RESEARCH METHODS FOR MANAGERS

Research Methods for Managers in an International Context:

Impact of Social Networking on Business

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Introduction1

1.2 Background of the Study1

1.3 Rationale for the Study2

1.4 Research Aims and Objectives2

1.5 Research Questions3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW4

2.1 Introduction4

2.2 Development of Social Media4

2.3 Impact on Productivity and Communication5

2.4 Effect on Business Models and Strategies5

2.4.1 Peer Influence5

2.4.2 Online Shopping6

2.4.3 Online Gaming6

2.5 Challenges of Social Networking6

2.6 Future Trends7

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY8

3.1 Introduction8

3.2 Type of Investigation8

3.3 Data Collection Method8

3.4 Sampling Method9

3.5 Accessibility Issues10

3.5.1 Reliability10

3.5.2 Validity10

3.5.3 Literature Search10

3.6 Ethical Issues11

3.7 Data Analysis Plan11

CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS13

4.1 Introduction13

4.2 Analysis13

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION16

REFERENCES17

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

The first chapter of this research work has introduced the overall research work and has highlighted the background of this research along with the rationale behind carrying out this study.Furthermore, the aims and objectives have also been identified that have served as the basis for the formulation of research questions.

1.2 Background of the Study

From the time when the World Wide Web was invented, the world has been exposed to different alterations from numerous aspects and life has also been transformed through the increased internet dependency. The inventor of this internet, Tim Berners-Lee, might have never thought about this that his project that was actually designed for the physics community would have huge impact and later on evolve the overall internet users community to social web, which is a place where people who think alike connect themselves via joining communities where they can engage and express themselves in fruitful and informative debates. This fact cannot be denied that the information technology has evolved the life of an individual and with the developments of such systems have touched the breakneck speed (Pang, 2011, pp.81).

Irrespective of the size, the world wide has provided the firms through which they can find out the emerging trend and prospective benefits that information technology can deliver. Forecasting the benefits, a lot of firms and companies have already leaped into the bandwagon and pushed have left behind the conventional ways of performing business processes. The emergence sites of social media networking and its extensive use for business and social purposes has anticipated a worldwide phenomenon that has prompted the interest of the researcher to have research on this topic and discuss the importance of the social networking influence that has been playing its role in shaping the businesses. This research work has also turned the focus of industry and academic researchers to have research on this topic because of its reach and affordance (Boyd & Ellison, 2007).

1.3 Rationale for the Study

In the present times, the information technology and specifically the outcome of IT, the internet and social media marketing have become and identified as effective business tools in which most of the firms have been willing to invest in anticipation that every single penny invested will be of worth. Through the use of social networking as major medium of advertising and spinning virtual wages, the firms are now becoming comparatively quite innovative in the business models (Anjum, 2010, ...