MAIN SURVEY – RESEARCH CONSENT FORM

My name is Hongqun (Sabrina) Sun, and you are invited to participate in the survey for my research project titled “Organizational Culture in the Context of Hybrid Work Environment: How Can Middle Managers Foster Effective Subcultures to Engage Team Members.” I am a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) student in the School of Business, Faculty of Management at Royal Roads University. This research is conducted under the supervision of Dr. James Heskett, who can be contacted at jheskett@hbs.edu.

The purpose of this research is to explore how middle managers cultivate effective subcultures in hybrid work environments and how these practices influence team engagement and performance. You may verify the authenticity of this project by contacting Dr. Hassan Wafai, DBA Program Head, Royal Roads University, at hassan.wafai@royalroads.ca.

Your participation will consist of completing an online or electronic survey, which will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The questions will focus on your experiences with team engagement, managerial support, and trust in a hybrid working environment. Your role is simply to respond to the questions honestly and based on your personal experience.

This study presents minimal risk, comparable to reflecting on everyday workplace experiences. You may skip any question or withdraw from the survey at any time before submission. Once the survey is submitted, your responses will be anonymized and cannot be withdrawn. If any new information arises during the study that may affect your decision to continue participating, you will be informed promptly.

The benefit of your participation is the opportunity to contribute to a broader understanding of how people work, lead, and engage at the team level in hybrid work environments. Your insights will help advance knowledge about effective managerial practices and team engagement.

There is no financial compensation for participation; however, participants may request a summary of the aggregate research findings once the study is complete. This research is conducted for academic purposes only and has no commercial intent.

There are no conflicts of interest in this project. Participation is entirely voluntary, and you are under no obligation to take part. Choosing not to participate will involve no penalty or negative consequences.

Survey responses will remain anonymous. Names and email addresses will be collected only if you volunteer for a follow-up interview or request a copy of the findings. All data will be securely stored on an encrypted, password-protected drive for seven years, accessible only to the researcher and supervisor.

The research results will be published in public outlets, including a doctoral dissertation that will be published in Royal Roads University’s Digital Archive, Pro-Quest, and Library and Archives Canada. Findings may also be shared through academic journals and conference presentations. In all cases, participants and organizations will remain anonymous, and no identifying information will appear in any publication or presentation.

Please note:
Data may be stored on or accessible by servers in the United States and may be subject to examination by government or law enforcement. While the likelihood of this is small, I am required to inform you of this risk.

This research project has been reviewed and approved by the Royal Roads University Research Ethics Board (REB). If you have any questions regarding your rights as a research participant, please contact the Office of Research Ethics at ethicalreview@royalroads.ca.

By selecting “I agree” on SurveyMonkey, you indicate that you have read and understood this information and consent to participate voluntarily. By consenting, you are not waiving any legal rights in the event of research-related harm.