Starbucks Case Study: Research Ethics Panel Application Form

This document presents a research ethics panel application form submitted by a student, Madalina Pasniciuc Andreia, for a case study on Starbucks, focusing on factors that contribute to its sustainable competitive advantage. The research aims to evaluate these factors and their importance in organizational success. The application outlines the research design, including the use of a positivism research philosophy, a deductive approach, and quantitative research methods. Data collection involves a survey of 20 Starbucks managers using a questionnaire. The application emphasizes ethical considerations, including data privacy, informed consent, and participant confidentiality. The document also details the research team, project timeline, funding (N/A), and dissemination plans, along with participant recruitment methods and consent procedures. The application ensures compliance with data protection legislation and addresses potential risks and dissemination methods for academic purposes.

Research Ethics Panel Application form
For additional guidance, please refer to the Ethics organisation on Blackboard, the University
Research Ethics Policy and the Code of Good Research Practice available on the Bucks
websitehttps://bucks.ac.uk/about-us/governance-and-policies/policies
Section 1: Researcher details
1.1 Contact details of researcher
Title Miss Forename Madalina-
Andreia
Surname Pasniciuc
School: E
Status: Employee Postgraduate Research Postgraduate
Taught
Undergraduate
X
1.2 Co-applicants (please include everyone who will be involved in the research project, including
research assistants)
Name Post held Organisation
Section 2: Project details
2.1 Project title and timescale
Ethical approval is only valid for the time period specified on your application. Extension of period
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will require further approval.
Title : “To evaluate the factors or drivers that yield
sustainable competitive advantage to an
organization”. A case study on Starbucks.
Proposed start date: 28-02-20
Proposed end date: (of
data collection)
5-05-20
2.2 Costs and funding
Please indicate the total costs and source of funding (if applicable):
N/A
2.3 Brief project description
The organisation selected for this research project is Starbucks that is associated with Coffee
shop industry. Starbucks is a well known American coffee house and company founded in
Washington, US but the operations of this company are spread out across the 30000 locations
of world including many parts of UK also. The reason behind selecting this organisation for
current research topic is that many efforts are made by Starbucks to have a sustainable
competitive advantages to remain superior of its competitors and have better position and
image in business environment.
Aims and objectives
The aim of this research project is “To evaluate the factors or drivers that yield
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sustainable competitive advantage to an organization together with its importance in success
of organisation.” Thus, this research project is focused on determining various ways that yield
better sustainable competitive and plays a crucial role in improving position of organisation in
business environment.
Objectives
The research project conducted on Starbucks is having following main objectives:
 To determine the factors or drivers that yield sustainable competitive advantage to an
organisation. To evaluate the role and importance lead by sustainable competitive factors in success
of Starbucks.
Research question
 What are the factors or drivers that yield sustainable competitive advantage to an
organisation?
 What important role is lead by sustainable competitive factors in success of
Starbucks?
Section 3: Research Design
3.1 Research design
It basically provides information about the various methods and tools used for conducting a
research. Their are two main Philosophy of research i.e. Positivism and Interpretivism. For
current research work use of Positivism research philosophy is made it facilitates better
objective reality and a scientific way together with quantitative and hypothesis testing of
collected data (Bhardwaj, 2016). Beside this, out of inductive and deductive approach of
research use of deductive approach is selected for this research work as it provide better
testing to theory and lead to better generalisation of collected data. Further, from Qualitative
and quantitative methods of research use of quantitative research method has been made as it
facilitates collection data in numeric terms that lead to better presentations of findings. Use of
both primary and secondary sources of data collection has been made as primary source
provides direct connection with respondents and facilitates collection of authentic data while
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secondary source provide support to these findings with the help of past records and facts. A
sample size of 20 manager from the manpower of Starbucks is selected with the use of
random sampling method to accomplish this research project . Further, in order to collect
information from selected respondents use of survey method is made and data will be
collected with the help of a questionnaire.
3.2 Ethical implications
While conducting this research due care is provided to all research principles and moral in
order to conduct this research in most ethical way. All the provisions of data privacy
protection act are followed and a written consent is obtained from respondents before asking
their personal information of perspective. Beside this, all the tasks and activities of research
are performed in an ethical way to ensure that it does not harm or hurt feelings or sentiment of
any individual.
3.3 Risks to research team
None
3.4 Dissemination
Only for Academic purpose, assessor, examinator , university ,degree requirements
Section 4: Participants and Recruitment
Section 4.1: Participants
Participants are selected from the manager of Starbucks as they are one who are having all
relevant and maximum information about the factors or drivers that yield sustainable
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competitive advantage for an organisation as they are a crucial and vital part of firm and plays
important role in attainting competitive advantage for an organisation.
Section 4.2: Recruitment method
Use of random sample is made together with online modes
Section 4.3: Vulnerability
N/A
Section 4.4: Incentives
NO
Section 4.5: Permission / Gatekeeper
N/A
Section 5: Consent procedure
This section will demonstrate how you will obtain informed consent from the participants.Please
include all supporting documents (eg Information Sheets, Consent forms and questionnaires). Please
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answer YES, NO or NOT APPLICABLE (N/A) to each of the following:
Yes No N/A
5.1 All respondents will be given an Information Sheet and enough time to
read it before being asked to agree to participate.
X
5.2 All participants taking part in an interview, focus group, observation (or
other activity which is not questionnaire-based) will be asked to sign a
consent form.
X
5.3 All participants completing a questionnaire will be informed on the
Information Sheet that returning the completed questionnaire implies
consent to participate.
X
5.4 All participants being asked to provide personal data will have the
following statement on the consent form or on the bottom of their
questionnaire “I consent to the processing of my personal information for
the purposes of this research study. I understand that such information
will be treated as strictly confidential and handled in accordance with
current UK Data Protection legislation’’. A tick box should be included
to allow participants to give explicit consent for the collection and use of
such data.
X
5.5 All respondents will be told that they can withdraw at any time, ask for
their interview tape to be destroyed and/or their data removed from the
project until it is no longer practical to do so (e.g. when the report has
been written up).
X
5.6 Where full information cannot be given prior to participation (because it
could influence outcomes) participants will be fully de-briefed after
participation.
X
5.7 If you answered NO to any of the above (or think more information could be useful to the
reviewer) please state why here:
Section 6: Confidentiality, Anonymity & Data and Records Management
This section will show how participants can expect confidentiality and/or anonymity and will show
how any research data collected will be managed during and after the study. Please answer YES, NO or
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NOT APPLICABLE (N/A) to each of the following:
Yes No N/A
6.1 Questionnaires will be returned anonymously and indirectly. Please note
that questionnaire data cannot then be followed up/clarified.
X
6.2 Questionnaires and/or interview transcripts will only be identifiable by a
unique identifier (e.g. code/pseudonym)
X
6.3 Data will be stored securely and lists of identity number or pseudonyms
linked to names and/or addresses will be stored securely and separately
from research data
X
6.4 All place names and institutions which could lead to the identification of
individuals or organisations will be changed
X
6.5 I confirm that all processing of personal information related to the study
will be in full compliance with UK Data Protection legislation (including
the Data Protection Principles)
X
6.6 Consideration has been given to the limitations of confidentiality eg
disclosure of illegal behaviour or unsafe practice.
X
6.7 I confirm that processing of all security sensitive information will be in
full compliance with the “Oversight of security - sensitive research
material in UK universities: guidance (October 2012)”(Universities UK,
recommended by the Association of Chief Police Officers)
X
6.8 If you answered NO to any of the above (or think more information could be useful to the
reviewer) please state why here:
Section 7: Authorisation
This is related with authenticity and correctness of collected data and also includes the
ethical consideration. For current research work proper consent and acceptance is taken
from all participants to maintain the authorisation and correctness of research work.
For Bucks employees:
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Signed: …………………………………………….
Line manager
Date ………………………….
For postgraduate researchers, postgraduate taught students and undergraduate
students:
Signed Pasniciuc MadalinaSigned ……………………
( Student) (Supervisor )
Date 30/03/20
If original signatures are not supplied, the applicant must forward an email from the
line manager / supervisor including the above authorisation statement.
Section 8: Checklist for Applicant
The Ethics application form
The Participant Information Sheet
The Consent Form
Letters seeking/granting permission for access to data/participants
Materials for recruitment of participants
Questionnaire
Interview schedule
Authorisation received
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Risk assessment
Line manager / supervisor approval
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