PILOT SURVEY – RESEARCH CONSENT FORM

You are invited to participate in a research project conducted as part of a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Royal Roads University. You are invited because you currently work in a hybrid work environment. My name is Hongqun (Sabrina) Sun, and 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. This invitation is to participate in a pilot 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.”

The purpose of this pilot survey is to test the clarity, flow, and reliability of the survey questions that will be used in my doctoral research. The results of this pilot will primarily be used to refine the survey instrument. Depending on the extent of any revisions made following pilot testing, pilot data may be considered for inclusion in the final dissertation analysis. 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 survey through SurveyMonkey, which will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The questions will focus on your experiences with hybrid work, team engagement, managerial support, and trust. Your role is simply to provide honest answers to help evaluate the quality and clarity of the survey items.

This survey 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 Once the survey is submitted, your responses will be anonymized and cannot be withdrawn.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.

There is no financial compensation for participation. This research is conducted for academic purposes only and has no commercial intent.

There are no direct personal benefits to you for participating in this research. However, your participation provides an 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. Participants may request a summary of the aggregate research findings once the study is complete.

Your personal identity will remain strictly confidential. All data will be securely stored on a password-protected, encrypted device for one year, after which it will be permanently deleted. Data will not be retained for any participant who withdraws before submission.

Findings from this pilot study will be used to improve the survey design. Any summary or reference to this pilot in the dissertation will not include individual data, and no participants will be identified. The research results will be published in public outlets, including a dissertation that will be published in RRU’s Digital Archive, Pro-Quest, and Library and Archives Canada.

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.

There are no conflicts of interest in this research project. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and choosing not to participate will have no negative consequences.

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 in this pilot survey. By consenting, you are not waiving any legal rights in the event of research-related harm.