Research Methodology: Strategic Enterprise Planning, Data (Essay Sample)

Strategic Enterprise Planning
Name
Institution
Research methodology
The research was conducted to identify trends in the Australian clothing and textile market, as well as identify consumer trends among women who are the target market for the business. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in the study. For the quantitative research methods, data from other researchers was used (Kothari, 2004). This data included the geographical location and climate of Australia and how it impacts on the Australian clothing and textile market. Other trends such as sources of raw materials and fashion trends were also researched with the use of secondary sources of data. These include articles, books and magazines. Quantitative research methods are more concerned with information such as how much, how often, how many, and to what extent (University of Southern California, 2016). Empirical analytical research methods are, therefore, more appropriate. The research focused on objective knowledge which was then analyzed with the use of deductive reasoning to come up with conclusions.
Qualitative research methods are effective when trying to study the human behavior such as consumer preferences. This data was collected through observation and interviewing. The qualitative research was interested in why female consumers behave how they do, how their consumer trends are influenced by events around them and how they form opinions on fashion trends. Interpretive methods were used for this part of the study. The research used here is based on observable outcomes of the human behavior, and in this case, the researchers were more interested in the human behavior outcomes of the female consumers in Adelaide (University of Southern California, 2016). Observation was conducted in popular fashion stores across Adelaide. Interviewees were also selected randomly from these stores and requested to answer questionnaires pertaining their opinions and the fashion industry in Adelaide.
Data
Cities in Australia are spaced between each other. The Australian geographical location puts Australia 6 months behind the global fashion trends in Europe. Australia has liberalized trade markets, and the country has open markets for imports. Most garments sold in Australia originate from China. Import duty rates in Australia have been dropping since 2005 from 17.5 percent to 10 percent in 2010 and was expected to drop to 5 percent by 2015 (Weller, 2007). The local garment and textile production industry has experienced a decline of 8 percent between 2001 and 2005. Australia has a casual lifestyle and moderate climate. Clothing share in household expenditure has declined in Australian households over the last ten years. Clothing retailing establishments are widely distributed in the major cities of the country. Clothing retailing establishments in the country include department stores, small business and boutiques and clothing stores among others. The import for clothing and knitting mill products has increased steadily from 18.5 percent in 1991 to 51.8 percent in 2001 (Weller, 2007). Garment related textiles experienced a 60 percent decline between 2001 and 2005.
The first fashion report in Australia was published in 2013. The grading system was introduced to improve the fashion...