Final answer:
The primary reason for using a strategic canvas in analyzing restaurant owners' business decisions is to analyze and evaluate competitive factors and strategic positioning in the market.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary reason for Zara, the research analyst, to employ a strategic canvas during the data analysis stage of studying the business decisions of restaurant owners is to analyze and evaluate the competitive factors and strategic positioning of the restaurants in the market. The strategic canvas is a tool used in business strategy to visually represent the current state of a business or industry and help identify areas for improvement or differentiation.