MAN359 Research Methods in Business
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Jan 01, 2026
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Management
Ognjen Riđić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to provide students with a new and interactive way of introducing business research. Core covered topics include: the research process, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed designs, problem and purpose statements, participants and data collection, data analysis, conclusions, reporting, and interpretation.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Plano-Clark, V.L. & Creswell, J.W. (2015). Understanding Research: A Consumer's Guide. (2nd. Ed.). Pearson Education Inc. ISBN: 13: 978-0-13-290223-6.
Additional Literature
N/A.Teaching Methods
The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation
Video and audio aids) and class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introductory Lecture & The Process of Research | Ch. 1 - The Book, Lectures & PPTs (BL & PPTs) |
| 2 | Quantitative and Qualitative Research - Assignment of the Special Project | Ch. 2 - (BL & PPTs) |
| 3 | Statements of the Problem | Ch. 3 -(BL & PPTs) |
| 4 | Purpose Statements | Ch. 5. |
| 5 | Purpose Statements | Ch. 5. |
| 6 | Quantitative Research Designs | Ch. 6. (BL & PPTs) |
| 7 | Participants and Data Collection | Ch. 7 (BL & PPTs) |
| 8 | Midterm exam on assigned Chapters | TBD |
| 9 | Data Analysis and Results in Quantitative Research | Ch. 8. (BL & PPTs) |
| 10 | Qualitative Research Designs | Ch. 9. (BL & PPTs) |
| 11 | Participants and Data Collection | Ch. 10. (BL & PPTs) |
| 12 | Quiz 1 | TBD |
| 13 | Presentation of the assigned Special Research Project | Thursday, Dec 25, 2025 |
| 14 | Non-working Day per University Rules | Thursday, Jan 01, 2026 |
| 15 | Presentations of the Special Project, Conclusions and Review for the Final Exam | Ch. 14. - (BL & PPTs) |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAN359.1 | Course | Thursday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F2.6 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 15:00 - 16:50 | B F1.13 | |
| Thursday | 15:00 - 17:50 | B F1.13 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4 5
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 & 5
Special Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 & 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home Study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Quiz
13 hours ⏳ (1 week × 13 h)
Midterm Exam Study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Final Exam Study
30 hours ⏳ (1 week × 30 h)
Special Project
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [MAN359] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Jan 01, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| MAN359 | Research Methods in Business | 2 | 1 | 6 | Thursdays: 09:00-11:50 o' clock | |||||
| Prerequisite | ECON221 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Ognjen Riđić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 15:00-16:50 Thursday: 15:00-17:50 |
|||||||
| oridic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to provide students with a new and interactive way of introducing business research. Core covered topics include: the research process, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed designs, problem and purpose statements, participants and data collection, data analysis, conclusions, reporting, and interpretation. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Plano-Clark, V.L. & Creswell, J.W. (2015). Understanding Research: A Consumer's Guide. (2nd. Ed.). Pearson Education Inc. ISBN: 13: 978-0-13-290223-6. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation, video and audio aids) and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introductory Lecture & The Process of Research | Ch. 1 - The Book, Lectures & PPTs (BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Quantitative and Qualitative Research - Assignment of the Special Project | Ch. 2 - (BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Statements of the Problem | Ch. 3 -(BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Purpose Statements | Ch. 5. | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Purpose Statements | Ch. 5. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Quantitative Research Designs | Ch. 6. (BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Participants and Data Collection | Ch. 7 (BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam on assigned Chapters | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Data Analysis and Results in Quantitative Research | Ch. 8. (BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Qualitative Research Designs | Ch. 9. (BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Participants and Data Collection | Ch. 10. (BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Quiz 1 | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Presentation of the assigned Special Research Project | Thursday, Dec 25, 2025 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Non-working Day per University Rules | Thursday, Jan 01, 2026 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Presentations of the Special Project, Conclusions and Review for the Final Exam | Ch. 14. - (BL & PPTs) | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Quiz | 1 | 10 | 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 25 | 1 & 2 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 & 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Special Project | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4 & 5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home Study | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Quiz | 13 | 1 | 13 | Midterm Exam Study | 20 | 1 | 20 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 30 | 1 | 30 | Special Project | 1 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 29/01/2026 | |||||||||