610-049-1

SSSs Experiment: Choosing an Appropriate

Research Design
Soft Space Solutions (SSS) is a software company that develops customised software solutions.
The expertise of its employees in developing various products and the quality that is imbibed into
the products has gained clients for the company from across the world. However, due to the US
financial crisis of 2008, the company lost some of its projects and thereby had to lay off some of
its employees. The financial crisis brought in a mixed experience for the company few pleasant
and few unpleasant. The company observed that the productivity of the remaining staff had
increased almost by 30%40%. It also observed that the attrition rate of its employees had also
come down from 25% to 4% during 20082009.
However, with the economic situation now coming to normalcy, the company bagged some
new projects. It started its recruitment process again. With improvements taking place in the
economic and job scenario, the company is now finding that the productivity of its staff is returning
to normalcy (and in some cases even lower than they were before the crisis) and the attrition
rates are again on the rise.
The company now intends to know the reasons for the decreasing productivity and increasing
attrition rates. It wants to know the factors that would motivate its employees for better productivity
and lower attrition rate. With such intentions the top management of the company, asked the HR
department to conduct a research to find out the reasons and what would it take the company to
motivate its employees.
Shivaji Rao (Shivaji), the companys HR Manager, then scheduled a meeting including all the HR
personnel, who look after the recruitment, training and development, payrolls, benefits, retirement,
etc., to discuss the problem and find a solution. Each team gave varied ideas to increase the productivity
and lower the attrition rates. But Jaideep Sharma (Jaideep) a senior executive from the Employee
Training and Development team came up with the idea of conducting a questionnaire survey to find
out the reasons for the companys problems and an experiment to be conducted to find out what
motivates the employees in terms of productivity and attrition.

This case study was written by Syed Abdul Samad under the direction of Dr. V. Srinivas, IBSCDC. It is intended to be used as the basis
for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. The case was
prepared from generalised experiences.
2009, IBSCDC.
No part of this publication may be copied, stored, transmitted, reproduced or distributed in any form or medium whatsoever
without the permission of the copyright owner.

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610-049-1
SSSs Experiment: Choosing an Appropriate Research Design

When few others were sceptical about conducting an experiment as there will be disadvantages
like budget constraints or it cannot be generalised from it, Jaideep explained that certain factors can
only be known through experiments and not by just observation. He insisted that it will be the most
flexible method and will have a greater amount of control on the groups which can be replicated under
different conditions.
Shivaji enquired about the process and the prerequisites of conducting an experiment. Jaideep
explained the need to identify the variables (performance and attrition) that need to be observed and
the factors (benefits or treatments) that can influence these variables. The subjects or units or
people are then subjected to treatments for a specific period of time and then the changes are
measured for the effectiveness of the treatment on the variables.
When the HR head asked for further explanation, Jaideep explained the experiment in detail. He
explained that all the employees are from various backgrounds B.tech, M.tech, MBA, MCA,
M.Sc, etc. would be placed in five groups and all the groups except one would be subjected to a
benefit keeping all the other external and internal factors constant and tested for 1 month. All the
groups would contain equal number of employees and each group will have a combination of people
from all backgrounds. While the number of employees from each background would be the same
across the groups, it is not essential that equal number of employees from each background to be
present in each group. The productivity would then be measured and compared across groups after
1 month. The acquired results will help the company to know which benefit offered was highly
effective in retaining employees and increasing the productivity.
Giving further clarity to the process of the experiment, Jaideep explained that Group I would
remain normal and uninfluenced. However, each of the other four groups will be subjected to one
treatment keeping all other conditions normal. Group II will be subjected to an increase in their pay
scale and observed for their performance and attrition rate in the team. Group III will be subjected
to an incentive scheme, Group IV will be given greater responsibilities whereas Group V will be
informed that they are under scrutiny because of their low productivity (a condition of coercion).
Then it can be observed as to which among the five groups had lower attrition and higher productivity.
He also explained that there are three experimental designs Pre-experimental design, True
experimental design and Field experimental design which further are sub-divided into many more
designs. Depending on the situation, number of variables and treatments and pre- and post-test
requirements one of the designs can be chosen. By using one of the experimental research designs
and analysis, the results can be used to develop a company wide strategy which can solve the
current companys problem. The HR head was impressed by Jaideeps explanation and asked him to
design the research experiment.

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SSSs Experiment: Choosing an Appropriate Research Design

Suggested Questions for Discussion

I.

Define experimentation, experimental research and experimental design. Describe the

significance and purpose of conducting an experimental study. List out the characteristics
of experimental research and the steps involved in conducting an experimental study. State
the purpose of experimental control and the methods used for it.

II. What is validity of an experimental design? Explain the types of validity and the factors
influencing the validity of an experimental design. Describe the tools used to control the
factors jeopardising validity.
III. Name and describe the types of experimental designs.
IV. What is the best experimental design suitable for Soft Space Solutions (SSS) to conduct
their experiment? What would be the influencing factors in the SSS experiment?