE SURVEY?

Chapter 4, Question #6, Page #64

GROUP DISCUSSION #4: SPECIFY THE TYPES OF INFORMATION THAT MAY BE STORED IN THE DATA WAREHOUSE OF A UNIVERSITY. OFFER 3 PURPOSES FOR MINING SUCH DATA

Chapter 3, Question #6, Page # 49

GROUP DISCUSSION #3: HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY BE MISUSED? GIVE SOME HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES WHERE THIS COULD OCCUR.

Chapter 3, Question #5

In this group discussion, we reviewed ways that technology can be misused, and we provided examples of where these misuses of technology have occurred in recent times.