Week 1

Course Introduction
Suggested Areas of Research
 Dr. Jugindar Singh
Phd – Open University Malaysia
Bachelor of Econs (Hons) – University Malaya
Master in Human Resource Mgmt – Open University
Malaysia
Over 20 Years of experience in leadership
Certified Professional Trainer and Facilitator
2
 Ground Rules
All University students are adults and will be respected
as adults.
 Arrive on time. No attendance after 20 minutes
 Turn off your handphone
 Critique ideas, not people. Avoid put-downs (even humorous ones).
 If you are offended by anything, acknowledge it immediately.
 Ask questions if you are confused.
 Try not to distract or annoy your classmates.
 Encourage one another. Everyone Learn

1. What I hear, I forget

2. What I hear and see, I remember a little
3. What I hear, see, and ask questions about and
discuss with someone else, I begin to understand.
4. What I hear, see, and discuss, and I do, I acquire
knowledge and skills.
5. What I teach to another, I master
3
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Timetable for the module :

Friday, 11 January
Saturday, 12 January
Sunday, 13 January
Thursday, 17 January
Tuesday, 22 January
Wednesday, 23 January
Thursday, 24 January
Saturday, 26 January
Sunday, 27 January
Monday, 28 January
Wednesday, 30 January
Monday, 11 February
Wednesday, 13 February

Examination Saturday, 16 February

Assignment Submission Monday, 25 February

Weekdays class : 7.00pm - 9.30pm, Saturday : 2.00pm - 7.00pm, Sunday : 9.30am to 4.30pm

Deadlines :

1. Verified exam question – 11 January 2019

2. Verified assignment question – 11 December 2018
3. Course Material – Kindly load the course materials in webspace as we are no longer giving out
CD’s

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 Please turn off Handphones

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Module Code and Module Title Title of Slides Dr Jugindar Singh
Module The course will prepare postgraduate students for their
Overview dissertation by providing them an understanding of research
principles, a range of quantitative and qualitative research
methodologies and appropriate analytical techniques. Students
will develop critical competencies and skills required to undertake
a research inquiry specifically to address the identified research
problem. These competencies and skills include: identifying and
formulating a research problem; defining research questions;
setting appropriate research objectives; reviewing and evaluating
literature; collecting secondary and/or primary data;
understanding sampling methods, analysis of data; presenting the
research findings; and appreciation of the importance of ethical
conduct pertaining to the collection, analysis and dissemination of
research data.

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 Learning Outcomes: Week 1
• Learning Outcomes for the module.
• Learning methods, subjects to be covered
• Introduction to research methods
• Assessment briefing.
• Research Topic Guidelines
• Research Ethics

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 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Evaluate research problems to plan for appropriate research objectives

based on previous empirical studies (C5, PLO1)

Identify research methods and methodologies including research tools

and techniques used in qualitative and quantitative data collection and
analysis (C4, PLO3)

Perform ethical conduct on collection of research data and analysis

process (A5, PLO7)

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 Research Proposal Dissertation

1. Introduction 4. Results
2. Literature Review 5. Discussion,
3. Methodology Conclusion,
Recommendation

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 YOUR RESEARCH

• Research can be one of the most interesting features of any

course as it offers you a measure of control and autonomy
over what you learn.

• It gives you an opportunity to confirm, clarify, pursue – or even

discover – new aspects of a subject or topic you are interested
in.

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 Learning Method
Classroom Research Proposal
Lectures PPT slides
1.5 hrs a week 1. Background, Problem
12 Weeks statement, Questions,
Significance, scope.

2. Literature Review

Practical 3. Research Methodology

Samples
Tutorials Group discussions
2 hrs a week Presentations
12 weeks

Self Learning
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 Assessment Methods and Types

Assessment Methods and Types

The assessment components will be:

1. Class Test – 20%
2. Individual Research Proposal – 70%
The Individual Assignment length is 3500 words
3. Proposal Presentation – 10%

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 Lesson Plan Milestone
Week 1 Learning Outcomes/ Assessment Briefing/Learning Start
Methods/Ethics/Topic
Week 2 What is Research, Research Process, Types of
Research
Week 3 Problem Statement, Concepts, Variables, Hypothesis
development, Types of data
Week 4 Literature Review
Week 5 Qualitative Research, Secondary data Finalize Title

Week 6 Intro to Methodology, Sampling Method Supervisor

Assigned
Week 7 Questionnaire Development, Interview Methods

Week 8 Data collection and data analysis

Week 9 Data Analysis and Presenting the Results

Week 10 Intro to Descriptive and Inferential stats

Week 11 Writing Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. Class Test

Week 12 Final Report and Presentation Submit

Proposal
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 Reference Books

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 Structure of Research Proposal
• At this early stage, you need only provide a working title.
Title • You can decide on the exact wording for your title when you are
nearer to completing your dissertation.
• Aim to create a title that conveys the idea of your investigation.

Background: Describe the broad foundations of your study

Chapter 1 Problem Stmt: Answer the question: “What is the gap that needs to
Introduction be filled?” and/or “What is the problem to be solved?”
Objectives: Explain the goals and research objectives of the study
(what do you hope to find?).
Questions/ Describe the research questions and/or hypotheses of
Hypothesis: the study
Significance: Rationale for the study (why should we study this?)
Scope/Limitations: Boundary and limitations

Critical look at the existing research that is significant to the work

Chapter 2 How other scholars have written about your topic – Agreements,
Literature disagreements, controversies,
What are the gaps in current literature

• Overall methodological approach for each problem or question. Is

Chapter 3 your study qualitative or quantitative or mixed?
Methodology
• Method of sampling, data collection, data analysis, ethics etc.
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 WHAT IS RESEARCH

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Module Code and Module Title Title of Slides
 What is Research?

• Intellectual application of the investigation of a

matter

• Used for discovering, interpreting and

developing methods and systems for the
advancement of human knowledge.

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 What is Research?
• “Research can be described as a systematic and organized
effort to investigate a specific problem that needs a solution”
(Sekaran 2003).

• Keywords:
1. Systematic and organized
2. It encompasses the processes of inquiring / investigating – end
result would help to solve problems or suggest ways to solve
problems.

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 What is Project/Research?

The application of the scientific method in searching for

the truth about business phenomena. These activities
include defining business opportunities and problems,
generating and evaluating ideas, monitoring performance,
and understanding the business process.
Zikmund

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 Comprises four stages

• First stage: Problem identification

• Second stage: Gather the relevant information

• Third stage: Critically analyze the information

• Fourth stage: Provide solution to the existing problem

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 Research Is Not …

• Information gathering:
– Gathering information from resources such books or magazines
isn’t research.

• The transportation of facts:

– Merely transporting facts from one resource to another doesn’t
constitute research.
– No contribution to new knowledge although this might make
existing knowledge more accessible.

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 What is the importance of
Research

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 Importance of Research
• Doing secondary research i.e. familiarising yourself with the work of
“experts” – this process is known as a Literature Review.

• Doing a primary research – to build upon what you have already found
out about a subject.

• Comparing the findings and drawing your own conclusions.

• Drafting a framework/ prototype to solve a particular problem

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 Purpose of Research
Two main purposes: THE PURPOSE OF RESEARCH IS TO…
• Review or synthesize existing
1. To generate new knowledge
knowledge (enhance the • Investigate existing situations or
problems
body of knowledge) • Provide solutions to problems
• Explore and analyse more general
issues
2. To solve a current problem • Construct or create new procedures
or systems
• Explain new phenomenon
• Generate new knowledge
• …or a combination of any of the
above!
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(Collis & Hussey, 2003)
Title of Slides
 Why do a Project/Dissertation?
• Exposure to the ‘REAL’ world
• Apply your recently acquired knowledge and theory to
real situations.
• Base for higher qualifications – Phd
• Self development - you will of course become more
specialist in the area you chose to investigate

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Module Code and Module Title Title of Slides
 Research Topic
Your area of Study &
Interest
TITLE
The title (topic) of the proposal should ‘accurately’ reflect the scope and
content of the study in not more than 20 words.
• Concise
• Precise
• Outline Core Issues of study
Dr Jugindar Singh
Dr Jugindar Singh
 Attributes of a good research Topic
Capability: is it feasible?

• Are you fascinated by the topic? INTEREST

• Do you have the necessary research skills? CAPABLE

• Can you complete the project in the time available? DOABLE

• Will you be able to collect or gain access to data?

• Is there sufficient literature available?

1. The goals of the research must not be too ambitious

2. Precision yet concise: Reader knows exactly what you are trying to achieve
Dr Jugindar Singh
You are interested
Relate to your field of study
• There is no secret that you will not be able to write a good insightful
research paper if you are not interested in the subject overall and in
the topic in particular.

• If on the other hand the topic is linked to the field of your interest,
you may consider yourself lucky. It would be easier to explore the
theme and write about it.
 What make a dissertation topic too broad
• Research Questions too open
• Too many research questions and/or hypotheses;
• Too many concepts, theories, and/or variables;
• The population you are interested in is too broad to target
effectively;
• There is no identifiable outcome to your dissertation.
Eg: The impact of oil price on the country GDP, inflation, stock market
and employment
A study on the relationship between service quality and customer
satisfaction in Malaysia
Dr Jugindar Singh
 Research Title
• Descriptive and explanatory, not general
Helps the reader to understand the core focus of your dissertation.

• Precise
‘accurately’ reflect the scope and content of the study

• Concise
Explain what the nature of your research is in fewest words possible (15 words).
Example:
1. Barriers to Digital banking adoption: A qualitative study among
corporate customers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Dr Jugindar Singh

Barriers [focus] to digital banking adoption [area of interest]: A qualitative study [qualitative research
design] among corporate customers [population] in Malaysia [situated nature of the study]
 Formulating the research Title
Examples:
1.Barriers to Digital banking adoption: A qualitative study among Gen Y customers in
Malaysia
Barriers [focus] to digital banking adoption [area of interest]: A qualitative study [qualitative
research design] among Gen Y customers [population] in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [situated
nature of the study]

2. Problems with partnerships at work: Lessons from a Malaysian case study

Problems [focus] with partnerships [area of interest] at work [population, situated nature of
the study]: Lessons [proposed outcome] from a Malaysian [situated nature of the study] case
study [methodology]

3. Entrepreneurship barriers and entrepreneurial inclination : A quantitative study among

Malaysian postgraduate students
Dr Jugindar Singh
 BE PRECISE AND SPECIFIC
Focus
You need to understand completely that you are not writing a
descriptive essay.

A research paper is an accurate and thorough work, which is based on

facts details.

Your statement should be supported with examples or reference other

profound research and academicals works.
BE INNOVATIVE
Recent
An innovative approach can give you the edge among other students.

A topic should address the matter from a different and surprising

perspective.

With a deep investigation, you may even find the unknown until now
facts that can blow your readers’ minds.

This approach will intrigue your readers and will make research paper
stand out.
 Sources of research topics
1. Personal interest (your favorite course, subject, topic)
Eg: Using Social Media in Marketing

2. Information/observation (any behavior that arouses your curiosity) Eg: Lack of women
in leadership positions.

3. Practical problems (problems in your class, school, job) Eg: Students performance in
Accounting course

4. Pop ups -fleeting thoughts (falling apples)

5. Readings (books, magazines, web sites, Newspapers etc)

6. Theories (theories that predict a behavior- opposing theories for the same behavior)
Eg: Motivation theory
Dr Jugindar Singh
 Argumentative research paper topics
Here, you must argue out your points – for and against.
Moreover, you have to present facts to demonstrate a clear
understanding of the topic. Your introduction and
concluding paragraph must be equally strongly worded. Take
a look at the following argumentative research topics
examples:
• The minimum wage rate in your country or state.
• Incivility (Rudeness of bosses)?
• Do we need shorter working weeks?
• Mergers are much better compared to acquisitions?
• Businesses need to invest more in digital marketing and
social media campaigns to capture the right target
audience
 Controversial topics for research paper
There are people who like to court controversy whenever
they say or do something, more so, in public. A good
example here is an activist. Whether it is advocacy for gay
rights or same-sex marriage, writing on issues like these
can be painstakingly difficult. So, you must put your act
together right from the beginning, and controversial topics
for research paper like the following will most certainly get
you moving in the right direction:
• Employment of LBGT.
• Surrogate mothers and societal worldview.
• Violence in media content.
• STEM subjects should be mandatory.
• Should homework be abolished?
• Capital Punishment
• Romance in the workplace
 Some areas of research
• Is college education efficient for the job market?
• Is there a difference between a man and a woman’s EI?
• Explore possible causes of child labor and how to prevent
it.
• The significance of ethics to business and how to control
bad behavior.
• Are universities becoming business-driven?
• Ex-convicts and job searching. Is it difficult finding
employment?
• What should be the basis of workplace promotion:
seniority, degree, or performance evaluation?
• The significance of Search Engine Optimization to
businesses today.
• Should women be allowed into extreme sports?
 Topics on Business
1. How can one turn a business
idea into a successful startup?
2. How can creative marketing
increase the sales?
3. Is multitasking a productive
method of work?
4. Sexual harassment in the
working environment.
5. Google: how benefits can make
your employees happy.
6. What are minimum wages
around the world?
1. Deliberating on the secrets of effective
leadership
2. How to resolve conflict between staff and
management
3. The function of diversity in the workplace of
the 21st century
4. Management by walking around: effective or
fruitless?
5. Social media and word-of-mouth in the
digital age
6. How the digital age has transformed small
business
7. How mobile technology is altering the
workplace
8. The future of the franchise
9. How the millennial employee is transforming
the workplace
 Topics on Social Issues
• How do social media influence interpersonal communication?
• LGBT tolerance around the world.
• Diversity and Global citizenship: pros and cons.
• How to deal with social anxiety?
• How can one defend privacy issues on Facebook and other social media?
• How to stop bullying in schools?
• Discrimination of the black women in modern day America.
• Gender stereotypes in the workplace.
• Fitness programs Should companies allow employees to exercise on work time?
 Research Paper Topics on Technology
1. Cyber security: can we really be 1.Procedures to enhance IT security
safe?
2. How can technologies help in 2.New methodologies and challenges to IT
productivity? management in health

3. How close did we get to the 3.Racial and gender issues in the IT domain
Artificial Intelligence?
4. How do regular people influence 4.Innovative theories regarding computer
the technological progress? imitation of a human being
5. How did IOT change business? 5.The impact of digitization..
6. How did cloud technologies change
data storing?
7. Can virtual reality substitute an
actual reality?
8. What is the future of the internet?
 Read JOURNAL ARTICLES
• Relationship bet. entrepreneurial orientation, market
orientation and performance in banks in Saudi Arabia (2001)
• Barriers to Entrepreneurship success: A quantitative study
among fresh graduates in Malaysia
• Factors Influencing taxpayers’ compliance with the tax system: A
qualitative study in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• The impact of information technologies on communication
satisfaction and organizational learning in companies in Serbia
You may replicate or extend

Dr Jugindar Singh
Areas of Research – Management
1. Employee behaviors such as performance, absenteeism, and turnover.
2. Employee attitudes such as job satisfaction, loyalty, and organizational
• Leadership style
commitment. • Employee Performance
3. Supervisory performance, managerial leadership style, and performance
appraisal systems. • Job Satisfaction
4. Employee selection, recruitment, training, and retention.
5. Validation of performance appraisal systems.
• Retention of employees
6. Human resource management choices and organizational strategy. • Absenteeism
7. Evaluation of assessment centers.
8. The dynamics of rating and rating errors in the judgment of human performance. • Motivation
9. Strategy formulation and implementation.
10. Just‐in‐time systems, continuous‐improvement strategies, and production
Marketing and Sales
efficiencies. • New product
11. Updating policies and procedures in keeping with latest government
regulations and organizational • Service Quality
changes.
12. Organizational outcomes such as increased sales, market share, profits,
• Marketing mix
growth, and effectiveness. • Advertising
13. Consumer decision making.
14. Customer relationship management. • Social media
15. Consumer satisfaction, complaints, customer loyalty, & word‐of‐mouth comm.
16. Complaint handling.
• Customer satisfaction
Dr Jugindar Singh 46
17. Delivering and performing service
 SOME COMMONLY RESEARCHED AREAS IN BUSINESS
18. Product life cycle, new product development, and
product innovation.
19. Market segmentation, targeting, and positioning.
20. Product image, corporate image.
21. Cost of capital, valuation of firms, dividend
policies, and investment decisions.
22. Risk assessment, exchange rate fluctuations, and
foreign investment.
23. Tax implications of reorganization of firms or
acquisition of companies.
24. Market efficiency.
25. Banking strategies.
26. Behavioral finance: overconfidence, bounded
rationality, home‐bias.
27. Executive compensation.
28. Mergers and acquisitions.
29. Portfolio and asset management.
30. Financial reporting.
31. Cash flow accounting.
32. Accounting standards.
33. Outsourcing of accounting.
35. The implications of social networks on the capital
markets.
36. Corporate governance.
37. Development of effective cost accounting
procedures.
38. Installation of effective management information
systems.
39. Advanced manufacturing technologies and
information systems.
40. Auditor behavior.
41. Approaches and techniques of auditing.
42. The use of technology in auditing.
43. Decision making in auditing.
44. Installation, adaptation, and updating of computer
networks and software suitable for creating
effective information systems for organizations.
45. Installation of an effective data warehouse and data
mining system for the organization.
46. The acceptance of new computer programs.
47. Tax audits.
48. Internal auditing.
49. Accounting fraud and auditor liability.
50. The quality of audit reports.
 Search Journals
1. Asian Social Science Journalhttp://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/as
2. International Journal of Business and Management
3. Malaysian Management Journal http://mmj.uum.edu.my/
4. Asian Journal of Business and Accounting https://ajba.um.edu.my/
5. International Journal of Business and Society (IJBS)http://www.ijbs.unimas.my/
6. Case Studies in Business and Management
http://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/csbm/issue/view/578

Dr Jugindar Singh
 Research Topics Database
No Title/ Topic Area Brief description/Potential Topic Keywords Lecturer
1Cyberbullying in the Self efficacy of fake news Fake news Nooraneda (NNA)
Workplace -Comparison study of fake news legislation Self-efficacy
Comparison Study

2Managing Managing harassment Harrasement Noraneda (NNA)

Harassment -prevalence of harassment
in the workplace

3Learning Students’ perception on blended learning Blended learning Noraneda (NNA)

-management of blended learning - -pedagogical richness
-knowledge
-social interaction
4Application of Blockchain How decentralized ledger may be used to validate smart Digital Marketing Nadiah (NDS)
in Validating Online contracts. Will such contracts eliminate the function of
Contracts lawyers? Blockchain Contracts
5Knowledge Management The practice of professional firms (i.e. accountants, KM Nadiah (NDS)
Application for lawyers, auditors) requires expertise & shared IS/ IT implementation
Professional Firms knowledge. Purpose of research: to explore the
application & possible benefits of KM to professional
practice
6Organisational Adoption of Investigation of tele-working/ flexi working in achieving Flexible Work Arrangement Nadiah (NDS)
Teleworking/ Flexi-working team & organisational objectives. Possible investigation Employment Legislation
into method & the impact of implementation

Dr Jugindar Singh
 Research Topics Database
12Women empowerement Potential topic: Flexible working hours and job empowerement Flexible Work Arrangement Sueraya(SYA)
among women employees
13Fintech Perceived determinants of lending decisions by P2P lending Jugindar (JGR)
P2P Peer-to-Peer Lenders?
14Fintech The Adoption of Mobile Payment Services for “Fintech” Mobile Payments Jugindar (JGR)
Mobile Payments

15Blockchain Blockchain-Applications in Financial Instituitions Blockchain Applications Jugindar (JGR)

Artificial Intelligence
16Artificial Intellegence Artificial Intelligence and the Employee Productivity Employee Productovity Jugindar (JGR)
Artificial Intelligence
17Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence and Future of Jobs Future skills Jugindar (JGR)
Digital
18Digitalization Digitalization in marketing Marketing strategy Jugindar (JGR)
Content marketing - the fundamental tool of Content marketing
19Content marketing digital marketing to improve sales Digital marketing Jugindar (JGR)
Big Data
20Big Data Capturing Value from Big Data by Organizations Analytics Jugindar (JGR)
21Workforce Diversity Relationship between Workforce Diversity, Inclusion and Workforce Diversity Jugindar (JGR)
Employee Engagement Employee Engagement
22Workforce Diversity Workforce Diversity and Improving Organization Workforce Diversity Jugindar (JGR)
Dr Jugindar Singh
Performance Organization Performance
Dr Jugindar Singh
Tutorial
What is your area of research – your interest
Search for Articles related to the area of research EG Leadership style
Get at least 3 to 5 related articles
Write your proposed research title

Dr Jugindar Singh
 Emerald, ProQuest, SpringerLink, eBrary
Dr Jugindar Singh
Dr Jugindar Singh
Dr Jugindar Singh
Additional Notes
• The Challenge

• The internet is a pervasive, fundamental part of

daily life that continues to deliver massive
economic and social benefits around the world.
Yet some 3.9 billion people – more than 52% of
the world’s population – are still not online.

• Although much progress has been made in

closing the digital divide, the challenge remains
huge, complex and multidimensional. It requires
a collaborative, multistakeholder approach to
overcome four key barriers to internet inclusion:
infrastructure; affordability; skills, awareness
and cultural acceptance; and relevant content.

• Importantly, the internet is also the

fundamental enabler of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution. The industries enabled by the
Fourth Industrial Revolution are likely to reshape
the global economy, creating immense
opportunities for those able to develop them.
• For years Fintech has been the hottest topic of discussion in financial services, with
incumbents, regulators, and consumers all asking the same question: “Will small
technology-enabled ‘fintech’ start-ups redefine the way that banks and insurers
operate, and upend the competitive landscape of the industry?”
• Building on the findings of the 2015 World Economic Forum report “The Future of
Financial Services,” this document considers the evolution and impact of fintech firms
on financial services to date and presents a series of contrasting outlooks for the
future of the industry.
• Our findings suggest that fintechs have materially changed the basis of competition in
financial services, but have not yet materially changed the competitive landscape.
They play a critical role in defining the pace and direction of innovation across the
sector but have struggled to overcome the scale advantages of large financial
institutions.
• Other key findings of the report include:
1. Platforms Rising: Platforms that offer the ability to engage with different financial
institutions from a single channel will become the dominant model for the
delivery of financial services.
2. Financial Regionalization: Differing regulatory priorities, technological capabilities,
and customer needs are challenging the narrative of increasing financial
globalization and making way for regional models of financial services suited to
local conditions.
3. Systemically Important Techs: Efforts by incumbent financial institutions to
emulate the core capabilities of large technology firms will lead to an increasing
reliance on those same large technology firms.
4. This report represents the culmination of three years of research into the
transformation of financial services prepared by the World Economic Forum in
collaboration with Deloitte.
Rudeness at work is rampant, and it’s on the rise. Over the past 14 years we’ve
polled thousands of workers about how they’re treated on the job, and 98% have
reported experiencing uncivil behavior. In 2011 half said they were treated rudely
at least once a week—up from a quarter in 1998.
Working in a company that has a toxic employee is practically a rite of passage. Even in the happiest
organizations, unhappy people can wreak havoc. It takes only one bad apple to ruin a bushel.

A Harvard Business School study of more than 60,000 employees found that "a superstar performer
- one that models desired values and delivers consistent performance" - brings in more than $5,300
in cost savings to a company. Avoiding a toxic hire, or letting one go quickly, delivers $12,500 in cost
savings.

Employees subjected to incivility in the workplace "markedly loosened bonds with their work life".
Nearly half of employees "decreased work effort" and intentionally spent less time at work.
38% "intentionally decreased" the quality of their work.
25% of employees who had been treated with incivility admitted to taking their frustrations out on
customers.
12% left their jobs due to uncivil treatment.
Not surprisingly, toxic employees alienate their co-workers and team members, which also directly
impacts the bottom line:
80% of employees lost work time worrying about the offending employee's rudeness.
78% said their commitment to the organization declined in the face of toxic behavior.
66% said their performance declined.
63% lost work time in avoiding the offender.
48% decreased their work effort.
 A qualitative study
1. Communication and culture
2. Time management
3. Leadership investment
4. Dealing with the wrong people
5. Changing legislation and global reach
PETALING JAYA: A national survey has revealed that Malaysians aged 13 to 17 are critically suffering from mental
health problems.

One in five are suffering depression (18.3%), two in five anxiety (39.7%), and one in 10 suffering from stress (9.6%).

The number of suicide cases among students may have something to do with our education system. The exam-
oriented culture, which causes undue stress, not only affects students but teachers as well.

Dr Jugindar Singh
1.Millennial Driver #1: Quality
Quality-customer focus and the quality of work an organization provides is the number one
driver of Millennial willingness to say, “this is a great organization to work for.”
Millennial Driver #2: Learning
One of the biggest things that leaders can do to help Millennials maximize their full potential
is to create a learning environment. And that's not true of just Millennials, it’s true of every
generation of worker.
Millennial Driver #3: Feeling Valued
Feeling valued isn’t the same as getting a meaningless pat on the head. Don’t you appreciate
it when you know that the work you do really matters?
Encouraging a more enterprising environment that embraces friendly competition, values
creativity and intelligence, and where the best idea sometimes wins regardless of status or
tenure gives Millennials a chance to stand out and be great. Something like Google’s concept of
‘20%Drtime’ is an example of this in action.
Jugindar Singh
Dr Jugindar Singh
 Who wouldn’t want a meaningful career and
better balance between work and home? For
many of us, it’s finances that keep us from
making a career change. Sure, our current job
has lost its spark, but it’s stable. Dependable.
Reliable. Steady. We worry and wonder: What
would a career change do to our bank
accounts? To our way of life? To our family? We
assume that a major reinvention would involve
a gap between paychecks when we’d leave our
job and break into a new field. Sometimes we
think (or we know) that the career we’d love
would fill our days with more meaning but pay
Dr Jugindar Singh us less (significantly less, even).
 One question that has long
plagued organizations is how to
improve performance among
frontline workers, the people
who actually drive customer
experience. Our work with
hundreds of companies offers a
clear and simple answer.

Dr Jugindar Singh
Dr Jugindar Singh
What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a decentralised, openly shared and distributed digital ledger that is secured
using cryptography.
Blockchain challenges conventional, centralised models by offering a cost-effective, -
efficient and secure way to trade, but also without any need for intervention from
intermediaries or central authorities.
On top of that, every transaction is time-stamped, making the ledger auditable and
virtually tamper-proof.
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 McKinsey

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 Women leadership barriers
in healthcare sector in Malaysia
Example

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 Among the Asean countries, Malaysia ranks higher only to
Indonesia (108th place) whereas most of the country’s
regional peers rank significantly above Malaysia, Laos at
22nd, Singapore 27th, Vietnam 33rd,

According to the report titled ‘The State of Households

2018: Different Realities’ under the ‘Women in the
Workforce - A Work in Progress’ segment. The report was
launched by Khazanah Nasional Berhad managing director
Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan today.
Among the other highlights of the report are:
- men and women make up a roughly equal proportion of
the working-age population but the Labour Force
Participation Rate (LFPR) of both sexes differs significantly.
- in 2017, the Malaysian working-age population comprised
of 9.5 million women and 9.8 million men and, of this, only
53.5 per cent of women participated in the labour force
compared with 77.7 per cent of men.

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With the IT revolution at their heels, the millennial generation has a unique mindset. They are
the most educated generation, yet still a good majority of them feel high-to-moderate anxiety
about losing their jobs, about their level of savings, and nearly 70% worry about future income
loss. This mindset has big implications for the US economy in general, and the transportation
industry in particular.

This is especially true because millennials, about 18-39 years old, make up the largest US
generation, at 75.4 million people. And their debt totals more than $1.1 trillion, about 30% of all
US consumer debt. When adjusting for inflation, this means they are the most indebted
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1. More institutions will get into cryptocurrencies.
2. There will be more regulation and bitcoin's price will drop
3. It will be a wild, volatile ride.
4. Bitcoin will prevail, while other cryptocurrencies grow.
5. 5. Stock investors may get a chance to invest in a digital currency-related IPO
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Newspapers

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 Forums
Conferences

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 Personality and Leadership

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1. Make smarter enterprise technology
investments

2. Build an army of technical talent

3. Recognize big data as your most

important differentiator
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The benefits of a frustrated chatbot
It’s been a long time since I had to shuffle a drunk passenger off a plane. However, lately as customer experience
automation – particularly chatbots – have become all the rage, I’ve been thinking back more and more on my time
as a flight attendant.

Hopes Dr
run highSingh
Jugindar that artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually replace humans for most non-face-to-face customer
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 Newspapers

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 Research Gate

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Employee satisfaction.
Organizational culture, engagement, and employee
brand proposition remain top priorities in 2017;
employee experience ranks as a major trend again
this year.
Nearly 80 percent of executives rated employee
experience very important (42 percent) or important
(38 percent), but only 22 percent reported that their
companies were excellent at building a differentiated
employee experience.
Fifty-nine percent of survey respondents reported
they were not ready or only somewhat ready to
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address the employee experience challenge.
 #1 An applicant who knows themselves
Burnison argued that before job seekers look “out there” for a job, they first have to look
inside to figure out who they are, what their skills and competencies are, what motivates
them, and what they have to offer.
As an HR professional, would someone who is self-aware be more appealing to you in
interviews?
#2 A candidate who has ACT
Burnison noted that during each part of the job seeking process and throughout their
career, professionals need to abide by ACT – be authentic, create a connection, and give
bosses and colleagues a taste of who they are, what they do, and their contributions.
Do you agree?
#3 A job seeker who knows how the job can be a good fit for them
Burnison advises professionals to think of job targeting like a marketing plan where they
are the product. In order for that to work, they have to know how the job would be a
good fit for them and how they can fit well into the company culture.
Does this sound like someone you would like to hire?
#4 Someone with a ‘learn-it-all’ mindset
Burnison’s message to job seekers – “the most important reward from any job, more
than salary, bonus or title, is what you learn”. He added that learning is about adapting,
being open-minded, and the willingness to find solutions that aren’t obvious.
Is this the kind of person you are looking for?
#5 A person who knows how to network
Burnison said that networking is about relationship-building, and relationships are
two-way streets. In line with that, he advises job seekers to make it a natural
part of ongoing interactions with people, by focusing first on how you can help
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them.
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 Important Points to Keep in Mind
• Focus – Don’t be overambitious (Parsimony)
• Efficient time management is - essential
• Avoid plagiarism
• Maintain a research diary/journal
• Obtain permission from relevant authorities Keep in
mind the ethical principles
• Plan ahead
• Always proofread the final draft

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 Sample Topic: Marketing
1. Consumers’ acceptance towards e-grocery. A quantitative study among millennials in K. Lumpur
2. Networking as marketing strategy: A case study of SME businesses
in Kuala Lumpur
3. Use of Sex Appeal vs Non-Sex Appeal Advertising in the Malaysian
Context. A qualitative study
1. Influence of Product Placements in Films and Television on consumers Brand Awareness in Malaysia
2. The influence of digital banking on customer loyalty in the banking sector in Malaysia
3. The Effectiveness of Integrated Advertisement Message Strategy in Developing Audience-Based Brand
Equity of branded goods
4. Barriers to Entrepreneurship success: A quantitative study among fresh graduates in Malaysia
5. The effect of brand trust and brand community commitment on online brand evangelism behavior
1. New product 2. Service Quality 3. Marketing mix 4. Advertising
5. Social media 6. Customer satisfaction 7. Entrepreneurship
•

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Some past research topics
 Samples: HR and OB
1. Impact of Distributive Justice, Procedural Justice, Interactional Justice,
Temporal Justice, on Job Satisfaction of Banking Employees in Kuala Lumpur 1. Leadership
2. Relationship between Transformational Leadership and Work Engagement in style
the Construction Industry in Malaysia
2. Employee
3. Impact of Rewards and Recognition on Malaysian IT Executives Well-being Performance
and Turnover Intention
4. Causes of Absenteeism in the workplace: A Malaysian case study 3. Job
Satisfaction
5. Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Performance in the Services Sector
in M’sia 4. Retention of
6. Effect of presenteeism on performance of employees in the education sector employees
in Malaysia.
7. High-involvement work practices, turnover and 5. Absenteeism

productivity: Evidence from banking sector, Malaysia 6. Motivation

8. Factors influencing job performance of academic staff
7. Career
in Malaysia: Mediating role of affective commitment
9. Occupational Stress among Women Managers: A
quantitative study in the Services Sector in Malaysia
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 Accounting
1. Audit quality indicators: perceptions of junior-level auditors in Kuala
Lumpur
2. Does Fraud Training Help Auditors Identify Fraud Risk
Factors in the Financial sector in Malaysia? Risk
3. Perceived effectiveness of fraud detection audit procedures in a stock and
Fraud
warehousing cycle: Additional evidence from Msia
4. Management accounting and risk management in Governance
Malaysian financial institutions. An exploratory study
5. An analysis of risk management disclosures: Evidence
Tax
from Companies listed on the Malaysian stock exchange
6. Factors Influencing taxpayers’ compliance with the tax
Standards
system: An empirical study in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
7. Impact FinTech on the Financial Services Industry in Malaysia
Risk
8. Behavioral finance towards future investment decision
among undergraduates
Dr Jugindar Singh in Kuala Lumpur
 Samples: Accounting
Economic Value Added Analysis for Enterprise Risk Management
H1: ERM implementation has
1. Risk (risk – return)
positive effect on Net Operating
profit after tax of the firms
2. Impact of taxes
H2: ERM implementation has a
3. Credit risk
positive effect on reducing
Weighted Average Cost of Capital.
4. Operations Risk

H3: ERM implementation has a 5. Portfolio analysis

positive effect on return on invested
capital.
Other Topics
1.Impact of Shareholder Structure on Voluntary Disclosure in Msian Companies
2. Tax Revenue and Gross Capital - An Empirical Analysis for Malaysia
3. Does Corporate Governance Mechanism Improve Shareholder Value? A
Panel Analysis Of Malaysian Listed Companies.
4. Improving Firm Financial Performance Through Corporate Governance
Mechanism in Malaysian Listed Companies: Empirical Study Approach
5. Factors influencing accounting school students' career intention to become a
Certified Public
Dr Jugindar Singh Accountant in Japan
 FINANCE
•DETERMINANTS OF SAVING BEHAVIOUR AMONG
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

•ONLINE BANKING IN MALAYSIA: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY

ON CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF RISK

•INVESTIGATING CONSUMERS’ BEHAVIORAL INTENTION

IN ADOPTING ONLINE BANKING FOR PAYMENTS IN
MALAYSIA.

Other Titles
1. An empirical analysis of commercial banks’ profitability determinants in Malaysia
2. A study on the factors influencing investors decision in investing in equity shares in Malaysia
3. Adoption of Islamic banking : a quantitative study among Malaysian university students
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 Real Estate
Factors affecting investment decision in property
among APU staff in Kuala Lumpur
(PRIMARY DATA)
H1: There is a relationship between Property Characteristics and
Property Investment

Macroeconomic and Financial determinants of

Malaysian residential property market
(SECONDARY DATA)
H1: There is a relationship between interest rate and house price index

Home buyers’ purchase decision: a study of

residential property in Setia Alam
(PRIMARY DATA)
H1: There is a relationship between Property Attributes and
purchase intention

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 Other Qualitative Research Topics
1. Barriers to Digital banking adoption: A qualitative study among
corporate customers in Malaysia

2. Problems with partnerships at work: Lessons from a Malaysian case

study

3. Examining job seekers’ perception and behavioral

intention toward online recruitment. A qualitative study
among job seekers in Kuala Lumpur

3. Barriers to Entrepreneurship success: A qualitative study

among fresh graduates in Malaysia

5. Executive leadership for women: A qualitative study

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examining the rhetoric and the reality in Malaysia
 Replication-based dissertations
1. Duplication
Take a piece of published research and repeat it - in an identical way to see if the
results that you obtain are the same as the original authors.
Eg: New data OR data analysis techniques and capabilities
It may have been 5 years, 10 years, or even longer since the study was published

2. Generalization
To determine whether the findings are generalizable within a different population or
setting/context
Past study on undergraduate students at a single university in the UK. Further test whether
generalizations could be made across populations such as postgraduate

3. Extending
Extending existing research to take into account new research designs, methods and
measurement procedures, and data analysis techniques
Eg: Add, modify or omit certain constructs and/or variables from the original study.

Dissertation could either (a) incorporate elements of all three types or (b) simply follow one of these three
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routes.
 Future research suggestions: Past researchers
1. Building on a particular finding or aspect of past research
• Unanticipated findings - a research strategy that could be used to explore
such findings in future

2. Factors that address unanswered aspects past research questions

3. Examining a conceptual framework (or testing a theoretical

model) in a new context, location and/or culture.
Eg a different culture, country etc

4. Expanding a conceptual framework (or theoretical model). Eg Adding

new constructs/variables

5. Re-evaluating a conceptual framework (or theoretical model)

6. Inconclusive OR Contradictory past research findings

7. Different Methodology: Eg: Qualitative study follow up with quantitative

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 Re-examining Framework
The Research can be NEW or REPLICATED

THE MODERATING ROLES OF CULTURE ON THE EFFECT

OF MARKET ORIENTATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL
ORIENTATION ON PERFORMANCE OF BANKS IN
JORDAN

An Evaluation of Factors Affecting Brand Awareness

in the Context of Social Media in Malaysia

Defining and measuring service quality in a

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manufacturing company in Sweden
The Research can be NEW or REPLICATED
THE MODERATING ROLES OF CULTURE ON THE EFFECT OF MARKET
ORIENTATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION ON
PERFORMANCE OF BANKS SMEs IN JORDAN Malaysia

An Evaluation of Factors Affecting Brand Awareness in the

Context of Social Media in Malaysia IRAN

Defining and measuring service quality in a manufacturing

Hotel company in Sweden Malaysia
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Factors affecting investment decision in
property among APU staff in Kuala Lumpur

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 Consumers’ behavioral intention in adopting online banking
for payments: A quantitative study among students in Kuala
Lumpur

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

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 An Evaluation of Factors Affecting Brand
Awareness in the Context of
Social Media in Malaysia
Independent Variable
Brand Exposure

Dependent Variable

Customer Engagement Brand Awareness

Electronic-WOM

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 Audit quality indicators: perceptions of junior-level auditors in Kuala
Lumpur
Purpose – In an effort to develop an audit quality (AQ) framework specific to
the US audit market, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(PCAOB) recently issued a concept release proposing 28 audit quality
indicators (AQIs) along three dimensions: audit professionals, audit process Research Questions
and audit results. Using AQIs initially proposed by the PCAOB, as well as AQIs RQ1. What are auditors’ perceptions of the
suggested by prior literature, the authors solicit perceptions from junior-level current state of practice relating to audit
(senior and staff) auditors to investigate the current state of practice along professionals AQIs?
many of the AQIs relating to audit professionals and audit process.
Design/methodology/approach – In the study, 78 junior-level auditors
responded to the survey. •RQ2. What are auditors’ perceptions of
Findings – An analysis of the responses suggests auditors engage in activities
the current state of practice relating to
and audit firms promote conditions that at times improve, and at other times, audit process AQIs?
reduce audit quality. The authors find that individual auditors’ perceptions
differ across experience level, gender and audit firm size for certain AQIs

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