Preparing to Conduct Research Part 3
Preparing to Conduct Business Research: Part 3
RES/351
May 20, 2013
Kim Gravelle, PhD
Preparing to Conduct Research: Part 3
Team F’s Pet Palace wants to set itself apart from the competition. During the planning process, Pet Palace’s managers have come across a dilemma: pet supply sales are down because of competition from the online marketplace. This proposal will show that a small-scale, exploratory study is appropriate and necessary to make the steps required to correct this dilemma. This proposal contains the following: problem statement, research objectives, importance and benefits, research question, hypothesis, variables, research design, selected instrument, sampling method, data analysis, results, and ethical considerations.
Research Problem and Purpose Pet Palace is currently experiencing a decline in sales and customer retention. Managers have been told that customers have commented freely about buying pet supplies online because of the ease. This dilemma prompts Pet Palace’s managers to consider becoming an online retailer in addition to its physical location (aka becoming ‘bricks and clicks’). The purpose of the research is to determine if becoming a ‘bricks and clicks’ business will generate more revenue. Specifically, management aspires to learn if the benefits of becoming ‘bricks and clicks’ outweigh the costs. This research will reveal how lucrative adding online sales can be for Pet Palace.
Significance, Scope, Magnitude, and Feasibility This research is important because without offering current customers new alternatives and reaching out to new customers, Pet Palace cannot stay competitive in the evolving retail market of pet supplies. Creating an online presence may keep the business one step ahead of its current competition and maximize its percentage of the market share. Generally, becoming a ‘bricks and clicks’ store will not only make the pet supply store more profitable and available, it will allow the business to evolve
RES/351
May 20, 2013
Kim Gravelle, PhD
Preparing to Conduct Research: Part 3
Team F’s Pet Palace wants to set itself apart from the competition. During the planning process, Pet Palace’s managers have come across a dilemma: pet supply sales are down because of competition from the online marketplace. This proposal will show that a small-scale, exploratory study is appropriate and necessary to make the steps required to correct this dilemma. This proposal contains the following: problem statement, research objectives, importance and benefits, research question, hypothesis, variables, research design, selected instrument, sampling method, data analysis, results, and ethical considerations.
Research Problem and Purpose Pet Palace is currently experiencing a decline in sales and customer retention. Managers have been told that customers have commented freely about buying pet supplies online because of the ease. This dilemma prompts Pet Palace’s managers to consider becoming an online retailer in addition to its physical location (aka becoming ‘bricks and clicks’). The purpose of the research is to determine if becoming a ‘bricks and clicks’ business will generate more revenue. Specifically, management aspires to learn if the benefits of becoming ‘bricks and clicks’ outweigh the costs. This research will reveal how lucrative adding online sales can be for Pet Palace.
Significance, Scope, Magnitude, and Feasibility This research is important because without offering current customers new alternatives and reaching out to new customers, Pet Palace cannot stay competitive in the evolving retail market of pet supplies. Creating an online presence may keep the business one step ahead of its current competition and maximize its percentage of the market share. Generally, becoming a ‘bricks and clicks’ store will not only make the pet supply store more profitable and available, it will allow the business to evolve
References: Cooper, D., & Schindler, P. (2011). Business research methods (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Nardal, S. and A. Sahin, 2011. Ethical issues in e-commerce on the basis of online retailing. J. Soc. Sci., 7: 190-198.