BAL TAUGHT STUDENT ETHICAL OPINION FORM v.4.

4 2021

Ethical opinion form for Faculty of Business and Law (BAL) taught
undergraduate and postgraduate students (except MRes)
Instructions to student
The questions on this form should be completed by the student on relevant dissertation /
project modules requiring the completion of an ethics form, regardless of whether you are
collecting primary or secondary data. Refer to the Guidance Notes that accompany this version
of the form and the ‘Research ethics – issues to consider’ checklist, also to be found as an
appendix to the Guidance Notes, for more information on completing the form and the process
you must follow to get ethical approval. The Guidance Notes should be on the same Moodle
site as you found this ethics form. If not, you can find a reference copy in the ‘Taught student’
section of the BAL Faculty - Ethics Information Moodle site.
If you are not collecting primary data or data that are identifiable with individuals, then you still
most likely need to complete an ethics form, but will only need to answer Qs 1-3, then Q10 and
as many of the questions between Qs 11-18 as are relevant in your case. The completed form,
and any supporting documentation you intend to issue to participants, should then be passed
to the supervisor. If your supervisor is satisfied that your application is capable of review, the
usual procedure is that he / she will send it to an appointed independent reviewer to decide
whether ethical approval can be supported. The reviewer, in conjunction with the supervisor, is
responsible for approving the ethical dimension of your project, although you may be asked to
amend your documentation to the satisfaction of the reviewer before a favourable ethical
opinion can be granted.
No data collection or recruitment of potential participants must be undertaken before a final
version of this form has been approved. A final signed and dated version of this form must be
included in the file of the dissertation you are required to submit electronically. The form
MUST be signed and dated by 1) the student, 2) the supervisor and 3) the peer ethics
reviewer (unless the University has specifically previously agreed that the supervisor alone
can sign off). If the dissertation is submitted without a fully completed, signed and dated
ethics form, containing a BALTAUGHT/… ethics reference number, it will be deemed to be a
fail. Second attempt assessment may be permitted by the Board of Examiners.

TITLE OF YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT __ Sound Strategic Management Results in

Improved Organizational Performance- A study of the retail sector in the UK

1
BAL TAUGHT STUDENT ETHICAL OPINION FORM v.4.4 2021

_________________________________

Ethics questions
1. What are the objectives of the dissertation / research project?
The main research question that is:
Whether companies following sound strategic management observe improvement in their
organization's performances regarding brand image, finances, and market capitalization.

The objectives will mainly be:

 To understand the concept of strategic management and what comprises it
 To understand how organizations built sound strategic management in their day-to-day
routines
 To see what differences are observed by companies having sound strategic management
systems versus the ones not focusing on any
 To see how financial performance is linked with the strategic management system of the
company
 To see how the brand image is linked with the strategic management system of the
company
 To see how to market capital is linked with the strategic management system of the
company
 To compare the overall performance of companies in the retail sector of the UK adhering
to a strategic management system versus those not strictly following it
 To draw meaningful conclusions by the end of the study

2. Does the research involve any of the following organisations? YES / NO (please delete as
applicable). If YES, please specify which one(s).
National Health Service (NHS)
Ministry of Defence (MoD)
HM Prisons and Probation Service
Any other organisation with its own policy and procedures for the ethical review of
research?
If YES to any of the above, you must first discuss your proposal with your supervisor,
module coordinator, and/or course Leader as appropriate, and consult the Guidance
Notes for this ethics form. If you are not sure whether the organisation in which you
intend to research either has its own ethics policy, or whether any such ethics policy
applies to your intended research, you must check first, before answering the question.
See the Guidance Notes to this form for further information.
No

2
BAL TAUGHT STUDENT ETHICAL OPINION FORM v.4.4 2021

3. Do you intend to collect primary data from human subjects or data that are identifiable
with individuals? (This includes, for example, questionnaires and interviews.) YES / NO
(please delete as applicable)
If you do not intend to collect such primary data then please go to question 10.
If you do intend to collect such primary data then please respond to ALL the questions
from Q4 onwards. If you feel a question does not apply then please respond with ‘n/a’
(for ‘not applicable’).

No
4. How will the primary data contribute to the objectives of the dissertation / research
project?

5. What is/are the population(s) you are researching?

6. a) How big is the sample for each of the research populations, and b) how was this sample
arrived at? (Please answer both parts of this question.)

7. How will respondents be a) identified and b) recruited? (Please answer both parts of this
question.)

8. What steps are proposed to ensure that the requirements of informed consent will be
met for those taking part in the research? If an Information Sheet for participants is to be
used, please attach it to this form. If not, please explain how you will be able to
demonstrate that informed consent has been gained from participants.

9. How will data be collected from each of the sample groups?

10. a) How will data be stored and b) what will happen to the data at the end of the
research? (Please answer both parts of this question.)

3
BAL TAUGHT STUDENT ETHICAL OPINION FORM v.4.4 2021

The data will be stored as documents or pdf that will be maintained in a separate folder in my
system as well as uploaded on Google drive so that they can be stored for a total of 5 years
after upload. At the end of the research, I will ensure I use all the material and have it as a
backup to showcase my resources upon need irrespective of them being used as in-text
citations and references in the dissertation file.
11. What measures will be taken to prevent unauthorised persons gaining access to the data,
and especially to data that may be attributed to identifiable individuals?
To ensure there is no unauthorised data accessed by anyone I will ensure all the published data
is used and that too easily accessible or paid subscriptions will be taken to have a legal use of
resources. Moreover, the data will be uploaded to Google drive where it will be encrypted by
passwords and safety locks to ensure maximum security so unauthorized people cannot access
it.
12. What steps are proposed to safeguard the anonymity of the respondents?
A statement will be written at the start of the dissertation guaranteeing the safety of the
anonymity of the respondents. No identity will disclosed against will and nothing will be kept
confidential that requires disclosure. Anonymity will be ensured by encrypting files with
passwords when they are uploaded on the web and encryption programs be used when data is
sent over the internet.
13. Are there any risks (physical or other, including reputational) to respondents that may
result from taking part in this research? YES / NO (please delete as applicable).
If YES, please specify and state what measures are proposed to deal with these risks.
no

14. Are there any risks (physical or other, including reputational) to the researcher or to the
University that may result from conducting this research? YES / NO (please delete as
applicable).
If YES, please specify and state what measures are proposed to manage these risks.
Yes reputational risks exist to me as well as the university and that too in the form of
anonymity of data. I will ensure that I use adequate methods of security and encryption
on my data so that no harm is caused to the firms.
15. Will any data be obtained from a company or other organisation? YES / NO (please delete
as applicable) For example, information provided by an employer or its employees.

I will solely restrict on secondary data and any information available for the retail companies in
UK will be used in my research only.
16. What steps are proposed to ensure that the requirements of informed consent will be
met for any organisation in which data will be gathered? How will confidentiality be
assured for the organisation?
I will gather online data of the most famous retail brands in UK that trade publically so that all
information from their financials to blogs etc. is available on their websites. If unable, I will keep
the names of organizations confidential to ensure no reputational damages are caused by my
study whatsoever.

4
BAL TAUGHT STUDENT ETHICAL OPINION FORM v.4.4 2021

17. Will the proposed research involve any of the following (please put a √ next to ‘yes’ or
‘no’; consult your supervisor if you are unsure):

Potentially vulnerable groups (e.g. adults

• YES NO √
unable to consent, children)?
• Particularly sensitive topics? YES √ NO
• Access to respondents via ‘gatekeepers’? YES NO √
• Use of deception? YES NO √
Access to confidential personal data (names,
• YES NO √
addresses, etc)?
• Psychological stress, anxiety, etc.? YES √ NO
• Intrusive interventions? YES NO √

If answers to any of the above are “YES”, please explain below how you intend to
minimise the associated risks.

The sensitive topic will be particularly be when comparing companies and its strategic
management system strengths. Any conclusion made if not close to ground realities will itself
be a risk and for that I intend to ensure I use adequate sources before claiming anything or
reaching conclusions.
Moreover, there definitely will be psychological pressure, anxiety and stress involved as this is
my second time attempting on dissertation and I cannot afford to present unsatisfactory work
this time. Hence giving my best is the only solution and to minimize risk I will ensure open and
frequent communication with my supervisor.

18. Are there any other ethical issues that may arise from the proposed research?

I doubt there will be any but if at all, it might be in the form of plagiarism, using someone else’s
ideas as mine and being unable to give credits to the right author or party.

5
BAL TAUGHT STUDENT ETHICAL OPINION FORM v.4.4 2021

Print name Signature Date signed

Muhammad Muhammad
Student Qadeer Qadeer 04-07-2022

I / we grant a favourable ethical opinion and the supervisor confirms that the ethical approval
details have been entered on the University’s Google Drive register of ethically approved
research and in the box below:

Supervisor Gavin Reddin 10/07/2022

Peer reviewer
(unless University
has agreed that
supervisor can sign
off) Daniel Cho DC 20/07/2022

FOR SUPERVISOR’S USE ONLY. Supervisor to enter details of research onto Faculty spreadsheet
on Google Drive
(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13Kkb_1bRXg1dgb9BdPP_zpPWcib1uHKyR8veFt2Qz
60/edit?usp=sharing), using next available reference number, and enter number in the space
below.
Student’s ethical approval reference for this research: BALTAUGHT/[supervisor to replace with
reference number]

The student should ensure that the above ethics reference is included on any documentation
issued to research participants (e.g. preamble to survey questionnaire, information sheet,
consent form, instructions to participants about the research, etc.).

AMENDMENTS
If you need to make changes please ensure you have permission before recruiting any
participants and any primary data collection. If there are major changes, fill in a new form if
that will make it easier for everyone. If there are minor changes then fill in the amendments
(next page) and get them signed before the primary data collection begins.

6
BAL TAUGHT STUDENT ETHICAL OPINION FORM v.4.4 2021

CHANGES TO ETHICS PERMISSION

VERSION: ____
Please describe the nature of the change and impact on ethics:

Print name Signature Date signed

Student

I / we grant a favourable ethical opinion:

Supervisor

Peer reviewer
(unless University
has agreed that
supervisor can sign
off)

(please cut and paste the next section, together with the heading at the top of this page, as
many times as required)
VERSION: ____
Please describe the nature of the change and impact on ethics:

7
BAL TAUGHT STUDENT ETHICAL OPINION FORM v.4.4 2021

Print name Signature Date signed

Student

I / we grant a favourable ethical opinion:

Supervisor

Peer reviewer
(unless University
has agreed that
supervisor can sign
off)