Business Research will provide the specific knowledge needed to succeed in researching and utilizing the best and most appropriate data for decision making.  It will also provide the skills needed to effectively communicate research results to a specific audience for maximum impact and effective decision making.  The course is broad based and provides a strong foundation for meeting business research needs.  More advanced courses will be available after completion of this foundation course. Online, one month; Cathy Proffitt Boys, COI, instructor.

Course Outline
Unit 1-Discovering What You Want
Knowing the environment
Exploring the research question
Deciding upon the desired outcomes

Unit 2 – Selecting the best research process
Primary research tools
Secondary research tools
Thinking outside the box

Unit 3 – Doing the Research
Effectively utilizing selected research tools
Analyzing the results
Summarizing your findings

Unit 4 – Communicating the Results
Knowing your audience
Preliminary discussions
Packaging the results for presentation
The formal presentation

About online learning
Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends.  It’s easy. It’s fun.

How the Course Works
It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom.  You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.  Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.

Participate when you want
You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.  For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

What you will do
For each Unit, you will:

• Read the print readings (about 20 pages a week)
• Have the option of accessing the online readings
• Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
• Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
• Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week.
The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

Discussion
The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.  Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.  We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

It’s easy. It’s fun.