The Business Case Institute Research Ethics Committee is an independent review body established to assess the ethical adequacy of research projects, data collection instruments and empirical studies in the fields of business, management, organisational studies, strategy, entrepreneurship, public management, procurement, innovation, consulting and related social science domains.
The Committee provides ethical review and written opinions for research involving human participants, professional respondents, organisational data, interviews, questionnaires, surveys, focus groups, case studies, observational methods or the collection and processing of personal data in a research context.
The Committee’s purpose is to promote responsible, transparent and ethically sound research, ensuring that studies respect the dignity, autonomy, privacy, rights and welfare of participants, while supporting high-quality academic and professional research.
Mandate
The BCI Research Ethics Committee reviews research proposals and data collection instruments before data collection begins. Its role is to assess whether the proposed research:
- has a clear academic or professional purpose;
- uses proportionate and appropriate methods;
- obtains informed and voluntary participation;
- protects confidentiality, privacy and personal data;
- minimises risk of harm, pressure, deception or reputational exposure;
- includes adequate participant information and consent procedures;
- complies with recognised principles of research integrity and ethical conduct.
The Committee may issue favourable opinions, favourable opinions subject to conditions, requests for clarification, or unfavourable opinions.
Scope of Review
The Committee reviews non-clinical research in business, management and related fields, including:
- interviews with managers, employees, experts, public officials or stakeholders;
- surveys and questionnaires;
- focus groups and workshops;
- organisational case studies;
- business case research;
- research using professional, institutional or organisational data;
- research involving personal data, confidential information or identifiable responses.
The Committee does not review clinical trials, biomedical research, research involving medical intervention, or studies requiring approval from a statutory, governmental, hospital or university ethics body, unless its opinion is requested as a complementary independent review.
Terms of Reference
The Committee is responsible for:
- reviewing research ethics applications submitted to BCI;
- assessing participant information sheets, consent forms and data collection instruments;
- advising researchers on ethical risks and mitigation measures;
- ensuring that ethical review is independent, competent and proportionate;
- maintaining records of applications, decisions and opinions issued;
- monitoring amendments to previously approved studies when required;
- promoting good practice in business and management research ethics.
Composition
The Committee shall include a Chair and a minimum of three members with relevant academic, methodological, professional or ethical expertise. Where appropriate, the Committee may invite external reviewers with specific disciplinary, legal, methodological or sectoral knowledge.
Members must act independently, declare any conflict of interest, preserve confidentiality and abstain from reviewing applications where impartiality may reasonably be questioned.
Review Procedure
Researchers submitting a study for review must provide:
- research title and summary;
- name, affiliation and contact details of the principal investigator;
- research objectives and methodology;
- description of participants and recruitment process;
- data collection instruments;
- participant information sheet;
- informed consent form or consent statement;
- data protection and confidentiality statement;
- risk assessment;
- declaration of conflicts of interest;
- evidence of prior or parallel ethics approval, where applicable.
Applications may be reviewed through a standard review process or, where the study presents minimal ethical risk, through an expedited review by the Chair and at least one Committee member.
Ethics Opinion
Following review, the Committee may issue one of the following opinions:
- Favourable opinion: the study may proceed as submitted.
- Favourable opinion with conditions: the study may proceed once specified conditions are addressed.
- Request for clarification or revision: further information is required before an opinion can be issued.
- Unfavourable opinion: the study should not proceed in its submitted form.
A written ethics opinion shall be issued to the applicant and may be submitted to journals, publishers, academic institutions, funders or other relevant entities as evidence of independent ethical review.
Core Ethical Principles
The Committee assesses research according to the following principles:
- respect for persons and informed consent;
- voluntary participation and right to withdraw;
- proportionality between research aims and participant burden;
- confidentiality and responsible data handling;
- protection of privacy and personal data;
- avoidance of harm, coercion, or undue influence;
- transparency in research purpose and use of data;
- research integrity, accountability, and independence.
Data Protection
Applicants must explain how personal data will be collected, stored, processed, anonymised or pseudonymised, retained and deleted. Where personal data are processed, researchers remain responsible for compliance with applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation where applicable.
The Committee’s opinion does not replace legal, institutional or data protection advice.
Limitations
The BCI Research Ethics Committee provides independent ethical review for non-clinical research in business, management and related domains. Its opinion does not replace mandatory approval from universities, public authorities, hospitals, statutory ethics committees, funding bodies or regulators where such approval is legally or institutionally required.
Submissions
Applications for ethical review should be submitted electronically to:
