Research Proposal: Business Decision Making at Heavenly Chocolates

This report is a research proposal focused on business decision-making within Heavenly Chocolates, an Australian chocolate maker experiencing declining sales. The study aims to identify factors influencing sales and production, including both internal and external organizational aspects. The research employs a realism philosophy, utilizing both secondary data (sales reports, financial data) and primary data (interviews with management and employees) to analyze business practices, production capacity, and customer demand. The research objectives include analyzing the causes of declining sales, identifying influential processes, and proposing strategies to sustain and improve the business. The report outlines the methodology, including data collection methods, research questions, and a proposed timeline, culminating in expected outcomes that aim to improve the company's sales and production capabilities. The study is a response to the STAT1060 assignment, which requires a research proposal to support decision-making based on the case study of Heavenly Chocolates.

Running head: BUSINESS DECISION MAKING
BUSINESS DECISION MAKING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
Decision making in the business is a key factor that influences the business. Thus it becomes
important to identify the key factors that can significantly influence the business and help the
decision making process. The main purpose of the study is to identification of the aspects that
are influencing business. The identification is inclusive of the factors within and outside of
the organization. The organization for the study is Heavenly Chocolates. The process of their
business is influenced by few factor and the research is aimed to detect and improve those
factors by collecting the data from secondary as well as primary sources.

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.....................................................................................................................3
1.1 Background of the Study.............................................................................................3
1.2 Statement of the Problem............................................................................................3
1.3 Rationale of Research..................................................................................................4
1.4 Research Objectives....................................................................................................4
1.5 Research Questions.....................................................................................................5
2.0 Methodology...................................................................................................................5
2.1 Research Philosophy...................................................................................................5
2.2 Data Collection Method..............................................................................................6
2.2.1 Secondary Sources...............................................................................................6
2.2.2 Primary Sources...................................................................................................7
2.3 Proposed Timeline of the Study..................................................................................8
3.0 Expected Outcomes.........................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................10

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1.0 Introduction
Decision making is one of the major aspect that is related to the development of the
factors that are related to the development of the factors that is associated with profitability of
the organization (Hair Jr et al., 2015). The purpose of the study is to understand the factors
that are influencing the sales of the company. The study will be enlightening the areas that
will be impacting the aspects that are related to the development of the factors that are related
to the operations of the organization. The organization for the purpose to conduct the research
is Heavenly Chocolates. The study will be detecting the key issues in the organization and
deliver a research approach for the determination of the cause of these problems. This study
will be emphasizing on the aspects that are related to collecting the data from the secondary
as well as primary sources for the approach of the research.
1.1 Background of the Study
Heavenly Chocolates is one of the renowned chocolate makers in Australia. It is
located at the Hay Market in Sydney. This organization is specialized in making the premium
chocolates and one of the most popular dark chocolate pralines. The company is having a
significance presence in the online as well as the offline platform. The organization is
concerned to increase their sales as it has been observed that there are significant drop in the
sales of the company. The online sales have also dropped due to the low production capacity.
It is one of the major aspect that is related to the profitability of the organization.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Sales Turnover is one of the major aspect that is associated with the company
(DeConinck & DeConinck, 2017). However, when the sales of Heavenly Chocolates is going
downwards then it becomes important to research to find out the key areas that are

4BUSINESS DECISION MAKING
responsible for such incidents. The research approach to detect the areas that are responsible
for the diminishing sales in the organization. The research is needed for the identification of
the aspects that can influence the company in the development and strengthen their position
by stopping the decline in sales along with increasing production capacity, helping to
cultivate a plan for the development. This is a significant problem for the company as it is
important for the company to maintain a good relationship with the customer (Nyadzayo &
Khajehzadeh, 2016).
1.3 Rationale of Research
Health of a business depends on the determining the practices that a business is going
to adopt as well as the impact of the practice for the development of the key areas that will be
responsible for the growth of the organization (Giorgi, Shoss & Di Fabio, 2017). It is
important to assess the present business practices that have adversely influenced the
Heavenly Chocolates. The business practices is one of the important aspect that has
contributed to the development of the organization as it determines the attributes that the
organization is going adhere (Chang, 2016). Production capacity is also important part for
any business (Zheng et al., 2016). The company is struggling with the meeting the demand of
the customer so it is important for the study to be conducted, which can reflect the potential
of the organization.
Thus, the research becomes important for the development of the factors that will be
contributing to the aspects that are related to the processes and practices that the business is
adhering along with the hierarchy of the organization. The study will be considering, what are
the factors that have influenced Heavenly Chocolates for their diminishing turnover.

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1.4 Research Objectives
The present aim of the study is to incorporate the aspects and detect the elements in
the organization that have impacted the organization and its sales of chocolate. Thus, the
main objectives for conducting the study is:
 To analyze the organization and identify the factors that have influenced the sales to
decline.
 To find the influential processes and practices in the organization that have significant
impact on the production and profitability of the organization.
 To propose the means by which the organization can sustain their business, increase the
sales and improve the production capacity.
1.5 Research Questions
Q1. What are the key influencing factors responsible for the diminishing sales in Heavenly
Chocolates?
Q2. What are the practices and process that can influence the production and profitability of
Heavenly Chocolate?
Q3. What are the probable ways that can be incorporated to improve the production capacity
of Heavenly chocolates and increase their sales?
2.0 Methodology
2.1 Research Philosophy
Research philosophy is one of the most important aspect towards the approach of the
research (Quinlan et al., 2019). The main three types of philosophies includes interpretivism,
positivism and realism (Edson, Henning & Sankaran, 2016). This study will be taking a

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philosophical approach of realism as it incorporates the critical analysis of the individuals
along with the analysis of the organization at various levels.
2.2 Data Collection Method
Collection of data is one of the most significant aspect that is related to the
development of the facts that are responsible for influencing the organization. Thus, the study
will be incorporating two types of data that are known as primary and secondary data
collection method.
2.2.1 Secondary Sources
The secondary sources of the data is the data that have been published and which is
available in the various places such as library, internet and any publishing platform
(Johnston, 2017). In this case the secondary data is the documents that are projecting the
adopted processes and practices in the organization along with the sales report and financial
report of the company. However, this type of data comes with their own advantages and
disadvantages that are stated below:
Disadvantages: There are redundant data that are already bundled with the significant data
that makes it difficult to relate the data with the study. There is another disadvantage in form
of the accuracy of the data as it cannot be determined by just looking at the data (Neuman,
2016). Another factor is the relativeness of the data as the data that has been considered for
the research can be outdated. In this can it the disadvantages can come in form of the above
stated ways (Neuman, 2016).
Advantages: There is significant advantages for the utilization of the secondary data which
makes it one of the favourite for conducting the research. The key advantage of the secondary
data is the availability of such data (Cole & Trinh, 2017). This is one of the most significant

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data for the proposed research as it is important for the study to analyze the business practices
along with the financial data of the organization. There is another significant advantage as it
is one of the most economical way to get the necessary data for the research purpose (Savino
et al., 2017). This is one of major contributor for saving the research related time as it is one
of the most efficient way to get the data.
2.2.2 Primary Sources
This is one of the most significant data that is related to the research as it is collected
from the samples that have any form of influence on the organization. Primary data is the
data that has been taken from the samples directly (Neuman, 2016). This is the process that
includes surveys, interview along with getting the feedback from the sample via online polls.
In this case the primary data will be collected from the workers to analyse the potential for
the production. The primary data for the research will be consisting of the interviews from the
management as it is one of the major aspect for the determination of the practices that are
presently being adopted by Heavenly Chocolates. The primary sources of data is inclusive of
the advantages as well as disadvantages that are stated below:
Disadvantages: One of the key disadvantage that is associated with the primary research is
associated with the cost of conducting the research. It is one of the most significant
disadvantage. The procedure of collecting primary data is also time consuming (Neuman,
2016). Thus, it is important to state a timeline for the research. There is another drawback in
form of biasness of the audience as it cannot be detected. It is one of the major aspect that is
related to the development of the factors that are liable for their contribution in the study. In
this case time and cost along with the unmeasurable biasness can be a disadvantage.
Advantages: There is existence of advantages with the primary collection of data. This gives
a platform for the development of the study to be conducted whenever it is needed. Primary

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data also provides the platform to the researcher with original point of view of the people
associated with the organization (Mills et al., 2015). There is another advantage that is the
data is specific which reduces the redundancy of the data.
2.3 Proposed Timeline of the Study
1-4 5-8 9-13 14-17 17-21th
Research
Activities
Days Days Days Days Days
Selection of
Research
topic
Reviewing
the
Objectives
Data
Collection
Data
Analysis

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Final
Research
Fig: Gantt Chart
(Source: Created by Author)
3.0 Expected Outcomes
The key expectations from the research is positive. The research can possibly identify
the key influencing factors that have contributed to the diminishing sales. The research will
be liable for the projection of the key practices in the business that can influence the growth
of the organization. The study can identify the areas that can result in the development of the
process that can influence the growth in the production to meet the customer demands.

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DeConinck, J., & DeConinck, M. B. (2017). The relationship between servant leadership,
perceived organizational support, performance, and turnover among business to
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Edson, M. C., Henning, P. B., & Sankaran, S. (Eds.). (2016). A guide to systems research:
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image. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 30, 262-270.

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