Rosebank Business Centre Report

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Methodology

The methodological approach chosen was to conduct a special organisational survey on the members of the Rosebank Business Association (RBA). In selecting participants, the focus was on looking for a 'purely representative' sample of businesses in and around the Rosebank area – and the RBA fitted this role very well. The RBA has approximately fifty-five members, all of which are either located and/or involved in conducting business in the area.

All potential businesses were approached by mail. This consisted of a covering letter outlining the aims of the survey, the role of Auckland City and the RBA and the timeframe the survey was to be administered within. The letter provided the project administrators contact details. Confidentiality for participants and the right not to respond and/or answer any particular question was assured in writing. To ensure complete coverage of the objectives of the research, a project plan and pilot questionnaire was drafted by the project administrator and submitted to the Group Manager of the Economic Development Group at Auckland City for feedback and approval.

The project administrator met with the Economic Strategy Manager to ensure the quality of the questions being asked would yield useful economic data and information. In addition the project administrator met with Auckland City's Research and Consultation Manager to ensure the accuracy of the survey format, question ordering and size and scope of questions being used. was deemed acceptable. Both managers suggested modifications. The RBA secretary had previously informed members to expect a survey in the mail.

Given that business locations decisions and needs are complex, a high level of detail is required therefore a mix of qualitative and quantitative methodology was applied. As well as employing a quantitative survey method for data collection we also used qualitative methods to gain specific, detailed information.

The approach involved three stages:

1. Profiling the Rosebank Business Association: Written information concerning the Association obtained directly from the President and Secretary. Meetings with the President and Secretary to confirm the accuracy of the information followed.
2. Profiling the Business Area: Any generic, existing written information concerning the profile of the Rosebank area as a business location was obtained from existing secondary sources (Auckland City information and contacts, Transit SH20 Avondale project information). Meetings with the Association Secretary and President. Further data/information was gained by way of the survey on the members.
3. Profiling the members of the RBA: Any existing information concerning the profile of RBA members was obtained from Internet sites and the RBA directly. All further information was obtained by way of surveying each member of the RBA using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Due to the nature of the survey being administered on a selected sample the businesses that participated can be identified for use only by the Rosebank Business Association, although their respective responses remain anonymous.

Businesses surveyed were: