Introduction

This chapter introduces the book and the topic it aims to address. Business managers are often faced with unique challenges. In such situations, they may see an opportunity to solve the business problem and obtain an additional post-graduate qualification. Whether this is the case or not, solving business problems scientifically require a rigorous research methodology. The main objective is, therefore, to simplify sound business research to the extent that managers are equipped to conduct such research. In attaining such an objective, the chapter clarifies the two secondary goals. Firstly, developing a business research roadmap that will assist in defining the research problem, identifying an appropriate methodology, and designing the research so that valid evidence is obtained to solve the problem. Secondly, comparative illustrative examples of completed business research in context are provided to understand other business researchers’ experiences. The chapter also introduces some critical business research paradigms (i.e., positivism, post-positivism, interpretivism, critical theory, and pragmatism) and briefly classify the illustrative examples within these paradigm themes.