Return
to Table of Contentsi.
Preface
While we seek approval (not money) from the Athletic Apparel industry
logo corporations and subcontractors to enter factories and interview
workers and managers and conduct action research experiments, we
maintain our independence as university researchers.
We are not making a request for monies to support this research; we will make such requests from our universities and foundations for expenses of study subgroup members to meet to work out the details of our methodology and design, travel to locations needed to conduct their research and to reproduce and present our reports. In polling study group members (listed below) about corporate funding, the majority felt that it would discredit the project in the eyes of the academic community. At the same time, you will agree that as one study group member put it "True integrity is not for sale." We are non-profit and our aim is to conduct the most valid and reliable research ever done it this area. While we propose to involve various associations and will seek financial support from universities and foundations, we are an independent effort. One association has agreed to provide limited financial support. Several members have already been successful in obtaining travel support. Other associations are giving consideration to other forms of support and advice as permitted by their policies and vision (See Appendix C).
We have also have times and places to meet in April and August, provided by two associations. This will allow us to work out details of exactly which factories and universities we survey quantitatively, and study using more ethnographic methods. Exact details will be worked out in response to logo corporation, subcontractor, NGO and other feedback on the proposal.
The proposal ws submitted to Nike Corporation for comments on October 14th. In February, 2001, the Athletic Apparel Industry research proposal was submitted to Ford, Turner, SA8000 and other foundations to obtain funding for study group research projects. We also approached the governing boards of each of the associations for any of their comments and to decide what types of travel, meeting space, symposia, and other support (if any) they elect to extend (See Appendix C).
Please also see Appendix E for individual letters of support we have received (e.g. Abbass Alkhafaji, Executive Director of International Academy of Business Disciplines; Andrew Van de Ven, President of the Academy of Management; and Joerg Sydow, member of the Board of the German Industrial Relations Association).