Business Research Project Part 2: Literature Review

Running Head: BUSINESS RESEARCH PROJECT: PART 1 1

BUSINESS RESEARCH PROJECT: PART 1 4

Business Research Project Part 1: Formulation of the Research Problem

Donna Allaire, Telly Berry, Olivia Atta Boakye. Arlene Figueroa

QNT/561

Heidi Carti

July 28, 2014

Business Research Project Part 1: Formulation of the Research Problem

The first single store DOTA Coffeehouse opened its doors in 1971. Starting from a narrow storefront, DOTA presented some of the world’s best fresh-roasted whole-bean coffees (Starbuck’s Corporation, 2014). In the year 2004, the CEO of DOTA made an announcement to come up with a plan to use 10% recycled material in its coffee cups. It was the right step for conservationists. So, in 2008, DOTA set their goal to start using recycling in all its stores. The company’s 2013 Global Responsibility Report said differently. DOTA was not going to meet its goals. Even though, the company expanded the number of stores to recycle by 67%, over the last year, less than 40% of its stores recycle. The issue is not a lack of will on the part of DOTA, but the difficulty of recycling the cups (Anderson, George, 2014).

The research statement and incentive that will be examined is how to recycle at DOTA Coffeehouse in the most cost effective and efficient method. The methodology and research is founded on the action research design and will detail how the team gets its results. The result of the team’s research will show that recycling will be successful depending on the beliefs of its employees and customers.

DOTA Coffeehouse dependent variables identified are to offer front-of-store recycling project and improved materials in recyclable hot cups. 71% were able to recycle or compost hot cups (Starbucks.com, 2014). DOTA added front-of-store recycling in more than 1,200 locations and continues to see a strong 90% acceptance rate of cold cups (Starbucks.com, 2014). Data suggest a decline in overall acceptance of hot cups due to limitations of recycling technology in several markets (Starbucks.com, 2014).

DOTA’s independent variable identified is to address the recycling challenge of the project, by working with the Paper Recovery Alliance to address this shift and increase acceptance of recycling materials while tailoring it’s recycling program to accommodate varying regional requirements when possible (Starbucks.com, 2014).

With the background of the problem and the variables identified, this study is focused on determining the correlation between used cups, and a successful project achievement. Therefore, the purpose of this research seeks to answer the question, “Is there a relationship between the number of cups collected and the feasibility of the project”?

Hypothesis one is that there is a relationship between cups collected and the feasibility of the project. Hypothesis two is that there is not a relationship between cups collected and the feasibility of the project.

References

Anderson, George, 2014 Retail Wire. Starbucks has a recycling problem. Retrieved from

http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/17442/starbucks-has-a-recycling-problem

Starbuck’s Corporation, 2014. Our Heritage. Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com/about-

us/our-heritage

Starbucks.com (2014), retrieved July 26, 2014 from:

http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility

/environment/recycling