Research Proposal: Determinants Facing Outsourcing in NSW Hotels

This research proposal aims to analyze the determinants influencing outsourcing practices within the hotel industry of New South Wales, Australia. It explores the increasing reliance on outsourcing due to the need for profitability and enhanced customer service. The proposal outlines the research design, including exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory research methods, and justifies the selection of a mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Data collection methods such as surveys, structured interviews, longitudinal studies, case studies, in-depth interviews, and focus groups are considered, with a focus on structured and in-depth interviews. The proposal details the use of Qualtrics surveys with close-ended multiple-choice questions, probability sampling for ethical participant selection, and ethical considerations for data protection. Bivariate data analysis techniques, represented through bar graphs and pie charts, are chosen for their reliability in examining the relationship between two variables.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
DETERMINANTS FACING OUTSOURCING OF SERVICES IN HOTEL IN NEW
SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Acknowledgement
I would like to thank all the people who have helped him to carry out and accomplish the
research as this one of my most wonderful experiences. I would like to express my
gratefulness to my adviser, Mr. ___________________________, for his guidance and
support. I would like to thank my supervisor Mr. ________________________, without his
help it would not be possible or me to overcome all the challenges those I have faced while
carrying out the research. I am thankful to my parents for their love and support. I am also
thankful to my friends who helped me in collecting the data. I would like to thank all the
participants of the research those provided me their valuable time and opinion to complete the
research efficiently.
Thanking you all,
Yours sincerely
(Signature)

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Executive Summary
The aim of the research proposal is to analyse the determinants facing outsourcing of services
in the hotel industry of New South Wales in Australia. The influence of outsourcing is on a
continuous rise due to the need of profitability of the organization and providing the best of
services for the clients and customers. The research focusses on the types of analyses done
during research and addresses different methods used for the same. An appendix giving the
probable questions of the Qualtrics data analysis questionnaire is also provided at the end.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................4
2. Problem Statement and Research Objectives.........................................................................4
3. Research Design.....................................................................................................................5
4. Data Collection Methods........................................................................................................6
Surveys:..................................................................................................................................6
Structured Interviews:............................................................................................................7
Longitudinal studies:..............................................................................................................7
Case studies:...........................................................................................................................7
In-depth interviews.................................................................................................................8
Focus groups..........................................................................................................................8
5. Qualtrics Survey Explanation................................................................................................8
Open-ended and close-ended questions:................................................................................8
6. Sample Selection....................................................................................................................9
7. Ethical Consideration.............................................................................................................9
8. Data Analysis Techniques....................................................................................................10
9. Reference list........................................................................................................................11
10. Appendices.........................................................................................................................12

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1. Introduction
Outsourcing and hotel industry have been in continuous contact since the beginning of
the times and with the increase in the services and demand for better treatments from the
hotels, to cater to the needs of extensive profitability, hotel industries and hoteliers are
continuously opting for outsourcing of their employees (Espino-Rodríguez and Lai 2014).
This research is done in order to analyse the determinants of outsourcing of the hotels of New
South Wales. The following paragraphs highlight on the different methods of analyse and
along with the Qualtrics Survey Questionnaire.
2. Problem Statement and Research Objectives
Like any service industry, the principle aim of hotel industry is to provide services
that cater to all the customers and provide them with ultimate satisfaction. For the
implementation of the same, the hotel managers and owners need to perform to the best of
their abilities by their own effort instead of depending on candidates belonging to third party
payroll. However, the competition prevailing in the modern world influences the companies
to undertake the process of outsourcing in order to attain more employees at a considerably
less cost. Inspite of the lucrative advantages that outsourcing provides, hotel business have
long restrained from implementing the objectives due to various reasons. The following study
will answer to the reasons that disable the hotel industry to take the path of outsourcing.
The research seeks to establish two questions, which are as follows:
1. What are the determinants that outsourcing of service faces in hotels of New South Wales
in Australia?
2. How to assess suitable outsourcing strategies regarding the service of hotels in New South
Wales in Australia?

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The research objectives therefore are as follows:
 To analyse the determinants of outsourcing of service that is faced by hotels of New
South Wales in Australia
 To assess suitable outsourcing strategies regarding the service of New South Wales
hotels.
3. Research Design
Every research can be divided into three stages depending on the purpose that the
research serves. The kind of researches can be of - exploratory, descriptive, explanatory
research.
One of the main types of research is the exploratory form for research in which the
aims and objectives of the research are evaluated other than collecting accurate statistical
data. It is one of the best plans when one is at the first phase of the research. Descriptive type
of research is done in which an in-depth analysis of the quantitative data is done along with
the findings of aims and objectives (Zikmund et al. 2013). Explanatory research is done for a
subject in which not many researches are done before and which demands deep intervention
with priority.
Like every research, the descriptive method of research is opted for in this proposal
because of the following reasons:
 Descriptive research is able to analyse both the qualitative and quantitative data
without any issue.
 The benefit of assessing a situation without any diversifications and disruptions
 By this method, the amalgamation of both qualitative and quantitative method is done
 Time consumption is way less

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There a number of methods, that can be used to determine a research data namely
qualitative, quantitative and mixed data. Qualitative data analysis method is used for
determining hypothetical assumptions and make predictions by combining the the descriptive
facts stated (Miles, Huberman and Saldana 2013). Quantitative data analysis method is used
to measure the numerical figures and statistical analysis without any hint of hypothetical
assumption and descriptive figures. Mixed methodology of data analysis is a mixture of both
the methods and is used by combining both the qualitative and quantitative method of data
analysis.
In this research proposal, the mixed method is being used due to the following reasons
(Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015)
 Mixed research methods help to determine the benefits and problems of both the
qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis.
 Provides a complete and better understanding
 The findings are more content specific and better explained
4. Data Collection Methods
The method used for Quantitative Data analysis can be stated as under
Surveys:
A general view explaining or describing a particular event mostly by using the form
of questions and interviews.
Advantages of surveys includes the factors like low cost, reliable first hand data
gathering, easy way of collecting data, precise data and little or no discrepancy in data.

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Disadvantages of surveys include the factors like inflexible designs, unfit for major or
controversial issues and deviation from facts.
Structured Interviews:
This is one of the important methods of quantitative data in which the survey
questions are presented in the exact same manner like presented at the time of survey (Kallio
et al. 2016)
Advantages of the method includes high response rate, standard questions for all the
people and less interpretation of the questions due to the presence of the interviewer.
Disadvantages of the method include manipulation by the interviewer, high time
consumption and change of answers by the people due to bias.
Longitudinal studies:
The concept of longitudinal studies can be defined as the studies that is made up of
different touch points and the analysis through them.
Advantages of the study including the positive effects in determining variable effects
over time and the process has a clear focus with accurate objectives, better than cross
sectional studies.
Disadvantages of the study include the time factor, requirement of a large sample size
and data collected are not reliable.
Case studies:
Case study is defined as the studying of various issues and objectives that has been
done using sufficient evidence and methods (Catherine Houghton et al. 2013)
The advantages of using case study includes intensive study without sampling,
comprehensive and includes comparison.

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Disadvantages of using case study includes the process being not simple, involves
errors and bias.
The method used for Qualitative Data Analysis can be stated as under
In-depth interviews
This is a qualitative method of research technique that involves individual interviews
and in depth analysis of the answers provided.
Advantages of the method include the possibility of better understanding, face to face
conversations which make the process easier, requires less time and involves more accuracy,
Disadvantages include the bias that the method involves, reliability of the interview
and the amount of manipulation done.
Focus groups
Focus group methods include taking a small section of the potential customers of the
market and doing the analysis based on them.
Advantages of the method include the expectation of more accurate and better results
along with less time with less bias.
Disadvantages include the reliability of the data as collected from a very small section
along with biasness and manipulation done by the company.
The method selected for Quantitative Data Analysis is Structured Interviews and In-depth
Interviews

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5. Qualtrics Survey Explanation
Open-ended and close-ended questions:
There are two forms of questions that can be used in the Qualtrics Survey of
Questionnaire which are open ended and close ended questions. Open ended questions are
those which does not have any specific answers to them and are exploratory in nature (Ozuru
et al. 2013). Close ended questions are those that have specific answers in them and can be
answered by the participants often by looking at the answers.
The questions that will be taken in this research proposal is the Close Ended Multiple Choice
Type of Questions. The reasons for the stated choice is the fact that close ended multiple
choice question will help to make the participants patient in their answers to the questions
given and also will help to make the participants answer to the questions with probable
answers. The use of close ended multiple choice question also makes sure that the answers
are not abrupt.
6. Sample Selection
Probability sampling is a form of sampling that employs equal opportunities for the
population of the survey to take the rights. There is equal chances for each of the participants
for stating their views. Non probability sampling is used where there is an unequal chances of
the participants for their views to be considered.
In the selected method, random probability sampling technique is taken so that all the
participants have an equal chance of participation with equal chances of views (Acharya et al.
2013). The benefits of using this sample technique is to make sure that there is no or less bias
among the participants and the population taken has interest in the subjects mentioned.
Radom sample with equal probability helps to make sure that the results are ethical without
any discrepancy.

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7. Ethical Consideration
In any research, it is mandatory to obtain important data and information from the
participants by using the mode of ethical consent. The term is defined as the consent or
approval that is obtained from the population by telling them in details of the study and
giving accurate and required information for the task (Cox et al. 2014)
According to the Data Protection Act, 1999, the data and information given by the
participants in times of research should be kept under wraps and be anonymous to public
eyes. The act also upholds the importance of this in the ethical consideration of the task.
The anonymity of the participants will be maintained by storing the data obtained in
the locked computer files that would not be accessible to all. The data can also be made
anonymous by shuffling and reshuffling of the data without any particular order.
The data collected will be stored at places that will ensure privacy and will uphold the
principles of anonymity and privacy in any data collection work.
8. Data Analysis Techniques
Univariate data is defined as the data analysis technique that involves the use of a
single variable. Bivariate data is defined as the data analysis technique that involves the use
of two variables.
In this analysis, bivariate data has been taken and used as it has two variables in it
making it more reliable.
The analysed data can be represented by using the forms of bar graphs and pie chart,
which are more visually appealing and can be in easy representation of quantitative data. The

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diagrams attract more attention to the matter and help to make the research more easily
understandable.

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9. Reference list
Hoque, K., 2013. Human resource management in the hotel industry: Strategy, innovation
and performance. Routledge.
Espino-Rodríguez, T.F. and Lai, P.C., 2014. Activity outsourcing and competitive strategy in
the hotel industry. The moderator role of asset specificity. International Journal of
Hospitality Management, 42, pp.9-19.
Zikmund, W.G., Babin, B.J., Carr, J.C. and Griffin, M., 2013. Business research methods.
Cengage Learning.
Miles, M.B., Huberman, A.M. and Saldana, J., 2013. Qualitative data analysis. Sage.
Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research
methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.
Kallio, H., Pietilä, A.M., Johnson, M. and Kangasniemi, M., 2016. Systematic
methodological review: developing a framework for a qualitative semi‐structured interview
guide. Journal of advanced nursing, 72(12), pp.2954-2965.
Catherine Houghton, R.G.N., Dympna Casey, R.G.N. and David Shaw PhD, C., 2013. Rigour
in qualitative case-study research. Nurse Researcher (through 2013), 20(4), p.12.
Ozuru, Y., Briner, S., Kurby, C.A. and McNamara, D.S., 2013. Comparing comprehension
measured by multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Canadian Journal of Experimental
Psychology/Revue canadienne de psychologie expérimentale, 67(3), p.215.
Acharya, A.S., Prakash, A., Saxena, P. and Nigam, A., 2013. Sampling: Why and how of
it. Indian Journal of Medical Specialties, 4(2), pp.330-333.

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Cox, S., Drew, S., Guillemin, M., Howell, C., Warr, D. and Waycott, J., 2014. Guidelines for
ethical visual research methods. Visual Research Collaboratory.
10. Appendices
1. What position do you hold in the organisation?
a) General Manager/Deputy General Manager
b) Divisional Manager/Director of Executive
c) Office/Assistant to General Manager
d) Departmental Manager
e) Others
2. Do you have any academic hospitality education?
a) Yes
b) No
3. According to you, what are the main reasons for outsourcing in a hotel?
a) To focus on core activities
b) To obtain expertise and skills
c) To reduce costs
4. What main barriers are faced in outsourcing in hotels?
a) Lack of reliable outsourcing suppliers
b) Lack of experience and expertise
c) Fall in employee morale
d) Losing control
e) Poor service delivery
5. What main activities are outsourced in the hotel?
a) Cleaning/housekeeping
b) Laundry
c) Security and Surveillance
d) Training

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e) Gardening Services
f) Leisure activities
g) Information Systems
h) Technology
i) Facilities