IE Business School

Quantitative Methods I

The main objective of the course is to provide students with a solid statistics-knowledge-net. In Statistics everything is related to everything. By the end of the course students are expected to understand how each technique relates to any other technique, why, and which one to use. Because knowledge nets are most effective when discovered rather than taught, the course is organized as a discovery trip, where each student is to build his or her own net. In this course we also learn how to let the computer do most of the work. Modern statistics use computers and students will learn how to use the statistical package SPSS to perform their statistical analyses. However, statistical packages only do as they are told and students need to know what to ask, how to ask it, and how to interpret the results.

Introduction to Research Methods in Management

This course aims to provide the student with an understanding of the fundamentals of applied research methodology, providing both an understanding of the theory behind research methodology, and basic skills in the design and execution of empirical research for answering management and policy research questions. It is also designed to help you evaluate and understand empirical research. Lastly, it will help you develop a knowledge framework and the analysis skills that will contribute to your development in terms of application of research methods.

Organizational Theory

This DBA seminar is designed to introduce students to fundamental questions and approaches to the study of organizations with a specific emphasis on recent streams of research. The readings are organized around theoretical themes. For each theme, readings will enable students to understand the intellectual development of organizational approaches and the various shifts in emphasis: from organizational processes to outputs, from studies of a single organization and its environment to studies of populations of organizations. In this way, students will be able to raise build arguments to upon the managerial implications of the different approaches.

Quantitative Methods II

In Quantitative Methods I we obtained a solid understanding of what statistics is. We also covered some useful techniques, regression analysis and analysis of variance. In this course we focus on larger, more complex, and hence more realistic problems. By the end of this course students will be able to handle highly sophisticated research questions using some of the most advanced methods.

Qualitative Research Methods I

This course is intended to provide the student with the basic skills needed to do qualitative research. Qualitative research is research that focuses on understanding, rather than predicting or controlling, phenomena. It is usually contrasted with traditional experimental and statistical research and is felt by many to be more appropriate to the study of human life. Different qualitative research methods will be analyzed providing an introductory overview to the topic.

Strategy

The course reviews the basic theories and research areas in the field of strategy. Our goal is to familiarize you with readings and concepts that will allow to engage in a considered dialogue with strategy researchers on the key issues confronting academics and managers.

Paper Crafting Seminar

The purpose of this seminar is to expose doctoral students to the process involved in conducting research from the conceptual to the operational level of analysis, with a focus on crafting research papers so that these may eventually be published in the best journals of the field. The emphasis will be on the “nuts and bolts” of publications targeted to premier journals.