Question

You have been approached by the editor of Gentlemen’s Magazine to carry out a research study. The magazine has been unsuccessful in attracting shoe manufacturers as advertisers. When the sales force tried to secure advertising from show manufacturers, they were told men’s clothing stores are a small and dying segment of their business. Since Gentlemen’s Magazine goes chiefly to men’s clothing stores, the manufacturers reasoned that it was, therefore, not a good vehicle for their advertising. The editor believes that a survey (via mail questionnaire) of men’s clothing stores in the United States will probably show that these stores are important outlets for men’s shoes, and are not declining in importance as show outlets. He asks you to develop a proposal for the study and submit it to him. Develop the management-research question hierarchy that will help you to develop a scientific proposal.

Answer 1

To investigate the significance of men's clothing stores for shoe manufacturers and counter the notion of a declining market, a management-research question hierarchy should be created. It would address the current role and changing importance of these stores in the footwear market, and estimate the potential for footwear advertising in such magazines.

Step-by-step explanation:

Developing a Research Proposal

To develop a scientific proposal for Gentlemen’s Magazine to understand the importance of men’s clothing stores as outlets for shoes, one would need to construct a management-research question hierarchy. This hierarchy would begin with exploratory questions about whether men’s clothing stores are significant retail channels for shoes and whether these stores are indeed on the decline. Follow-up questions would determine the average number of footwear advertised in similar publications and gauge the possibility of these stores being a viable advertising vehicle for shoe manufacturers.

Given the presumption of Gentlemen's Magazine that their recipient stores are not a diminishing segment for footwear, the survey might seek to answer how many of those stores advertise shoes and whether their number is increasing or decreasing over time. The study aims to provide evidence to counter the perceptions of shoe manufacturers and attract them as advertisers.

Formulating the Question Hierarchy

Is it feasible to expect a growth in footwear advertising in men’s fashion outlets?

Answers to these questions will help shape a proposal that could demonstrate the magazine's value as an advertising platform for shoe manufacturers.

Answer 2

The management research question capable of developing a scientific proposal will be questions that will address the concerns of the management.

1. How Gentlemen’s Magazine can be marketed to shoe manufacturers

2. What is the profitability of shoe manufacturing?

3. What are the main sources of sales for shoe manufacturer?

4. What percentage of clothing stores also deal in the sales of shoes?\

5. What is the percentage demand of male shoes?

6. What is the profitability of shoe sales in general?

7. Will men shoes be a profitable venture for Gentlemen’s magazine? and how profitable?

8. What is the frequency of purchase of men's shoes in a year?

9. How many pairs of shoes do men purchase at one time?

10. What types of men shoes are most likely to be purchase by men?

11. What is the preferred colors of shoes purchased by men?

Step-by-step explanation:

The management research question capable of developing a scientific proposal will be questions that will address the concerns of the management.

1. How Gentlemen’s Magazine can be marketed to shoe manufacturers

2. What is the profitability of shoe manufacturing?

3. What are the main sources of sales for shoe manufacturer?

4. What percentage of clothing stores also deal in the sales of shoes?\

5. What is the percentage demand of male shoes?

6. What is the profitability of shoe sales in general?

7. Will men shoes be a profitable venture for Gentlemen’s magazine? and how profitable?

8. What is the frequency of purchase of men's shoes in a year?

9. How many pairs of shoes do men purchase at one time?

10. What types of men shoes are most likely to be purchase by men?

11. What is the preferred colors of shoes purchased by men?