BUMGT2602: Managerial Research Methods- Serious Sexual Misconduct- Dubois Industries- Research Proposal Assignment

Internal Code: 1HCBB

Research Proposal Assignment:

Task: This assessment involves developing a research proposal based on the given research problem below. The assignment hastwo parts: (a) a written comprehensive research proposal and (b) a group presentation. 2 (a) An individually written comprehensive research proposal: The topic for developing your individual research proposal is as follows:

‘Allegations of serious sexual misconduct at Dubois Industries’

You are a newly arrived junior consultant at Young Consultancy, a boutique management consultancy with established offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and a newly opened small office in Singapore. You are one of several new consultants at the company. At the regular Monday morning meeting with Sarah Young -YC’s CEO - she informs those present that Anna Choi, HR Director of international manufacturing firm Dubois Industries (and a personal friend of Sarah Young) has been in touch over the weekend with an urgent request. The company recently paid substantial damages to an employee who experienced sexual harassment from a former senior manager in one of the company’s divisions. Rumours of cover-ups of sexual harassment and even assaults have been swirling around the company for months. Media coverage of the case (some of the coverage even included an article in the New York Times) has been extensive and has included the claim that it was common knowledge that sexual harassment was widespread at the company and that this culture was deep-rooted, even reaching as high as individual Board members. There has been heated debate about this at Board level, with some members strongly disputing the veracity of this claim. However, one Board member - Lady Eleanor Black - recently resigned stating publicly that “the problem was common knowledge and the Board has consistently demonstrated no moral leadership which left me no choice but to cease my association with the company”. Shareholders berated the CEO - Hans Dubois - at the last shareholder meeting after news of the settlement broke, demanding immediate action. After a fractious board meeting a week ago it was agreed to commission a company-wide research study to ascertain the validity of claims of a culture of sexual harassment in the company. Given the highly sensitive and politically charged nature of the issue Dubois Industries has come to Young Consultancy, which has a track record of advising corporations in this space, for help. The HR Director has set out a broad brief to investigate the incidence of sexual harassment in the company, to understand its nature and causes, and to put forward a set of policy recommendations. According to Sarah Young, Dubois Industries is prepared to “pay whatever it takes” to be seen to be taking the issue seriously. However, any research needs to be completed within two-months by when the HR Director is required to present recommendations to the Board. Anna Choi has also stressed the highly sensitive nature of the problem. Jobs are on the line she says, hers included, if the company gets its response wrong. Sarah Young sees this project as potentially being of utmost importance. Not only is Anna a personal friend, this project may provide the opportunity of raising the international profile of Young Consultancy. Given the tight timelines and large budget, Sarah Young tells you all that you will need to work through the next week to prepare a proposal. She sees this as an opportunity to test out the new crop of junior consultants and so you are to work independently on your own ideas at first before coming together as a group to work on a final joint presentation to her. Your proposal will include reference to recent academic and other relevant literature and reports, a comprehensive methodology for the research, outline plans for data analysis and clearly demonstrate how what you propose would meet the needs of Dubois Industries. As the meeting closes, however, Sarah Young, seemingly suddenly having doubts, adds that she might abandon taking the project on if “it’s just too hot to handle”. She wants your final recommendation as to whether doing the work is “simply not worth the trouble”.