Research Proposal: Analyzing Verbeek Export's Employee Morale Issues

This research proposal focuses on Verbeek Export, a flower-selling company experiencing declining profits and employee morale. The proposal aims to investigate the impact of a rival company on employee satisfaction, identify the main causes of low morale, and recommend solutions to improve employee engagement. The research will employ a positivist approach, utilizing a deductive research approach, and collecting data through surveys and interviews with employees across Switzerland, Sweden, and France. A Gantt chart outlines the project timeline, including topic selection, research planning, data collection, analysis, and report preparation. The study seeks to understand the reasons behind decreased productivity, contract terminations, and financial losses, ultimately aiming to enhance Verbeek Export's business performance. The research will analyze factors such as workload management, relationships among coworkers, and salary satisfaction to determine the root causes of employee dissatisfaction and provide actionable recommendations.

Running Head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Research Proposal for Verbeek Export
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

2RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................3
1.1 Background............................................................................................................................3
1.2 AIM, RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTION....................................4
1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT....................................................................................................4
2. RESEACH METHODOLOGY:..................................................................................................5
2.1 Research Philosophy..............................................................................................................5
2.2 Research Approach................................................................................................................5
2.3 Research Design....................................................................................................................6
2.4 Population..............................................................................................................................6
2.5 Sampling Method...................................................................................................................6
3. GANTT CHART.........................................................................................................................6
4. Reference...................................................................................................................................13
5. Appendix....................................................................................................................................15

3RESEARCH PROPOSAL
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
This research proposal will focus on Verbeek Export that started business back in
September 1975. The flower selling company established by Hans Verbeek, expanded its
business to Switzerland, France and Sweden. The business of Verbeek Export transitioned to
selling flowers in full units. They even expanded to several other European countries. They
provided great customer service by delivering flowers to customers door to door (Schmitt, 2013).
Hans Verbeek handed the company to his sons Martijin and Robert in 2006.
Survey on employee satisfaction revealed that quality of work was decreasing due to low
employee morale. As a result, orders were being rejected by customers and flower wastage was
increasing. Clients also terminated their contracts due to poor quality of work. Low employee
morale was detected after employees of Verbeek Export were invited in a party and only few
turned up to attend it. The employees were not giving their extra effort that they used to give
before to improve work quality (Schur et al., 2014). Literature review was conducted that
revealed the reasons behind low employee morale. A questionnaire session was held previously
with the employees who faced similar problems. The company reviewed those questions to find
out the reason behind low profit. The questions asked were related to work load management,
relationship among co-workers, relationship between employee and supervisors, satisfaction with
current salary. The employees were even questioned about company’s promotion policy, areas
where the company needs to improve and the reasons leading to employee frustrations (Kube,
Maréchal & Puppe, 2013). Another reason behind low employee morale that has not been
identified is rival company of Verbeek Export providing more salary to employees for the same

4RESEARCH PROPOSAL
work. The following paragraphs will focus on the research objectives, the method by which
problem was approached and discuss research methodologies.
1.2 AIM, RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTION
The aim of the proposal is to find the effect of rival company on Verbeek’s employees.
This will help the company to gain information about low employee satisfaction.
The research objective of the company are:
 To find the main cause behind low employee morale that is leading to company loss
 To investigate if rival company is having any effect on Verbeek’s employees
 To recommend solutions to increase employee morale
The research question includes:
 What are the reasons that are causing low employee morale?
 What are the effects that rival companies have on Verbeek’s employees?
 What are the solutions that might increase employee morale?
1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Verbeek Export was experiencing fall in profits due to low productivity and loss of
employee morale. Authorities of the company surveyed on the issue and found out that profit
decreased from £2.5b to £1.96b between the years 2014 to 2017 (Zboril-Benson, 2016). Survey
further revealed that total outcome of the year decreased from 10000 tons to 8832 tons. The data
collected revealed that Verbeek was facing loss in both profit and total outcome.
2. RESEACH METHODOLOGY:
2.1 Research Philosophy

5RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Verbeek Export approached the problem with positivism. The research proposal can be
approached in three possible ways. They are positivism, interpretivism and realism. In
positivism, data collected and hypothesis developed helps in approaching research strategy. The
hypothesis is achieved by structured methodology (Katz & Krueger, 2016). Positivism works on
statistical data that is collected through primary sources. In this scenario, statistical data on
Verbeek’s profit and outcomes are collected that will help in further analysis of data. The
problem will be approached in a descriptive way. In positivism, researchers develop a theory
from the hypotheses.
2.2 Research Approach
There are three types of research approach namely deductive, inductive and abductive
research approach. In this scenario, the process deductive research approach will be used. The
data that are collected regarding Verbeek’s profit and outcome are true and therefore the
conclusion that are deducted from analysis is true. The information that already existed
previously is used to analyze the drop in profit of Verbeek Export (Younge, Tong & Fleming,
2015). The data that is collected can be either confirmed of rejected during research process.
Hypothesis are developed that are tested in research process. The hypothesis that is developed is
based on an existing theory. Then a research strategy is developed that tests developed
hypothesis.
In deductive research approach, reasons for a particular effect is given. Therefore, in this
research proposal where Verbeek Export is researching effect of rival company on employee
morale, reasons are found behind low employee morale (Mehta, Kurbetti & Dhankhar, 2014).
The deductive approach are explained by hypotheses that are derived from theory. Deductive
research approach involves deducting a conclusion from propositions or premises. The main

6RESEARCH PROPOSAL
advantages of using deductive approach in this research proposal are concepts can be measured
quantitatively, casual relationships between variables and concepts can be explained.
2.3 Research Design
Data and information regarding Verbeek Export will be collected through surveys and
interviews of employees (Lyon, Lu, Shi & Yin, 2013). The reason behind this is that the victims
of the problem will be able to better explain the reasons behind low job satisfaction.
2.4 Population
Survey and interviews will be conducted on the employees of Verbeek Export that
consisted of approximately 450 employees. All the employees present in Switzerland, Sweden
and France will be surveyed to gather information on low employee morale and effect of rival
company on them.
2.5 Sampling Method
The sample size of the research will be 100 employees of Verbeek Export. The sampling
will be done using random sampling method. The method of sampling will be dependent on
probability (Sinha & Shukla, 2013). The research is mainly performed to know the reason for
low employee morale. Therefore, employees of Verbeek Export would be appropriate to survey
and conduct interview.
3. GANTT CHART
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors Resource Names Cost
Research Project
on Verbeek
Export business
activities
114
days
Fri
11/16/18
Wed
4/24/19 $7,138.00

7RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Topic Selection
and Discussion 13 days Fri
11/16/18
Tue
12/4/18 $1,168.00
Identifying the
problems that are
leading to low
employee morale
of Verbeek Export
1 day Fri
11/16/18
Fri
11/16/18 Research Supervisor $400.00
Identifying
information gap
from literature
review
1 day Mon
11/19/18
Mon
11/19/18 2
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
A number of
topics on the
selected fields
should be chosen
1 day Tue
11/20/18
Tue
11/20/18 3
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Consider the
Scope of the
Topics
1 day Wed
11/21/18
Wed
11/21/18 4
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Test the
Feasibility of
Topics Based on
Overall Scope of
the Research
1 day Thu
11/22/18
Thu
11/22/18 5
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Selection of a
particular topic 1 day Fri
11/23/18
Fri
11/23/18 6
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Receive
Approval from
Supervisor
Regarding
Selected Topic
1 day Mon
11/26/18
Mon
11/26/18 7
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Preparation of
the research
proposal
1 day Tue
11/27/18
Tue
11/27/18 8
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Submission of
research proposal
5 days Wed
11/28/18
Tue
12/4/18
9 Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
$320.00

8RESEARCH PROPOSAL
3,Research Associate
4
Kick Off
Review 0 days Tue
12/4/18
Tue
12/4/18 10 Research Supervisor $0.00
Research
Planning 14 days Wed
12/5/18
Mon
12/24/18 $896.00
Developing
Overall Scope of
the Research
1 day Wed
12/5/18
Wed
12/5/18 11
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Work
Breakdown
Structure of the
overall research
should be created
1 day Thu
12/6/18
Thu
12/6/18 13
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Research
schedule is
developed using
Gantt Chart
2 days Fri
12/7/18
Mon
12/10/18 14
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$128.00
Allocation of
duties to the
employees
2 days Tue
12/11/18
Wed
12/12/18 15
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$128.00
Research plan
is prepared 3 days Thu
12/13/18
Mon
12/17/18 16
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$192.00
Request
Funding for the
Research Based
on Estimation of
Requirements
1 day Tue
12/18/18
Tue
12/18/18 17
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
The research
roadmap and
methodology
needs to be
determined
0.5 days Wed
12/19/18
Wed
12/19/18 18
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$32.00
Research
approach is
determined
0.5 days Wed
12/19/18
Wed
12/19/18
19 Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
$32.00

9RESEARCH PROPOSAL
4
Data
collection method
is determined
1 day Thu
12/20/18
Thu
12/20/18 20
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Funds required
for the research is
received
2 days Fri
12/21/18
Mon
12/24/18 21
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$128.00
Review of mid
term 0 days Mon
12/24/18
Mon
12/24/18 22
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4,Conveyance[0]
$0.00
Research
Initiation and
Execution
70 days Tue
12/25/18
Mon
4/1/19 $3,650.00
Physical
resources and
online data should
be gathered
4 days Tue
12/25/18
Fri
12/28/18 23
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
3,Research
Resources[1]
$628.00
Literature
database should be
accessed to gather
information
1 day Mon
12/31/18
Mon
12/31/18 25
Online
Resources[1],Researc
h Associate
2,Research Associate
4
$282.00
Collection of
literature review
samples
2 days Tue
1/1/19
Wed
1/2/19 26
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Conducting
Literature review 6 days Thu
1/3/19
Thu
1/10/19 27
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
4
$192.00
Collection of
data required from
the literature
review
3 days Fri
1/11/19
Tue
1/15/19 28
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
4
$96.00
The
framework of the
overall problem
should be
developed
2 days Wed
1/16/19
Thu
1/17/19 29
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Developing
Research
1 day Fri
1/18/19
Fri
1/18/19
30 Research Associate
1,Research Associate
$32.00

10RESEARCH PROPOSAL
hypothesis 4
Starting data
collection 1 day Mon
1/21/19
Mon
1/21/19 31
Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3
$32.00
Identify
information gap
from literature
review
5 days Tue
1/22/19
Mon
1/28/19 32
Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research
Resources[1]
$660.00
Set up
research for
Verbeek Export
5 days Tue
1/29/19
Mon
2/4/19 33
Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3
$160.00
Collection of
previous data from
online sources
15 days Tue
2/5/19
Mon
2/25/19 34
Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3
$480.00
Collect Data
from Other
Sources
5 days Tue
2/26/19
Mon
3/4/19 35
Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3
$160.00
Start Data
Analysis 5 days Tue
3/5/19
Mon
3/11/19 36
Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3
$160.00
Analyze All
Collected Data 5 days Tue
3/12/19
Mon
3/18/19 37
Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3
$160.00
Find Results 5 days Tue
3/19/19
Mon
3/25/19 38
Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3
$160.00
Verify or
Contradict
Research
Questions
2 days Tue
3/26/19
Wed
3/27/19 39
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$128.00
Develop
Research
Outcome
2 days Thu
3/28/19
Fri
3/29/19 40
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$128.00
Set Scope and
Base for Future
recommendation
for Verbeek
Export
1 day Mon
4/1/19
Mon
4/1/19 41
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Green Light
Review
0 days Mon
4/1/19
Mon
4/1/19
42 Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
$0.00

11RESEARCH PROPOSAL
4
Research
Submission and
Closing
17 days Tue
4/2/19
Wed
4/24/19 $1,424.00
Prepare Final
Research Report
Based on the
Outcomes of the
Research
15 days Tue
4/2/19
Mon
4/22/19 43
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$960.00
Submit the
Report for
Grading
1 day Tue
4/23/19
Tue
4/23/19 45
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4
$64.00
Get Suitable
Grading for the
Research
1 day Wed
4/24/19
Wed
4/24/19 46 Research Supervisor $400.00
Sign Off 0 days Wed
4/24/19
Wed
4/24/19 47
Research Associate
1,Research Associate
2,Research Associate
3,Research Associate
4,Research Supervisor
$0.00

Running Head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL