Mg 306 Unit 5 Discussion 1 Conducting Business Research

Mg 306 Unit 5 Discussion 1 Conducting Business Research

Develop a research project by selecting a business topic, choosing five reliable secondary sources from business journals, books, newspapers, or websites, and developing an APA-formatted reference page. Then, evaluate each source using questions from your textbook, including credibility, purpose, date, bias, supporting evidence, and logical claims.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of conducting comprehensive business research involves careful topic selection, sourcing credible information, and critically evaluating sources to ensure reliability and accuracy. In this case, the chosen business topic is Costco and the reasons why it is considered one of the best companies to work for. This topic offers insights into employer reputation, employee satisfaction, wages, and corporate culture, which are well-suited for research through reliable secondary sources.

The first step in the research process is selecting five credible sources that provide varied perspectives on Costco's employment practices. The sources include articles from renowned business publications, industry reports, and academic texts, each providing different facets of understanding Costco’s workplace environment and reputation. The sources are as follows:

  1. McCarthy, N. (2017, May 11). Costco Named America's Best Employer 2017 [Infographic]. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com
  2. Cain, A. (2018, April 03). Costco employees share the 7 best parts of working at the retail chain with a cult-like following. Business Insider. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com
  3. Hardy, K. (2017, September 07). Do Costco cashiers make more than Iowa teachers? The Des Moines Register. Retrieved from https://www.desmoinesregister.com
  4. Cascio, W. F. (2012). Decency Means More Than "Always Low Prices"; A comparison of Costco to Wal-Mart's Sam's Club. In Ethical Theory and Business (9th ed., pp. 79-86). Pearson Education.
  5. Hess, A. (2018, March 01). The top 15 companies for pay and benefits. CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com

Following the selection of these sources, each one was evaluated using the criteria outlined in the textbook's Appendix B - Figure B-3. These evaluations analyze credibility, purpose, timeliness, bias, supporting evidence, and logical consistency for each source.

Evaluation of the Sources

The first source from Forbes provides a credible and recent infographic detailing Costco being named America’s Best Employer in 2017. As Forbes is a well-respected business publication, its claims are supported by evidence, and the article is current. The purpose is to inform the public about Costco’s employer reputation. Given Forbes’ reputation, the source is credible, and the claims are logical and well-supported with data.

The second source from Business Insider offers insights into employee perspectives on working at Costco. Business Insider is a well-known media outlet founded in 2009. The article is based on interviews with Costco employees, strengthening its credibility. The purpose is to showcase employee satisfaction, and the source appears unbiased, with data supported by direct quotations. Its current nature enhances relevance for research that emphasizes employee experience.

The third source from The Des Moines Register compares salaries of Costco employees and Iowa teachers. As a reputable regional news outlet, the source is credible, and the article presents factual salary data with supporting references. The purpose is purely informational, and the data is recent. The article’s claims are logical, and the supporting evidence is sufficient to bolster the analysis.

The fourth source is an academic textbook, “Ethical Theory and Business,” which compares Costco and Wal-Mart from an ethical perspective. As an established university-level textbook, it is credible, and its use of supported facts, citations, and evidence enhances trustworthiness. Although there may be some bias in its critique of Wal-Mart, the comparison relies on factual information, providing a balanced view essential for ethical analysis.

The fifth source from CNBC discusses companies with excellent pay and benefits. As a reputable news organization, CNBC provides recent and well-researched data. The article aims to inform readers about the top-paying companies, including Costco. Its evidence is sourced through credible surveys and reports, making the claims logical and reliable.

In summary, these sources collectively provide a well-rounded understanding of Costco as an employer. They include performance rankings, employee testimonials, salary comparisons, ethical considerations, and compensation analysis, giving a comprehensive basis for research into why Costco is regarded as a top employer.

Conclusion

Conducting thorough research requires selecting credible sources and evaluating each systematically. The selected articles and reports support a comprehensive overview of Costco’s workplace reputation and practices. Such a multi-faceted approach helps ensure that conclusions are based on reliable, varied data, which is essential in business research aimed at understanding successful employment strategies.

References

  • McCarthy, N. (2017, May 11). Costco Named America's Best Employer 2017 [Infographic]. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com
  • Cain, A. (2018, April 03). Costco employees share the 7 best parts of working at the retail chain with a cult-like following. Business Insider. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com
  • Hardy, K. (2017, September 07). Do Costco cashiers make more than Iowa teachers? The Des Moines Register. Retrieved from https://www.desmoinesregister.com
  • Cascio, W. F. (2012). Decency Means More Than "Always Low Prices"; A comparison of Costco to Wal-Mart's Sam's Club. In Ethical Theory and Business (9th ed., pp. 79-86). Pearson Education.
  • Hess, A. (2018, March 01). The top 15 companies for pay and benefits. CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com

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