TC Computer Programming Outsourcing Study

In order to remain competitive, TC Corporation must reduce their expenses. One major area where they are looking to reduce their expenses is in the IT area. One of the solutions they would like to research is the outsourcing of part or all of the IT programming function. They specifically are looking to use offshore outsourcing as a solution. Currently they employ around 350 programmers. At the same time, they are concerned about the impact that offshore outsourcing might have on both delivery capabilities and client satisfaction.

Design the strongest study you can that that will allow the company to decide whether offshore outsourcing of the IT programming function should be implemented. Your design should include the following:

* The broad research method(s)—i.e., Survey Research, Experimental Research, etc. — you would use. If using Experimental Research, name the specific experimental or quasi-experimental design.

* The data collection plan. What data collection method—i.e., focus group, telephone interview, observation, secondary data, etc—would you use? What sources of data/information would you use? If you would use an interview, questionnaire, or focus group, give an example of a few of the questions you would ask. If you would use observation, describe and give an example of what the recording instrument would look like. If you would use secondary data, describe the source and specific nature of the data.

TC Bank Single Logon Study
Upon joining the company, a new branch manager at one TC Ban’s branch locations was surprised to find a problem that impacts every personal banker. Each banker has a different log-in id and password for each application they use each day. There are over ten applications that bankers must utilize each day. Having multiple log-in id’s and passwords causes a two problems. First, it is time consuming to have to log into each application every time it is used. Second, bankers frequently confuse or forget their passwords (many keep a list of each application and its respective id and password to help them remember) and have to call the help desk to have the password reset.

As a result, the manager is developing a research proposal to submit to IT. The purpose of the research is to help IT decide whether to implement a single log-in id and password for all the applications used by the personal bankers for the entire company.

Design the strongest study you can that that will allow IT to make that decision. Your design should include the following:

* The broad research method(s)—i.e., Survey Research, Experimental Research, etc. — you would use. If using Experimental Research, name the specific experimental or quasi-experimental design.

* The data collection plan. What data collection method—i.e., focus group, telephone interview, observation, secondary data, etc—would you use? What sources of data/information would you use? If you would use an interview, questionnaire, or focus group, give an example of a few of the questions you would ask. If you would use observation, describe and give an example of what the recording instrument would look like. If you would use secondary data, describe the source and specific nature of the data.

United Airlines Interpersonal Relations Training Study

Last year the Reservations Sales manager in the United Airlines Seattle reservations Office became very concerned at the rising number of complaint letters sent to her office from customers, complaining about the rude treatment by some of the Reservations Sales Representatives (RSRs). She asked her supervisors to submit reports on the phone calls they had monitored over the last six