CASE STUDY: HERO BUILDERS ASSIGNMENT
Case Study: Hero Builders Assignment
Lateshia Blakely
Liberty University
BUSI 600: Business Research Methods
Dr. Sandra Bartholomew
January 2023
CASE STUDY: HERO BUILDERS ASSIGNMENT 1
Which of the four types of studies are presented in this case?
The case of Hero Builders can be classified as a descriptive study. This type of research
typically seeks to answer questions about who, what, when, how, and where. Descriptive studies
do not manipulate variables; rather, they form research questions instead of hypotheses. In the
case of Hero Builders, Vicale conducted a survey to determine who may be interested in the hero
action figures and why. To gain a further understanding of the business, he conducted
exploratory research looking into its profitability and target customer base. Vicale discovered
that 9-11 themed action figures had considerable appeal to consumers, and based on the findings
of his research and legal advice, he decided to venture into the hero action figure business.
Using the criteria in Exhibit 1-6, evaluate the research that HeroBuilders.com conducted
prior to launching its hero and villain action figure business.
Vicale had a passion for action figures and wanted to turn this passion into an
entrepreneurial venture. He did some research on the business of action figure production,
seeking to measure its profitability, target consumers, competitors, opportunities, and threats.
Additionally, Vicale consulted a lawyer about any legal or ethical issues associated with such a
business. In setting out his research goals, he met the first criteria in that he had a clear purpose -
to determine the viability of his idea in the market. However, there were no specific questions to
narrow down his research project further, which could have provided more useful results.
Specific questions are essential when conducting research as they help create detailed plans
while also ensuring conclusions can be drawn from the data gathered. Also, they help make the
findings more applicable. The ethical aspects of a research project must also be taken into
consideration. Copyright infringement is a primary example of this. Therefore, Vicale sought to
CASE STUDY: HERO BUILDERS ASSIGNMENT 2
ensure his project was legal and above board while also gathering data to assess the viability of
his business idea.
The second major issue was the lack of a structured approach to Vicale's research, with
him instead relying on internet searches and visiting retail stores. Having an established plan
helps minimize problems such as bias or using too few samples, which could lead to inaccurate
results. The third criterion involved ethical considerations, with Vicale not adhering to any
specific code of conduct for his research. The fourth criterion was by far the most problematic, as
Vicale's failure to employ appropriate research methods greatly undermined his ability to
guarantee reliable and valid data. This significantly impacted his capacity for accurate data
analysis, resulting in an inability to draw authoritative conclusions from the gathered
information. In addition, ethical standards were not met, and a detailed plan of action was also
missing, both of which could have resulted in bias or too few samples being used during the
research. All these factors combined had a substantial impact on the validity of Vicale's
outcomes.
What issues, other than those Vicale chose to evaluate, would you have included in your
research plan for HeroBuilders.com?
Prior to launching his product, Vicale could have utilized alternative methods of data
collection. He did use internet search engines in the research process, but he didn't apply other
efficient approaches like questionnaires and surveys, which could have been administered to the
intended audience. These types of polls are known for providing thorough details from
respondents while guaranteeing confidentiality and anonymity. Utilizing these techniques would
have widened the range of gained information, thereby ensuring that the results were accurate
and dependable. Moreover, conducting an online survey is usually less costly and saves time for
CASE STUDY: HERO BUILDERS ASSIGNMENT 3
those doing research. The majority of the benefits associated with this approach could have been
taken advantage of by Vicale.
Vicale could have gained insight into how to draw in potential customers by identifying
the features of his hero action figures that would most appeal to them. He could have conducted
surveys and questionnaires across different demographics to learn more about what elements
would attract their attention. By taking this approach, he may have come up with ways to make
his product stand out from the crowd - such as associating his figures with a memorable event or
location, like Batman being linked to Gotham City. This could serve as a visual cue for potential
buyers, providing them with an understanding of why they should buy these products. For
example, it could be used to explain how HeroBuilders.com are different from other companies
that sell similar products. Additionally, Vicale could have conducted interviews with potential
customers to gain a better understanding of the preferences and desires of the target audience.
This would provide him with valuable insights into what features would appeal to them most,
making it easier for him to determine which features should be included in his product line-up.
Besides, Vicale should have conducted a competitive analysis to understand the market
context and the competition from other companies. A thorough evaluation of similar products on
the market, their strengths, and weaknesses, pricing strategies, and marketing efforts would allow
Vicale to gain insight into how he can differentiate his product offering (Siedlecki, 2020). This
could also help him to identify his competitors' weaknesses and capitalize on them while taking
steps to avoid making the same mistakes.
Finally, Vicale should have considered conducting a financial analysis not only of his
company but of the industry as well. This would allow him to gain a better understanding of the
potential costs associated with producing and marketing his product. He could then use this
CASE STUDY: HERO BUILDERS ASSIGNMENT 4
information to make an informed decision about how much he can invest in order to increase
revenues without sacrificing quality or profit margins too drastically. Also, by using financial
data from other companies within the industry, Vicale could develop more accurate forecasts for
his own venture; thus allowing him to anticipate future expenses and profits more effectively. All
these considerations are important when launching a new product, and all could have been taken
into consideration had Vicale conducted more extensive research prior to launching
HeroBuilders.com.
In conclusion, these issues highlighted the need for Vicale to follow structured research
methods when assessing the viability of his business idea. With an appropriate plan in place, he
could have avoided many of the issues that occurred during this research process. Furthermore,
by employing additional techniques like questionnaires and surveys, Vicale would have been
able to gain more reliable data. This would have enabled him to make wiser decisions about
product development and promotion, ultimately leading to a successful business venture.
CASE STUDY: HERO BUILDERS ASSIGNMENT 5
References
Human, G., Ferreira, C. C., Robertson, J. & Whiterspoon, M., (2020). Customer experience,
satisfaction and loyalty in business-to-business markets: Does the chain hold across
customer segments?. Acta Commercii, 20(1), 1-13.
https://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ac.v20i1.855
Lane, S. (2018). A good study starts with a clearly defined question. BJOG: An International
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 125(9), 1057–1057.https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-
0528.15196
Schindler, P. S. (2019). Business Research Methods (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
https://player-ui.mheducation.com/#/epub/sn_9b805#epubcfi(%2F6%2F46%5Bdata-
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Siedlecki, S. (2020). Understanding descriptive research designs and methods. Clinical Nurse
Specialist, 34, 8-12.
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