A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration

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(1)MBA THESIS CHALLENGES FACING FRESH GRADUATE ENGINEERS by. FATIN ATHIRAH BT AB AZIZ. A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration. Malaysian Graduates School of Entrepreneurship and Business UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN. 2017.

(2) I hereby certify that the work embodied in this thesis is the result of the original research and has not been submitted for higher degree to any other University or Institution.. OPEN ACCESS. I agree that my thesis is to be made immediately available as hardcopy or on-line open access (full text).. EMBARGOES. I agree that my thesis is to be made available as hardcopy or on-line (full text) for a period approved by the Post Graduate Committee. Dated from ____________ until _____________. CONFIDENTIAL. (Contains confidential information under the Official Secret Act 1972)*. RESTRICTED. (Contains restricted information as specified by the organization where research was done)*. I acknowledge that Universiti Malaysia Kelantan reserves the right as follows. 1. 2. 3.. The thesis is the property of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan. The library of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan has the right to make copies for the purpose of research only. The library has the right to make copies of the thesis for academic exchange.. _____________________ SIGNATURE. ___________________________ SIGNATURE OF SUPERVISOR. 890629-03-5348 _____________________ IC/PASSPORT NO. Date:. DR ADI AIZAT BIN YAJID ___________________________ NAME OF SUPERVISOR Date:. Note: * If the thesis is CONFIDENTIAL OR RESTRICTED, please attach the letter from the organization stating the period and reasons for confidentiality and restriction.. i. MBA THESIS. THESIS DECLARATION.

(3) Firstly, Alhamdulillah, thank Allah for giving me the opportunity to embark on my Master and for completing this long and challenging journey successfully. My gratitude and thanks firstly go to my supervisor Dr. Adi Aizat Yajid. Thank you for being a great supervisor and a good friend. I would like also to express my gratitude to my closest family and friends, especially to my parents, Ab Aziz Bin Abu Bakar and Wan Mariam Bt Ab Manaff. I would like also to thank my fellow classmates for all the supports and help provided throughout my research. Overall, thank you very much for those who are involved directly and indirectly throughout the completion period of this thesis. May Allah bless all the helping hands. Thank you. ii. MBA THESIS. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

(4) PAGE THESIS DECLARATION. i. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ii. TABLE OF CONTENT. iii. LIST OF TABLES. vii. LIST OF FIGURES. viii. ABSTRAK. ix. ABSTRACT. x. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1. Overview. 1. 1.2. Background of the study. 1. 1.3. Problems statement. 7. 1.4. Research questions. 9. 1.5. Research objectives. 9. 1.6. Scope of study. 10. 1.7. Limitation of the study. 10. 1.8. Significance of the study. 11. iii. MBA THESIS. TABLE OF CONTENT.

(5) 2.1. Introduction. 12. 2.2. Relatedness of studies and work. 12. 2.3. Soft skill. 14. 2.4. Employability. 15. 2.5. Job stress. 16. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 3.1. Introduction. 20. 3.2. Research paradigm. 21. 3.2.1 Quantitative empirical research. 24. 3.2.2 Qualitative research. 25. Secondary data. 31. 3.3.1 Advantage of secondary data. 33. 3.3.2 Disadvantages of secondary data. 33. Primary data. 34. 3.4.1 Instruments. 35. Method of data collection. 35. 3.5.1 Interviewing. 37. Data processing in qualitative studies. 45. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3.6. iv. MBA THESIS. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW.

(6) 3.8. Data analysis. 47. 3.7.1 Deductive research approach. 48. 3.7.2 Inductive research approach. 49. Data validation. 51. 3.8.1 Triangulation. 51. 3.8.2 Member check. 54. 3.8.3 Audit. 56. CHAPTER 4 RESULT AND FINDINGS 4.1. Introduction. 57. 4.2. Employability. 58. 4.2.1 The duration for the graduate to have a job after the graduate. 59. 4.2.2 The preparation and expectation when looking for the employment 60. 4.3. 4.2.3 Staying at same company after graduate. 61. 4.2.4 Reasons to change the job. 62. Career field. 63. 4.3.1. Post position and scope of work. 64. 4.3.2 Jobs relatedness with the bachelor majors. 66. 4.3.3 Confidence at work. 67. 4.3.4 Communication skill and soft skill. 68. v. MBA THESIS. 3.7.

(7) 4.4. Workload and work stress. 69. Market value. 70. 4.4.1 Future plan. 71. CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION 5.1. Conclusion. 72. REFERENCE. 74. vi. MBA THESIS. 4.3.5.

(8) NO. Table 2.1. Page Factors contribute to satisfaction and dissatisfaction of the engineer Source. 18. Table 3.1. Selection of research paradigms and research methods. 23. Table 3.2. Main Types of Qualitative Research. 27. Table 3.3. Comparison of Qualitative And Quantitative Research. 28. Table 3.4. Types of Differences for Quantitative Research and Qualitative Research. Table 3.5. 28. Advantages and disadvantages of the probability and non-probability sampling. 41. Table 3.6. Shows the Basic Comparison of Both Sampling Method. 42. Table 3.7. Types of Non-Probability Samplings And Their Applicability. 44. vii. MBA THESIS. LIST OF TABLE.

(9) NO. Figure 3.1. Page The diagram below explains the above terms and the relationship between them from Hay (2002) and Crotty (1998). Figure 3.2. 21. Decision tree matching research design to category research question. 24. Figure 3.3. Description of Quantitative Method. 25. Figure 3.4. Types of research. 47. Figure 3.5. Flow of Deductive Research Approach. 48. Figure 3.6. Flow of Inductive Research Approach. 49. Figure 4.1. Job-Seeker‟s Career Grid. 62. viii. MBA THESIS. LIST OF FIGURE.

(10) ABSTRAK Kajian ini adalah untuk mengetahui cabaran yang dihadapi oleh jurutera baru siswazah. Siswazah adalah seorang yang memiliki sarjana muda pengajian di dalam bidang tertentu. Fokus kajian ini adalah siswazah pengajian Kejuruteraan Awam pada tahun 2014 di Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Jurutera awam adalah seorang yang mempraktik kejuruteraan awam. Kejuruteaan awam terlibat dengan merancang, mereka, membina, mengekalkan dan mengurus infrasturuktur sambil melindungi kesihatan awam dan alam sekitar. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) di dalam usaha untuk memastikan bahawa UPM sentiasa menjadi Pusat Pengajian dan Penyelidikan yang terunggul dan tersohor di seantero dunia, UPM sentiasa menitikberatkan kandungan program yang ditawarkan bertepatan dengan pasaran kerja semasa. Peralihan dari alam belajar ke alam pekerjaan tidak hanya mengenai mencari pekerjaan, tetapi ia juga kesediaan pemikiran untuk berfungsi dalam dunia yang berbeza budaya, tingkah laku dan ganjaran. Kaedah yang digunakan untuk kajian ini adalah kualitatif dengan menemu bual siswazah kejuruteraan awam UPM untuk mengetahui keadaan kerjaya mereka selepas mereka tamat pengajian. Dari kajian ini, kita akan menyedari keadaan pekerjaan pada masa ini dari segi pasaran kerja dan pendidikan dari perspektif pelajar tamat pengajian.. ix. MBA THESIS. Cabaran Dihadapi Oleh Jurutera Baru Siswazah.

(11) ABSTRACT This study present the challenges facing fresh graduate engineers after graduated. A graduates students is someone who earned a bachelor degree who pursuing education in specific field. The focuses are the graduated at the 2014 Civil Engineering students of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Civil engineer is a person that practices civil engineering. Civil engineering involve with the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environment health. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is in an effort to ensure to become a leading and renewed centre of education and research UPM emphasis that the education that being delivers are accordance with the current job market. College to work transition is not only a matter of finding a job, but it also the readiness of intelligence in functioning in different world of culture, behaviour and reward. The method used for this study is qualitative by interviewing the graduated civil engineering students of UPM to know their career conditions after they graduated. From this study we will realise the employability conditions at the moment in term of the job market and education from the perspective of the graduated students.. .. x. MBA THESIS. Challenges Facing Fresh Gracduate Engineers.

(12) MBA THESIS. CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION. 1.1. Overview. The objective of this research study is to explore the difficulties facing the young civil engineers. This chapter consists of research background, problem statement, research objective, research questions, scope of the study, and significance of this study and limitation of the study.. 1.2. Background. Professional Engineer is defined by the Conference of Engineering Societies of Western Europe and the United States of America in 1960 as follows (Christensen, Didier, Jamison, & Meganck, 2017). “A professional engineer is competent by virtue of his/her fundamental education and training to apply the scientific method and outlook to the analysis and solution of engineering problems. He/she is able to assume personal responsibility for the development and application of engineering science and knowledge,. notably. in. research,. design,. construction,. manufacturing,. superintending, managing and in the education of the engineer. His/her work is 1.

(13) character. It requires the exercise of original thought and judgement and the ability to supervise the technical and administrative work of others. His/her education will have been such as to make him/her capable of closely and continuously following progress in his/her branch of engineering science by consulting newly published works on a worldwide basis, assimilating such information and applying it independently. He/she is thus placed in a position to make contributions to the development of engineering science or its applications. His/her education and training will have been such that he/she will have acquired a broad and general appreciation of the engineering sciences as well as thorough insight into the special features of his/her own branch. Henceforth, in due time he/she will be able to give authoritative technical advice and to assume responsibility for the direction of important tasks in his/her branch‖. Civil engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines undeniably. From the first moment someone placed a roof on their head and laid a tree trunk across the river to get across for make it easier. Modern civilization can be defines by the built environment. Usually the first construction that come to mind are building and bridges, as they are most discernible creations of one of civil engineering‟s major sub-discipline which is structural engineering. The other categories of civil engineer are transportation engineers that design the roads, railway and airport but there is less visible creation of civil engineers. Likewise, after the water served it purposed people is not wondering where it come from and where it go after that. Sanitary engineering has evolved from the old civil engineering discipline into modern environmental engineering that most. 2. MBA THESIS. predominantly intellectual and varied and not of a routine mental or physical.

(14) Engineering, 2017). Civil engineers specialize in road, bridge, buildings and water supply system design and construction. They supervise and direct construction teams and work with other engineers. These professionals ensure that every structure built is environmentally compliant and can withstand earthquakes and hurricanes. This is especially true in places where these natural calamities often strike. Civil engineers work wherever there is a need for expanding new structures or transportation systems and geotechnical engineering. They also hold administrative and supervisory positions. Civil engineers work in the oldest engineering discipline. This is among the most popular engineering areas of concentration with more than 262,800 professionals employed in the field as of 2010. They usually work in offices creating designs and structural plans. However, they are also needed to work at constructions sites. This is especially true for those who handle projects that demand their presence at the site to monitor workers and troubleshoot. Many civil engineers work abroad for larger construction projects. They may be employed full time for 40 hours every week or more. However, they may also work on an as-needed or contractual basis. With this, they tend to work long hours to meet deadlines. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) (2016), about 48% of civil engineers work in engineering and architectural firms. In addition, 13 percent are employed in state governments, and 11 percent work for local governments. About five percent hold positions with nonresidential building construction firms and the federal government. Aspiring civil engineers should complete a bachelor‟s degree in civil engineering or a related specialty. However, they should make sure that they only enrol. 3. MBA THESIS. academic engineering change their name to civil and environmental engineering (Civil.

(15) certified. This is essential in order to qualify to obtain a license. A bachelor‟s degree takes four years to complete.. It covers courses like engineering mechanics,. mathematics, statistics and fluid dynamics. Civil engineering students may specialize in areas like geotechnical engineering that focuses more on building structures, structural engineering for dams and bridges and transportation engineering for streets, highways and everyday systems. After completing a bachelor‟s degree, civil engineering graduates should take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination that will grant them the title of Engineer-in-Training or Civil Engineering Intern if they pass. Depending on the state, they may need to pass more exams, undergo training and meet other requirements so that they will be eligible to become a CE Professional. Engineers design materials, structures, and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality, regulation, safety, and cost. The foundation education of an engineer is typically a 4-year bachelor's degree or in some countries, a master's degree in an engineering discipline plus 4–6 years peer-reviewed professional practice culminating in a project report or thesis. The work of engineers forms the link between scientific discoveries and their subsequent applications to human and business needs and quality of life. The University Putra Malaysia‟s Faculty of Engineering, (2017) stated that, ―UPM‘s Faculty Of Engineering, from its humble beginnings in 1975 was known as Faculty of Agricultural Engineering with only four departments and now has grown into one of the best engineering schools in Malaysia. To date, the Faculty has eight exciting departments offering eight Bachelor programs and 34 postgraduate programs, with combined enrolment of over 3000 for. 4. MBA THESIS. in programs that are ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).

(16) has expertise from various engineering field in 8 departments; Department of Aerospace Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Department of Computer and Communication Systems Engineering, Department of Process and Food Engineering. The Department was established in 1985, after the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering began to take in undergraduate students for the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) programme in 1984. Since then the Department has progressed tremendously in the three core services: teaching, research and professional services. A lot has been achieved so far, but we will strive for more in future, for the benefit of the country and society.‖ This is according to the America Society of Engineers (ASCE). ―Civil engineers who obtained further training and education have the option to teach and participate in developing engineering courses. They may also work as consultants at bigger firms. Highly qualified civil engineers can manage big plants and oversee facility design and construction to make sure they obtain environmental, construction and operating permits. There are many programs both online and on campus that offers continuing education for civil engineers. These allow people to study and work at the same time.‖ From the survey and study from the Civil Engineer Jobs and Careers, (2017). ―Theoretically, completing these programs will lead engineers to higher paying positions and more challenging tasks. As the population grows and the need to expand structures increases, more civil engineers are needed. In fact, the BLS 5. MBA THESIS. undergraduate and postgraduate students. Currently Faculty of Engineering.

(17) from 2010 to 2020. This means an increase from 262,800 to 313,900 jobs. The BLS pointed out that the aging infrastructure is among the main reasons for this growth. They are needed to rebuild dams, roads, levees and bridges. Population growth will also trigger the rising need for civil engineers because water systems need to be maintained, repaired or expanded. The nation will require more sewage systems that need these professionals to construct them. Additionally, there will be an increasing demand for green building. This means more civil engineers with experience in this area will be very attractive to employers in the near future‖ (Civil Engineer Jobs and Careers, 2017). From the research from Brown, 2017 stated that, ―However, over the past year, the engineering job market saw low levels of growth, a trend that industry leaders expect to see continuing into 2016. Engineering job growth continues to be slow into the beginning of 2016, up only 0.1% sequentially to a total number of 2,532,600 jobs according to a recent report released by TechServe Alliance. On a year-over-year basis, engineering employment has grown by only 0.6% since December 2014, adding 16,200 engineering workers to the workforce. This growth rate is underperforming compared to that of the overall workforce growth rate of 7%‖ (Brown, 2017) According to the Malaysia Unemployment Rate, (2017). ―Unemployment rate in Malaysia rose to 3.5 percent in December of 2016 from 3.4 percent in the same month the previous year. The number of unemployed persons rose 1.6 percent from a year earlier to 512,200. Employment went up by 0.6 percent to 14,276,700. Labour force increased 0.7 percent to 14,788,900. 6. MBA THESIS. reports that there will be a 19 percent rise in the demand for these professionals.

(18) compared to 3.6 percent in the prior month. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia averaged 3.27 percent from 1998 until 2016, reaching an all-time high of 4.50 percent in March of 1999 and a record low of 2.70 percent in August of 2012‖ (Malaysia Unemployment Rate, 2017).. 1.3. Problem Statement. After the graduation the undergraduate will have problem to find a suitable job that related to their studies. The transition from being a student to the professional worker for civil engineering students are quite challenging since the unemployment issues is quite critical. Many of engineers are experiencing laid off program that being constructed from many big company. To date there already been thousands engineers already out of jobs, so for fresh graduate to compete with them and finding a vacancy is quite hard. Choosing the right path in the careers is critical decision that every fresh graduate have to make. Every year, over 200,000 students graduate from institutions of higher learning. Shockingly, 1 out of 4 graduates remain unemployed 6 months after graduation, with the majority being Degree holders. These graduates make up 35.3% of those who are unemployed (Leo & Leo, 2017). ―PUTRAJAYA, May 12 — Graduates who completed their studies in the last six months are among the current 400,000 unemployed individuals in the country, said Minister in the Prime Minister‘s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid 7. MBA THESIS. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the jobless rate edged down to 3.5 percent,.

(19) youths, aged between 20 and 24 years, had yet to find a job.‖ Self-confident is also drawbacks for fresh graduate since most of the fresh graduate is not good and have experience in communicating with other people especially during interview. Having a good CGPA is not enough if the fresh graduate do not portray enough credibility and charisma to attract the interviewee to choose them. Since the nature of the engineers jobs involve a lot of talking and convincing people during the presentation and meeting. Having a self confidence is a must for engineers because lack of self-confidence is one of the causes for losing the job. It‟s quite obvious that when he/she attend for a job interview, they appeared to be in anxiety and fret full. Communication is the most important skill. Communication skills are not only needed in daily personal life, but also required in the profession, workplace and in business. Communication skills are also important for other people to relate to conversation effectively. Good communications also indicate as having a good leadership skill for the engineers. Since engineers needs to delivered the task and inform the others to get the jobs done having good communication between the teamwork can create more productiveness and better quality of work. The ability to communicate information accurately, clearly and as intended, is a vital life skill and something that should not be overlooked. While. engineering. curricula. ensure. that. graduates. possess. adequate. qualifications to start a professional career, the outcome of these curricula in terms of how graduates construe themselves as professionals is not well understood. Engineering education can be viewed as a highly structured curriculum while the. 8. MBA THESIS. Omar. He said according to statistics, 161,000 graduates or 8.8 per cent of.

(20) multidimensional tasks. Unrelieved stress, mental or physical health affected the performances of the engineers and other people in the industry. Long hours, job uncertainty, poor prospects for pay and promotion, ambiguous roles on the project, time and budget pressure that puts you in danger of mistakes or at odds with professional standards of quality and ethics also added to complex of personalities.. 1.4. Research Questions. The study seeks to answer several questions as shown below to address the researching issues. 1. What are the employability of fresh graduates Civil Engineering UPM? 2. What are the scopes of work of fresh graduates Civil Engineering UPM? 3. What are the market value of fresh graduates Civil Engineering UPM?. 1.5. Research Objective. Understanding the factor that related to the challenges that facing the fresh graduate. 1. To identify the employability of fresh graduate Civil Engineering UPM 2. To identify the career field of fresh graduate Civil Engineering UPM. 9. MBA THESIS. engineering career is surrounded by a highly unstructured environment with.

(21) 1.6. Scope of the Study. The focus of this study is on the difficulties face by the fresh graduates of civil engineering when they enter the professional world. The definition of the fresh graduate engineers is the first year after graduate. The normal allocation time to look for employment is a year after graduate without being label as unemployed. The challenges and difficulties starts from looking for the employability. Employability is the ability for the fresh graduates to be employed in the field that they studies, perform in the work and be employed throughout their life. The process starts from the job searching, choosing suitable jobs, jobs interview, training during the trial period, the scope of work, the relatedness of the studies to their work, the communication skill, their level of self-confidence before and after working also the level of workloads, working satisfaction and the future planning. The focus is on the graduated of civil engineering students from Universiti Putra Malaysia batch of 2010 and whom graduated in 2014, which consist of 45 students.. 1.7. Limitation of the Study. Apart from limited time available for completing the study around 10 weeks, respondents were reluctant in providing data required. The interviewing stages are 10. MBA THESIS. 3. To determine the market value of fresh graduate Civil Engineering UPM.

(22) commitment, availability and respondents participation. These were overcome through persistence and giving assurance that confidentiality of information would be maintained and confidential.. 1.8. Significance of the Study. Thus, this study is significant for the undergraduates on their future career path. By identifying their strengths and weaknesses as well as their intention, it provides a better choice for their career development. This study is also important for policy implementation on future development of civil engineering program for undergraduates. By having a good understanding on factors affecting the fresh graduate, all the plans that provided by government to them will be fully utilized. This research will provide insights to the state of engineering education for policy makers in Malaysia to improve education program, in turn, increasing more good quality engineers. Practical information will be provided when investigating in depth challenge and difficulties facing the fresh graduate as policy makers can make better and informed decisions in designing the engineering course structure which helps in increasing the better quality students in future. Lastly, the public will understand their roles in enhancing undergraduates about their intentions and providing social support.. Moreover, having a secured family. background especially with technical roots can also affect skills and confidence needed in facing the professional world. 11. MBA THESIS. characterized by initial unwillingness on the part of interviewees because of.

(23) LITERATURE REVIEW. 2.1. Introduction. This chapter will be discuss about the literature review that related and available for this study.. 2.2. Relatedness of Studies and Work. Our education is being set up in the wrong way for the young people according to Harris, (2017) in a way. From the formal education view, only work that had been done by the students are being rewarded. In engineering everything need to go through a collaboration to make thing happen. Other people need to provide the money and engineers are using their technical skill to build components and systems to achieve something. To achieve and success for an engineers are depending to others people achievement on what they do. On the other hand our education structure is complete opposite from the nature of the engineer at the moments. BBC stated that “Globally, Engineering major now became Science major” because lack of practical skills. Fresh graduates have an exceptional engineering. 12. MBA THESIS. CHAPTER 2.

(24) for them to adapt in the industry. If this continues the innovation will be limited to indoor only. Employers have to train and groomed the young engineer that will be cost the company to bear a lot of expenses and investing their valuable time and resources, which not all company have the leisure view by (Graduates, & Jagadeesh, 2017). Refer to Trevelyan, (2017) the biggest problem is how a young engineer to have engineering job to gain the necessary experience when starting their career. The main issues for most of them are lack of knowledge because most of the engineering school do not teach their student about engineering employment market. This is the reason why when they applying for job online by sending few hundred of job application to the companies in the advertisement. After not having any response from the two hundred companies they apply they just give up and frustrated. Technology is advancing at a very fast speed that makes it studying technical courses become very challenging. The curriculum at the universities is lagging behind the current technology. For instance Graphical Interface System (GIS) is one of the new systems for geology courses that only be apply only in a few universities for its curriculum. If modernization of courses is not applied at the initial stages of studies, the engineers will have a lot to catch up with the industry rather than shaping it is being discussed by Graduates & Jagadeesh, (2017). Most of the young engineers are looking forwards for technically challenging work, using the intellectual abilities that they learned in engineering school view by Trevelyan, (2017). After some time they find that they hardly apply any technical knowledge and having technical challenged that they learned in the engineering school. Instead they are doing all the mundane, routine and boring work not like they are. 13. MBA THESIS. knowledge but sadly lacking in the field of practical application. This will take longer.

(25) right position are the real challenges in engineering. When people needs to work hard and preoccupied with their own life and tired and bored, it is really hard to get them love and excited with something new.. 2.3. Soft Skill. Despite being an academic genius, the students are not developing themselves in terms of soft skills. Based on the survey conducted the area that with biggest gap are soft skill that include communication, critical thinking and collaboration. Developing of self-confidence is direct proportion to the development of soft skills that required by most of employers nowadays to interact with others. Soft skills might be proven to be Achilles‟ hell in current scenario if not given to its due importance studies by Graduates & Jagadeesh, (2017). Graduate engineers entering the professional work with the desire of applying their technical knowledge and confidence about their communication skill already. Even though the employers‟ keeps criticise that graduate engineers are poor in their communication skill, the real point are their lack of technical collaboration skill which actually not have been thought in engineering school. It will be difficult and challenging for the graduate engineers to learn and expert in this. This is the issues that many talk about the “soft skill” and “emotional intelligence” that engineers have to face when it comes to collaboration when having technical issues. Harris, (2017) explain how human. 14. MBA THESIS. educated for. Socio-technical are getting the right people who love what they do for the.

(26) as an engineer.. 2.4. Employability. There are an understanding that graduate are more success to be employ when the student have experience represents both strong technical skill knowledge and a lot of experience in extracurricular activities such as student societies, voluntary work and sport view by Fiction, (2017). For the graduate to have a good chances to be employed and successful in their chosen field/ area expertise, they need to have a set of achievement which are technical skill, understanding and personal attributes that will benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and also the economy itself according from Professor Mantz Yorke,( 2004). Higher Education Academy/ESECT view employability as „what it is- what it is not‟ which define employability is not the only ability for the graduate to gain graduate job, rather it is about the quality to function in a role and able to grow, thus remaining employable throughout their life. At the moment uneven job market are in the picture, which giving the chance for the well-known firms to control the market by pulling the marketing budget to attract huge number of application that will causing many graduates to fight for the limited vacancy for the same jobs. On the 1other hand the small companies especially in the rural area with limited understand of the product area are struggling to find. 15. MBA THESIS. behaviour and technical knowledge are inextricably linked when it comes to practising.

(27) fill in discuss by Harris, (2017). The concern about graduates lacking certain technical skills and difficulties for SMEs offering additional training is more on the issues that employers have to accept that young engineers at the start of their careers are unavoidable be inexperienced according to Harris, (2017).. 2.5. Job Stress. Nowadays, one of the most critical issues issues are job stress among workers. The Health and Safety Executive (2001) in United Kingdom had found that how prolonged or intense of job stress can caused of both physical and mental ill-health for the employers. Moreover, the negative effect of job stress is not affected on the employee only since the organization also wills suffer to experience the unfavourable outcome. Job stress will boost up the medical expenses, higher rates of truancy and turnover, more accidents and poorer performance of the workers. Thus, is not surprising if job stress has been widely recognised as a significant business concern view by Sui, (2003). Stress will give a variety of consequences and the effect will different among each individual who suffer from it. The experience of stress is related with feeling of increasing distress, which leads to anxiety and depression for the person. People in stress may find difficult to make decision, to think logically and to concentrate on their works that will affected the company or organization. Besides that, they also feel easily 16. MBA THESIS. application to fill the empty roles and hardly thinking of finding the best engineers to.

(28) negative effect on physical such as headache, raised blood pressure, back pain, digestive disorder and heart diseases. Among the source of stress that had been found are long hours, unpleasant noises, sights, undue quiet, sudden shift from intense to mundane tasks, time pressure, no second chance and enclosed environment (Muhammad et al, 2011). There are various researches and studies about the engineer jobs stress from Rothmann and Malan (2006), Taris (2001), Cooper et al. (2001). ―Job stressor among other career cannot be generalized to engineers. A less job satisfaction among engineer is triggered from a conflict between them and their company desire. Most of engineer aims to be a professional and frustrated if they are not being able to publish and free from practical affairs of the business. They will be happy if able to work on research that contributes to scientific knowledge. Thus, most of the engineers feel that their skills and expertise are not fully utilised. The consequences of this argument had caused a job stress among engineers. Engineers are the fast-track individuals and have specialist knowledge and expertise; thus, they will have great expectations and ambitions for their career. Nevertheless, their goals and expectations are sometimes not aligned with their working companies. Besides that, the continual need for safety is required in some fields of engineering, however, in some cases the engineers themselves are held legally responsible for that. Regrettable, a continued emphasis on the need for safety in a hazardous environment may be an even greater source of strain than the hazards. 17. MBA THESIS. tired and exhausted, become bad-tempered, and hard to rest and sleep. Stress also gives.

(29) significant source of psychological strain. Unmanageable workloads always being a factor an engineer does not have enough time to do their work well. The sheer number of hours that a person works can produce strain. The requirement to work overtime and over the weekend also contributes to the stress factor. This situation will interface with an engineer‟s home and personal life. This is supported by that found that work-life balance is the highest stressor for engineers. The competing demands between work and family obligations has resulted a role conflict. On the other hand, high job demands or overload 2421 work may drain employees‟ mental and physical resources which may lead to health problems or burnout. This circumstance is also a reason for withdrawal from work and reduced motivation or commitment. Reitz (2004) conclude the following factors contribute to the satisfaction and dissatisfaction among engineers. Table 2.1: Factors contribute to satisfaction and dissatisfaction of the engineer (Reitz, 2004). According to Rothmann and Malan, (2006) about the jobs stress of the engineer in order to lessen the effect of job dissatisfaction among engineers, the organization should. 18. MBA THESIS. themselves. Excessively accountability for other people‟s lives and safety is a.

(30) organization to assists engineers with work-life balance. This is the most effective way to lighten the stressor. The second level intervention is the focus on management training to lessen the impact of environmental stressor exert on engineers. This training aims to enhance the engineers‟ awareness of their levels of strain and to enhance their personal coping strategies. The third level intervention that the organization can employ is assigning an industrial psychologist. Thus, engineers who have suffered stress can be referred for rehabilitation. Counselling may aid engineers to deal with workplace stressors that cannot be change structurally.. 19. MBA THESIS. consider three levels of intervention strategies. The first level intervention advice the.

(31) METHODOLOGY. 3.1. Introduction. In the previous chapter explain about the introduction and the idea about the research paper. Under this chapter, the discussion will be centre at the methodology involved. The discussion will involve various aspect of methodology such as the selection of the method of research, the approached adopted for the data, interpretation and others. According to the Kallet, Richard H. (2004) the method section needs to describe the rationale of the application of specific procedure and technique. ―The methods section describes the rationale for the application of specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, and analyse information applied to understanding the research problem, thereby, allowing the reader to critically evaluate a study‘s overall validity and reliability. The methodology section of a research paper answers two main questions: How was the data collected or generated? And, how was it analysed? The writing should be direct and precise and always written in the past tense.‖ The research method will be rationalising by discussing the three method of research which are qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches. The discussion will be explaining the advantages and disadvantages of every method. The. 20. MBA THESIS. CHAPTER THREE.

(32) advantages of the method. Under this chapter also will be include the information and guideline that will be carried to achieve the objective of the study.. 3.2. Research Paradigm. The selection of the study will be influences by the need of the study and the direction the writer intends to head to. The relevancy of the study is depending on the suitability of the research approaches that being adopted. By choosing the correct method or approaches adopted will provides the necessities in facing the research influencing factors. A research paradigm is defined by Kuhn, (1962) ―the set of common beliefs and agreements shared between scientists about how problems should be understood and addressed‖ According to Guba (1990), research paradigms can be characterised through their: . ontology – What is reality?. . epistemology – How do you know something?. . methodology – How do you go about finding it out?. Figure 3.1: The diagram below explains the above terms and the relationship between them from Hay (2002) and Crotty (1998). 21. MBA THESIS. selection will be based on the suitability of the method for the study, based on the.

(33) that gives importance to research method quantitative analyses, survey and experiments. Anti-positivism on the other hand, more focusing on subjective approach of the social phenomena study that involve with ranges of research techniques focusing in qualitative method. For example personal interviews, participant observation, account of individual and personal construct. The usual questions that arise would be “how does a researcher select a research paradigm and corresponding methodology?” and the other question that will be raised by the researches which are: . What is the nature or essence of the social phenomena being investigated?. . Is social phenomenon objective in nature or created by the human mind?. . What are the bases of knowledge corresponding to the social reality, and how knowledge can be acquired and disseminated?. . What is the relationship of an individual with her environment? Is she conditioned by the environment or is the environment created by her?. From the questions, the researchers can determine and identify whether the research question pertain to positivism, anti-positivism and critical theory. From here the researches can choose suitable methodology accordingly.. 22. MBA THESIS. Positivism is more focus on studying the social phenomena objective approach.

(34) Even thought, each paradigm have corresponding approaches and research method, researches can still adopt and cutting across the design paradigm depending on the research questions the writer what to answer. For this study that focusing in social phenomena that happened toward graduated engineer from UPM, the researches question that being design is more towards anti – positivism that involved ranges of techniques of personal interview and participant observation. From here method choose is qualitative research approach.. 23. MBA THESIS. Table 3.1: Selection of research paradigms and research methods.

(35) Quantitative Empirical Research Every research need a statement of purpose which need to have a clear. statement what to study and why. There are various type of description of methodology such as experimental group, control group, variable, test condition, test subject and others. For qualitative empirical method the conclusion can be draw from the result that obtain from the data collected. There are four types of quantitative method research which are descriptive, correlation, quasi-experiment and experimental.. Figure 3.2: Decision tree matching research design to category of research question. Quantitative research is a research that based on traditional scientific methods which generates numerical data and usually seeks to establish causal relationship (or association) between two or more variables, using statically method to test the strength and significance of the relationships. According (Leedy 1993). 24. MBA THESIS. 3.2.1.

(36) and anything that is measurable in a systematic way of investigation of phenomena and their relationships. It is used to answer questions on relationships within measurable variables with an intention to explain, predict and control phenomena.‖. Quantatitative reseach method. Dealing with numbers Measureable. Figure 3.3: Description of Quantitative Method In a simple word Quantitative research is a research that relies primarily on the collection of quantitative data while for Qualitative research is a research that relies on the collection of qualitative data. Below is a few differences point between these two types of research.. 3.2.2. Qualitative Research. Qualitative research method keeps evolving with the technology and the pattern and style of communication and interaction change. The current ways of qualitative research are via direct interactions which are face to face, telephone or online exchange. The other ways are interview conducted in research facilities for example at a respondent‟s home or business, or at a public location. The last ways are real-time communication and time lapse technique which are diaries and electronic bulletin 25. MBA THESIS. ―Quantitative research methods are research methods dealing with numbers.

(37) question. The questions are open ended because to uncover the thought and feelings behinds initials responses. This method applies insight and learning to the research process in the real time. Typical qualitative methods often include: . Focus group – a moderator led discussion among a group of individual who share habit, needs and same life circumstances that relevant to the study at hand.. . In- Depth interview – interview with single interviewer that last among 30 minute to 90 minute depending on the subject matters and context. In depth Interview can be conducted in person at a research facility, the respondent‟s home, workplace, public location or by telephone.. . Dyads, Triads – In-depth interview with two or three persons who often represents members of the same family or business team, who use a product or services and make purchase decision together.. . Paired Interview – Conservative or interlocking interview with two people who use or decide together to purchase a product or services. 26. MBA THESIS. boards. Regardless of venue and medium, qualitative approaches are always open ended.

(38) 27. MBA THESIS. Table 3.2: Main Types of Qualitative Research.

(39) MBA THESIS. Table 3.3: Comparison of Qualitative And Quantitative Research. Table 3.4: Types of Differences for Quantitative Research and Qualitative Research Types of differences. Quantitative research . Scientific method. . Deductive. or. Qualitative research. top- . Inductive. down research. research. The researcher tests . The. hypotheses. new. and. theory with data 28. or. researcher. bottom-up. generate. hypotheses. and. grounded theory from data.

(40)  View. of. Behavior is regular & . Behavior is fluid, dynamic,. predictable. situational,. human social,. behavior contextual, and personal  Most. . Description,. Description,. exploration,. common explanation,. and. and discovery. research objectives prediction . testing Focus. lens, . Narrow-angle. Wide-angle. and. „deep-. angle‟ lens, examining the. specific. hypotheses. breadth. and. depth. of. phenomena to learn and more about them . Attempt. to. behavior. study . Study behavior in natural. under. environments. Nature of observation controlled conditions. . Study the context in which behavior occurs.  Nature of reality. Objective observes. (different  agree. on. Subjective, personal, and socially constructed. what is observed) . Form of data collected. Collect. quantitative . Collect. qualitative. data based on precise. (e.g:. measurement. participant. using. in-depth. data. interview, observation,. structured. and. field notes and open-ended. validated. data. questions). 29. MBA THESIS. collected during fieldwork.

(41) instruments. (e.g:. closed-ended. items,. rating. scales,. The. researcher. primary. data. is. the. collection. instrument. behavioral responses). Nature of data. . Variables. . Identify.  statistical . Words, image, categories Search for patterns, themes,. Data analysis relationship. and holistic features. According to Beverley Hancock, he has mention about qualitative research: "Qualitative research is concerned with developing explanations of social phenomena. That is to say, it aims to help us to understand the world in which we live and why things are the way they are. It is concerned with the social aspects of our world and seeks to answer questions about; Why people behave the way they do? How opinions and attitudes are formed? How people are affected by the events that go on around them? How and why cultures have developed in the way they have? The differences between social groups." Beverly also has state that; "Qualitative research is concerned with finding the answers to questions which begin with: why? how? in what way? Quantitative research, on the other hand, is more concerned with questions about: how much? how many? how often? to what extent?.". 30. MBA THESIS. . collection.

(42) "Qualitative research is concerned with the opinions, experiences and feelings of individuals producing subjective data, while qualitative research describes social phenomena as they occur naturally. No attempt is made to manipulate the situation under study as is the case with experimental quantitative research. Understanding of a situation is gained through a holistic perspective. Quantitative research depends on the ability to identify a set of variables. Data are used to develop concepts and theories that help us to understand the social world. This is an inductive approach to the development of theory. Quantitative research is deductive in that it tests theories which have already been proposed‖.. 3.3. Secondary Data. Secondary data is a data that already been collected by and readily available by the past researcher and other peoples. Such data are cheaper and easily accessible than primary data and available when the primary data cannot be obtained at all. According to Prathamesh Parab, (2013), defined that secondary data is: “Data gathered and recorded by someone else prior to and for a purpose other than the current project. It is also data that has been collected for another purpose. It involves less cost, time and effort. Secondary data is data is being reused and usually in a different context.”. 31. MBA THESIS. He also mention about how this research differs from quantitative research which are;.

(43) person other than the one who collected the data. Secondary data is often used in social and economic analysis, especially when access to primary data is unavailable. For example, a survey of a group of economists (primary data) cannot be repeated, so its results are used in subsequent research projects. If the data have been collected by an already available source of information such as Newspapers, Television Commercials or any other institute that has collected data for their purposes, then those will be secondary data to the researcher or investigator. Moreover, the sources that give the secondary data might have collected the data for the owner‟s specific purposes. These data may not have been tailored according to the purpose of the researcher. In fact, the secondary data have not been collected with the objective of fulfilling the interest of the researcher but of the other data owners. Therefore, it is clear that these secondary data for the researcher may be the primary data for the owner of the source of information. It is very interesting to know that primary data can be converted into secondary data by performing statistical operation on the primary data. In this particular case, primary data, which had been collected by the researcher, have been altered so that he can use the amended data right away for his intended purposes. In this manner, he is not using the original primary data, as they were, but altered data. It is very clear, that the original primary data become secondary data for the owner after operating the statistical methods. By using the secondary data, costs can be eliminated. Apart from the information gathered by the media, the secondary data can also be obtained from the information recorded in the interview or surveys.. 32. MBA THESIS. Data that has previously been collected (primary data) that is utilized by a.

(44) Advantage of Secondary Data. Secondary data is more economical than primary data and it also saves efforts and expenses. Secondary data also save time to obtain and collect. Having secondary data can make the primary data collection more specific, and able to make out what the gap and deficiencies and what additional information needs to be collected. Secondary data can help to improve understanding of the problem. Lastly secondary data provide basic comparison for the data that is collected by the researchers.. 3.3.2. Disadvantages of Secondary Data. Secondary data is something that seldom fit the framework of the research factors. The accuracy of the data of the secondary data can be questionable. Secondary data can be out-dated because of the rapid change in life and technology. According to Tran Thi, (2013), stated that: ―Secondary data is the data that have been already collected and recorded by someone else and readily available from other sources‖. Analysis of secondary data, where “secondary data can include any data that are examined to answer a research question other that the questions for which the data were initially collected”. (Vartanian, 2010) According to Pamela E.Windle, (2010), details out that:. 33. MBA THESIS. 3.3.1.

(45) analysis of an existing dataset to address a different research question or to conduct research with data that was not collected for research purposes. These types of analyses usually uncover aspects of a research study that need further elaboration,. either. revisiting. the. research. question,. hypothesis,. or. measurements used that may need further exploration‖. Sources of secondary data i.. Internal data: ready to use, requires further processing. ii.. External data : published materials, computerized data bases, syndicated. services. 3.4. Primary Data. The primary data are refers that information get it from researcher first hand. This information obtains from various sources such as surveys, interviews, focus group, panels of respondents or observation. It is important to have gather primary and secondary data simultaneously. According to Uma Sekaran, 2013 as follow: ―…Primary data refer to information obtained first hand by the researcher on the variables on interest for specific purpose of the study…‖. Primary data are comes from specific research problem that collected using procedure that fulfil the research problem best. Related to that (Joop. J. Hox, 2005) stress that: 34. MBA THESIS. ―Secondary data analysis can be useful for researchers and is defined as further.

(46) goal…‖. 3.4.1. Instruments. The idea of qualitative survey to become a theory within logic justification makes explicit the concept of the „researcher as research instrument‟. The main instrument is the researcher its self. According to (Mengxuan Annie Xu, 2012) mention that: ―…researchers must learn how to effectively develop themselves to a research instrument capable of collecting rich data and developing a nuanced and complete interpretation congruent with the philosophical underpinnings of the research…‖. Proper method in data collection is important in order to have appropriate primary data. Therefore the individual itself that run the research must choose suitable method being to have accurate information.. 3.5. Method of Data Collection. Uma Sekaran (2013) provide the method of data collection as the: ―As an integral part in research design. There are several way of data collection. Each of its have advantages and disadvantages. To enhance the. 35. MBA THESIS. ―…Primary data are refer to original data collected for a specific research.

(47) variety ways such as by using interviews, observation and administration questionnaire. This three type of collecting primary data are main data in survey research. Usually interviews like face to face, telephone, on line via internet are use. While observation is through email and projective tests. Projective test also used to tap variables. For example respondents are asked to write a story, complete a sentence and offer their reaction. This is assume that respondent own thoughts, feelings, attitudes and expectations.. Although. interviewing has the advantage of flexibility in terms of adapting, adopting, and changing the questions as the researcher proceed with the interviews, questionnaires have the advantage of obtaining data more efficiently in term of research time, energy and cost. Modern technology nowadays playing a key role in shaping methods of data collection. The choice of data collection method are depends on facilities available. This is based on the degree of accuracy required, the researcher expertise, time of study, available data and cost factor.‖. Further, both authors mentioned on the method of data collection (Simmins and McCormack, 2007): ―Data are usually collected through qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative approaches aim to address the ‗how‘ and ‗why‘ of a program and tend to use unstructured methods of data collection to fully explore the topic. Qualitative questions are open-ended such as ‗why do participants enjoy the program?‘ and ‗How does the program help increase self-esteem for participants?‘. Qualitative methods include focus groups, group discussions and. 36. MBA THESIS. value of research is with use appropriate method. Data can be collected in a.

(48) program. They use a systematic standardised approach and employ methods such as surveys1 and ask questions such as ‗what activities did the program run?‘ and ‗what skills do staff need to implement the program effectively?‖. 3.5.1. Interviewing. This is useful data collection method. When exploratory stage, interviewing is the best method to use. During interview session, interviewer must make sure to control or minimize bias by training that happen in a ways of voice inflection, differences in wording, and interpretation. Interviews may be unstructured, structured or semistructured and conducted face to face either by telephone, on line or meet the respondents its self. According to Gill, P., et al. (2008) on function of interview is to explore the views, experiences, beliefs and motivation of individuals on specific matters. Refer to Gill, P., et al. (2008), usually got three types of interview use as instrument which is known structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews. ―As for the structured interview, the questions involved are verbally control and administered, providing almost no variation and further questioning possibility. As for the unstructured interview, the questions will be progressed based on the respond of the first asked question. Under this particular interview, the ability to control and manage the interview might be a challenge since there is only a little guidance on the topic that is going to talk about. The semi-structured interview sits between the structured and unstructured interview. For this particular interview, the interview begins with a few key questions that are. 37. MBA THESIS. interviews. Quantitative approaches on the other hand address the ‗what‘ of the.

(49) Later during the interview, various significant questions will be constructed and emerged to enable the researcher to learn on the topic even further and in depth.‖. Unstructured Interviews based on Uma Sekaran (2013) point of view: ―The interviewer does not enter the interview setting with planned sequence of questions to be asked of the respondent. A possible objectives of an unstructured interview is to bring some preliminary issues to the surface so that researcher can determine what factors need further in depth investigation. After conducting the unstructured interviews and data obtained, the researcher would know the variables that need greater focus and called for more depth information. The set the stage for interviewer to conduct further structure interview, for which the variables will have been identified.‖. Structure Interview are researcher conduct known questions according to what information needed. Cohen D, Crabtree B. (2006) both author explain on the structure interview as follow: ―Development of a structured interview guide or questionnaire requires a clear topical focus and well-developed understanding of the topic at hand. A welldeveloped understanding of a topic allows researchers to create a highly structured interview guide or questionnaire that provides respondents with relevant, meaningful and appropriate response categories to choose from for each question. Structured interviews are, therefore, best used when the literature in a topical area is highly developed or following the use of. 38. MBA THESIS. important to the research to be used as the perimeter or theme of the interview..

(50) the researcher with adequate understanding of a topic to construct meaningful and relevant close-ended questions.‖. The semi-structured interview usually used by interviewing people by talk freely and openly to get deep information. This useful method are conducted in open framework, allow for conversation and two way communication. This type of data collection the researcher already have some of the questions and the rest will exist during conversation. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with a fairly open framework, which allow for focused, conversational, two-way communication. They can be used both to give and receive information. The flexibility to get the information through both party in order to able to follow topical trajectories in the conversation that may stray from the guide when he or she feels this is appropriate. Laforest (2008) delivered as below on the semi-structured interview of in gaining information. ―Semi-structured interviews are conducted with a fairly open framework which allows focused, conversational, two-way communication. The interviewer follows a guideline but is able to follow topical trajectories in the conversation that may stray from the guide when it seems appropriate. Not all questions are designed and phrased ahead of time. The majority of the questions are created during the interview, allowing both the interviewer and the person being interviewed the flexibility to go into details when needed. Conducting a good semi-structured interview requires a thoughtful planning which includes: identifying respondents, deciding on the number of interviews and preparing the interviews. After having conducted the interview, a comprehensive analysis is needed.‖. 39. MBA THESIS. observational and other less structured interviewing approaches that provide.

(51) interpretation of behaviour, actions or events. According to Uma Sekaran (2013) observation involved several approach as follow: ―Various approaches of observation have been used. Observation involves going to ―the field‖ – the factory, the supermarket, the waiting room, the office, or the trading room watching room, the office or the trading room- watching what workers, consumers, or day traders do, and describing, analysing and interpreting what one has seen. Observational method are best suited for research requiring non-self-report descriptive data that is when behaviour is to be examined without directly asking the respondents themselves. Observation data are rich and uncontaminated by self-report bias. However, observation methods are also time consuming and challenging in a lot of other ways.‖. Sampling means selecting a particular group or sample to represent the entire population. To represent the entire population and selecting particular are main activities in sampling task. There are two major categories in sampling which is probability sampling and non-probability sampling (Blackstone, 2012). Probability sampling that is fairer in selection of respondents, the respondents has been fixed and known. However for non-probability sampling there is no specific individual to be selected or to be part in research. There have advantages and disadvantage both approaches. Further, there are namely probability that use in quantitative research and non-probability sampling mainly used by the qualitative research. Blackstone (2012) describe the probability sampling as follow:. 40. MBA THESIS. Observation are include the activities of watching, recording, analysis, and.

(52) event‘s) likelihood of being selected for membership in the sample is known… in most cases, researchers who use probability sampling techniques are aiming to identify a representative sample from which to collect data. A representative sample is one that resembles the population from which it was drawn in all the ways that are important for the research being conducted.‖. Non-probability type of sampling more general does share the same principle as the quantitative research. This particular element is the most distinguish element separating the probability sampling with the non-probability sampling. As for the nonprobability sampling, Blackstone (2012) refers it to: ―…sampling techniques for which a person‘s (or event‘s or researcher‘s focus‘s) likelihood of being selected for membership in the sample is unknown. Because we don‘t know the likelihood of selection, we don‘t know with nonprobability samples whether a sample represents a larger population or not. But that‘s OK, because representing the population is not the goal with nonprobability samples.‖. Table below shows the advantages and disadvantages of both sampling method in the research.. Table 3.5: Advantages and disadvantages of the probability and non-probability sampling (Tansey, 2007) Probability Sampling. Non-Probability Sampling. Advantages:. Advantages:. 41. MBA THESIS. ―Probability sampling refers to sampling techniques for which a person‘s (or.

(53) Avoids selection bias.. . Control over selection process.. . Enables generalisations from the. . Inclusion of important political. sample to the wider population. Disadvantage: . Risks. MBA THESIS. . actors. Disadvantages:. omitting. important. respondents through chance.. . Greater scope for selection bias.. . Limited potential to generalise from the sample to the wider population.. Table 3.6: Shows the Basic Comparison of Both Sampling Method. Basic Comparison. Probability Sampling. Non-Probability Sampling. Meaning. Subjects of population get Subjects is not known that equal opportunity to be which individual want to selected as a respondents in be. selected. as. a. the research. respondents.. Alternately known as. Random sampling. Non-random sampling. Basic of Selection. Randomly. Arbitrarily. Opportunity of Selection. Fixed and known. Not specific and unknown. Research. Conclusive. Exploratory. Result. Unbiased. Biased. Method. Objectives. Subjective. Inferences. Statistical. Analytical. 42.

(54) Tested. Generated. Refer to Hafner (2012) there have three types of sampling namely purposive, quota and snowball sampling. This types of sampling are usually use in qualitative research. The popular one use is purposive, the criteria is to group the respondents according to purposed needed, which are related and relevant to the research. Blackstone (2012) mentioned that in order to have a purposive sampling: ―…a researcher begins with specific perspectives in mind that he or she wishes to examine and then seeks out research participants who cover that full range of perspectives.‖. Further, by Black (2010) as below: ―Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling method and it occurs when elements selected for the sample are chosen by the judgment of the researcher. Researchers often believe that they can obtain a representative sample by using a sound judgment, which will result in saving time and money.‖. According to Blackstone 2012, types of sampling that use the quota and convenience are both can use in quantitative and qualitative research method. The element of proportion are use in selecting the respondents as below:. ―…a researcher identifies categories that are important to the study and for which there is likely to be some variation. Subgroups are created based on each category and the researcher decides how many people (or documents or whatever element happens to be the focus of the research) to include from each. 43. MBA THESIS. Hypothesis.

(55) 2012).‖ The definition convenience sampling by Price (2013) is as below: ―…any data that is neither a complete enumeration of all the possible data—a census—nor a careful, scientific sample.‖. Using this sample, the researcher will take the easy access respondent for their research. Blackstone (2012) mentioned on this sampling as follow: ―To draw a convenience sample, a researcher simply collects data from those people or other relevant elements to which he or she has most convenient access.‖. The examples of this sampling are a reporter interview publics for information and a student uses his or her classmates in a research to be the respondents. Table 3.9 below shows the summary of these non-probability types of sampling.. Table 3.7: Types of Non-Probability Samplings And Their Applicability. Sample type. Description. Applicable for. Researcher seeks out elements that meet Purposive. Qualitative research. specific criteria. Researcher relies on participant referrals to. Snowball. Qualitative research. recruit new participants. Researcher selects cases from within several Qualitative. and. Quota different subgroups.. quantitative research.. Convenience Researcher gathers data from whatever cases Qualitative. 44. and. MBA THESIS. subgroup and collects data from that number for each subgroup (Blackstone,.

(56) 3.6. quantitative research.. Data Processing In Qualitative Studies In universal, how we process and analyse data in a qualitative study rest on how. we plan the strategies and interconnect the findings. Generally, there are three ways in which we can illustrate our findings in qualitative research: As mentioned by (Kumar, 2014): 1) Developing a narrative to describe a situation, episode, event or instance 2) Identifying main themes that emerge from your field notes or transcription of your-in-depth interviews and writing about them, quoting extensively verbatim; and 3) In addition to (2) above, also quantifying by indicating their frequency of occurrence, the main themes in order to provide their prevalence. Editing, as tacit for quantitative studies, is however unsuitable and unbefitting for qualitative research. For that, there is a way to guarantee whether we are accurately reflecting the situation or not; and that is by transliterating or transcribing the interviews or observational notes and share them with the respondents for confirmation and approval. Such confirmation and validation from the respondents is known as a very decisive aspect to certify that the data collected is accurate and unswerving. On the other hand, (Kumar, 2014) also stated: ―For writing in narrative form there is no analysis per se; however, you need to think through the sequence in which you need or want to narrate. For the other ways of writing about findings, you need to go through content analysis…‖.. 45. MBA THESIS. happen to be convenient..

(57) field notes in order to identify the main themes that emerge from the responses given by our respondents or the observational notes made by you. This process involves a number of steps. According to (Kumar, 2014): ―Step 1: Identify the main themes. You need to carefully go through descriptive responses given by your respondents to each question in order to understand the meaning they communicate. From these responses, you develop broad themes to reflect these meanings‖. ―Step 2: Assign codes to the main themes. Whether or not you assign a code to a main theme is dependent upon whether or not you want to count the number of times a theme has occurred in an interview‖. ―Step 3: Classify responses under the main themes. Go through the transcripts of all your interviews or your notes and classify the responses or contents of the notes under different themes‖. ―Step 4: integrate themes and responses into the text of your report. Use verbatim responses to keep the ‗feel‘ of the responses, or count how frequently a theme has occurred, and then provide a sample of the responses‖.. 46. MBA THESIS. Content analysis means analysing the content of interviews or observational.

(58) Data Analysis. Data analysis is the process of inspecting, transforming, and modelling data with the goal of discovering useful information, suggesting conclusion, and support decision making. Data analyses have multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse technique under variety of names, in different business, sciences and social science domain. In research, researcher will refer to the two methods which are deductive approach and inductive approach. Inductive and deductive approaches to research are very unique, yet they can be complimentary. The purpose of data analysis is to bring order to the data. Data analysis is a continuing action, which answer researcher question and objective as well gives researchers the headings for future information. The uses of such techniques will help researcher in testing the hypothesis. These two methods have a very different technique when researching doing the research. Inductive is more to open ended and experimental especially at the starting of the research. While deductive is more narrow and also focus with testing or confirming hypotheses. Research Types. Deductive Approach. Inductive Approach. Quantitative. Qualitative. Figure 3.4: Types of research. 47. MBA THESIS. 3.7.

(59) Deductive Research Approach. Creswell and Plano Clark (2007) mentioned the deductive researcher: ―works from the ‗top down‘, from a theory to hypotheses to data to add to or contradict the theory‖ (p.23). Deductive research approach works from the more general which is theory in general but will become to be more specific in confirmation whether to reject or confirm the research. Sometimes this is informally called a top-down approach. Deductive research approach always is used in quantitative research. This approach will convert data into information and knowledge and explore the relationship between variables.. THEORY HYPOTHESIS OBSERVATION. CONFIRMATION. Figure 3.5: Flow of Deductive Research Approach Based on the picture above, this is how exactly deductive research approach process. Starting from theory and then make a hypothesis, doing observation and lastly confirmation based on the theory earlier. Researchers might begin to think about the interest or what they want to research. Next, researcher will narrow it down into specific hypothesis that can be investigated.. A deductive way always deal with. research is the one that individuals regularly connect with scientific investigation. The 48. MBA THESIS. 3.7.1.

(60) phenomenon them studying. Observation will be made in this process to know the theory is same with the researcher study. Finally, researcher tests the hypothesis with specific data whether it is parallel with the theories that arise before and lead into the answer whether the research can be accepted or not.. 3.7.2. Inductive Research Approach. Inductive research approach works from the other technique of deductive research approach. From detailed observations to bigger broad view and theories and it is using in qualitative research. In inductive reasoning, researcher begin with precise observations and measures, starting to discover patterns and regularities, formulate some tentative hypotheses that researcher can explore, and finally end up developing some general conclusions or theories.. Figure 3.6: Flow of Inductive Research Approach. 49. MBA THESIS. researcher thinks about what others have done and read existing theories of many.