ENG 225 Business Research Proposal

Guidelines for Business Research Proposal (15%)

The Business Research Proposal provides undergraduates training in a range of collaborative communication and academic skills typically found in business contexts and workplaces. At the beginning of the semester, ENG 225 students form teams from several disciplines. Each team collaboratively brainstorms and identifies a business-related problem that they can tackle. Then, they present their idea to the instructor in the form of a proposal.

The proposal should include the following sections: Title, Key Terms, Introduction, Research Gap and Questions, Literature Review, Primary Research, Intervention, and References.

Title

The title must do the following:

Include the topic and the angle the project is taking

Key Terms

Provide 3-5 key terms (with their definitions) that are mentioned in your proposal.

Introduction (about 400 words)

The introduction should set the stage for your proposal by clearly explaining what your topic is, why it matters, and where the gap lies. Begin by describing the business context, including the industry, country, or specific setting where the problem exists. Then explain why this issue is important for businesses, society, or a particular audience.

You should also identify the gap (what is missing, overlooked, or not working well) that your project will explore. This could be a lack of research, a process that needs improvement, or an opportunity for innovation. Finally, briefly state your team’s perspective (your ethos or positionality): why you care about this topic and what makes your team well-positioned to study it. This section should build toward your Research Objective/Research Question(s) section by showing the reader that there is a real need for your project and making them interested in what you plan to do about it.

Research Gap, Objectives, and Questions (about 100 words)

In this section, your team should briefly explain what gap or problem you are addressing, why it matters, and what your team plans to do about it. State your research objective (what you hope to explore or understand) and identify specific research questions you intend to answer. If applicable, mention the type of product, service, or intervention your team might create, test, or propose to help address the gap. This section should be focused and concise (4–6 sentences), clearly linking the problem to your team’s plan of action.

Example 1 (UAE-Specific):

There is a gap in sustainable last-mile delivery solutions in the UAE. Despite major growth in e-commerce, most deliveries still rely on fuel-powered vehicles, contributing to traffic congestion and carbon emissions in urban areas. Our team’s objective is to explore how eco-friendly delivery systems (e-bikes, micro-fulfillment hubs, route-optimization apps) could reduce emissions while keeping costs low for businesses. We will investigate questions such as: What sustainable delivery models are feasible for dense UAE cities? How can businesses incentivize consumers to choose low-carbon delivery options? Our project may propose a pilot program combining electric bike fleets and neighborhood pickup lockers.

Example 2 (Global):

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lack affordable mental health and well-being solutions for their employees, even as workplace stress is at record levels. Our team’s objective is to investigate scalable, cost-effective models for delivering mental health support to SMEs. We will explore questions such as: What types of digital platforms or subscription services can SMEs adopt? How can small businesses measure the impact of these programs on employee well-being and productivity? Our intervention might include designing a low-cost mental health resource hub or a prototype of an AI-powered check-in tool for employees.

Literature Review (about 400 words)

This section provides a thorough critical analysis of at least six scholarly and credible sources related to your topic. The literature review is a critical evaluation and synthesis of your sources — not a list of summaries. Show how your sources connect, complement, or challenge each other, and explain what they reveal about the current state of the problem you are investigating. Use APA citation, and include subheadings to organize your discussion where appropriate.

For the example research questions stated above, the literature review could include the following subheadings:

Sustainable Delivery in Urban UAE – Provides background on the rise of e-commerce and the current state of last-mile delivery in the UAE.
Environmental and Economic Impacts of Last-Mile Delivery – Synthesizes research on carbon emissions, traffic congestion, and cost implications.
Emerging Solutions and Case Studies – Discusses global and regional examples of green delivery solutions, such as e-bike fleets, micro-hubs, and route optimization technology, noting their successes and limitations.

OR, if using the global SME mental health example:

Workplace Mental Health Trends – Summarizes global data on rising stress, burnout, and productivity loss in SMEs.
Barriers to Access for SMEs – Examines why small businesses often lack affordable programs, including budget and resource limitations.
Innovative Models and Digital Solutions – Reviews case studies of scalable, cost-effective approaches (e.g., subscription platforms, AI screening tools) and their reported outcomes.

These subheadings guide teams to move from general background → problem impacts → possible solutions, mirroring the logical flow of their argument.

Primary Research (about 200 words)

In this section, explain what primary research your team will conduct and why it is appropriate for your topic. Specify the type of research (survey, interview, field observation, prototype testing, etc.), the location or population you will study, and how the data will help you answer your research questions. Your description should be specific enough to indicate a clear and relevant plan.

Be mindful that your primary research should be realistic to complete during the semester; keep your scope manageable and focused on what will directly support your objectives.

*As you think about the type of primary research your team wants to use, also start thinking about approaches for data analysis (quantitative results, coding, thematic analysis of recurring concepts, keyword identification, and limitations of primary sources used.) Data analysis will be an important part of your team’s final project.

Interventions (about 400 words)

This section should describe the intervention or solution your team proposes to explore as part of the final project. Make sure there is a clear connection between your intervention and the gap you identified in your introduction and research objectives.

Explain what your proposed intervention is, why it is relevant, and what benefits you expect it might provide. At the proposal stage, you do not need to present results or build a full prototype — instead, outline how you intend to investigate or develop this intervention during the project.

Consider the following questions:

How does your intervention respond directly to the problem or gap?
What steps will you take to design, test, or evaluate your intervention during the project?
What challenges or barriers might affect your intervention (economic, political, social), and how could they be addressed?
Are there examples from other contexts or industries you can reference to justify the potential success of your idea?

Include at least one visual element (a simple diagram, concept sketch, or process flow) to help illustrate your proposed intervention. Support this section with citations from scholarly or credible industry sources (these can be the same as your lit review sources) to show that your approach is grounded in research and has potential impact.

The following are examples of possible types of interventions/innovations relating to the examples we used earlier; this is NOT an example of how a section should look.

UAE Example: Sustainable Last-Mile Delivery

Electric bike delivery network – plan a pilot program for short-distance, high-density neighborhoods.
Community micro-fulfillment hubs – propose setting up lockers or mini-warehouses in residential towers or near metro stops.
Route-optimization software plan – design a concept for AI-assisted routing that reduces fuel use and delivery times.
Consumer incentives – create a loyalty/rewards system for customers who choose “green delivery” at checkout.
Business partnership strategy – outline how to get buy-in from e-commerce platforms (Noon, Talabat) for sustainable shipping.
Policy or advocacy component – suggest a proposal to Dubai Municipality or RTA encouraging sustainable fleet adoption.
Marketing campaign plan – concept for raising consumer awareness about low-carbon delivery options.

Global Example: SME Mental Health Solutions

Subscription-based “micro-wellness” program – outline a service offering short, guided meditations, check-ins, or stress tracking.
Manager training modules – propose simple, low-cost training to help managers spot burnout and support employees.
Anonymous feedback portal – plan an easy way for employees to flag stressors or workplace issues confidentially.
Wellness resource hub – compile a digital library of articles, videos, and tools for SMEs to share with employees.
Tiered pricing model – sketch out how to make a mental health platform affordable for very small teams.
Hybrid support model – combine digital resources with access to local counseling providers at reduced rates.
Gamified engagement tool – propose a points/reward system for employees who complete wellness challenges.

References

Use a minimum of six scholarly sources (at least one has to be from one of the Business Library Databases and at least one has to be from Scopus AI)
Formatting should follow APA (exactly; give it its own page)