Corporate Values: Dissemination and Impact Review

Participant Information Sheet: Corporate Values Survey

Title of Research Study: The impact of Corporate Values, its dissemination and impact

You are invited to participate in this research study operated with Leeds Beckett University and the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (WCCSA). 

Data for this research project is being collected via an online survey.  Before you decide whether you would like to participate, it is important that you understand why the research study is being performed and what it will involve. Therefore, please read the details below which provides you with that information.  Contact details are provided at the bottom of this sheet if you have any questions.

Why is this research study being conducted?

The study explores how organizations in different sectors define, review and assess the relevance of these values in a post-COVID world of hybrid working.

The legal basis under which this research project will be undertaken is that of legitimate interest.

You are invited to participate in an online survey.  I will ask for your name, email and other personal identifying information because there may be trends in data that link age, role type, etc. and any impact of wellbeing activities.

Why take part in the survey? And how long will it take to complete?

The survey is an opportunity for you to review your corporate values and their impact on the organization and its performance. Your thoughts and opinions will be collected via an online survey that takes approximately 25 minutes to complete.

Participation in this research project is voluntary, and participants can choose to withdraw from the study at any stage before during and after participation.  Participants must be 18 years old or over and work in or around board level. 

What will I be asked to do?

If you agree to take part in this project, you will be invited to complete an online survey. Some questions may be sensitive in nature, including those that ask you to assess how effectively your organisation’s values are embedded and practiced.

Do I have to take part?

No, participation in this research project is voluntary.  If you do agree to take part and confirm you are aged 18 years or over, you may withdraw yourself from the online survey at any time during the completion of the survey; simply stop and close the survey - answers or personal data will not be stored. 

If you continue with the survey and press submit the information you have shared will be stored on a password protected central secure database. 

If you want to withdraw from the research project after you have pressed submit, please do so no later than the 30^th December 2026.  During the 2 weeks following the date when you submit names and emails will be pseudonymized to ‘Participant 1(A)’ for example.

To withdraw within the 2 weeks, simply contact me via email (see contact details below) advise me that you wish to withdraw, and I will delete all information from Microsoft Forms and my Microsoft account.

A number of questions are open-ended where you may wish to share your thoughts and feelings.  We may use the answers you give; these answers are anonymous and participants in the online survey will be known as ‘Participant 1(A) - academic’ or ‘Participant 2(PS) – professional services; for example, in the final report and any other research study outputs.

Data Storage

Please be advised research and personal data from my research will be stored on Leeds Beckett University Servers; it is made secure through the Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) provided by Leeds Beckett University.  Personal data will be pseudonymized; therefore, participants will be known as Participant 1(A); for example, in the final report and any other research study outputs.

All information shared with me will be destroyed once it has met the purpose of the research project which will be by the 30^th December 2027.   

Will being in this research study help me in any way?

Your participation in this research offers more than just a contribution to academic understanding, it’s a chance to reflect on your organisation’s values and how they shape performance.

This study explores the real-world challenges of embedding corporate values into governance and daily practice. By taking part, you’ll gain insights into how values influence decision-making, culture, and outcomes and you may uncover opportunities to strengthen your own organizational effectiveness.

While the research does not offer direct personal benefits, it provides a meaningful opportunity to evaluate your current practices, benchmark against emerging approaches, and contribute to shaping how values are understood and applied across the corporate landscape.

Will my identity be kept confidential?

Personal data will be coded at the start of the study by the researcher who will be the only person able to trace data back to any participant. The researcher will store this coded information on a password-protected computer. Data will not be presented at any point with real names. The data from the study will be kept for two years following the study, thereafter it will be destroyed.

It will not be possible to identify you in the final report for this research study or any other research study outputs.  For further information on how we ensure Confidentiality and Data Protection compliance including General Data Protection (GDPR) and Data Protection (DPA) find out more about Confidentiality and Data Protection compliance.

Are there any potential safety risks in taking part?

There are no anticipated safety risks as the research session will take place online at a place or space where you feel it is convenient.

Taking part in this study is not expected to cause any discomfort or distress, but if you require any guidance or support, please feel free to contact the research team. Spectrum is a free, confidential service which is available 24 hours a day.

What happens to the information provided?

The information you share during this study, known as research data, is essential to generating meaningful insights. Any data that could identify you personally (such as your name or email address) will be treated with the highest level of care. This personal data will be pseudonymised, meaning it will be replaced with unique participant codes to ensure your identity remains confidential.

Importantly, your personal data will not be shared with colleagues at Leeds Beckett University or disclosed in any way that could identify you.

The anonymised data will be used to produce a research report as part of the study Exploring Organisational Values: An Action Research Case Study. Your contribution will help shape valuable findings, while your privacy remains fully protected.

Will the research be published?

By participating in this study, you’re contributing to a deeper understanding of how corporate values are embedded and enacted within organisations — a topic that has real-world impact. Your insights will help shape future thinking and practice, with findings shared through academic publications and presented at professional and research conferences.

Leeds Beckett University is committed to sharing research for the benefit of society and the economy. In support of this mission, selected research outputs may also be included in the University’s online archive or shared in digital and hardcopy formats as exemplary practice.

Your contribution plays a vital role in this process, and your privacy will be fully protected. You will not be identifiable in any reports, presentations, or publications. All personal data, such as your name or email address, will be pseudonymised using unique participant codes, ensuring confidentiality throughout. Personal data will not be shared with Leeds Beckett University colleagues or disclosed in any way that could reveal your identity.

In short, your voice matters, and your participation helps advance meaningful conversations around corporate values, all while safeguarding your anonymity.

Who has reviewed this project?

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee.

Who do I contact if I have a question, a concern about the study or I wish to complain?

If you have any questions concerns about any aspect of this study or wish to complain, the contact details are below, and we will do our best to answer.

Contact: Dr Nick Beech via email n.beech@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

By commencing the survey, you are indicating that you are at least 18 years old, have read this Participant Information Sheet and agreed to participate in this research study.

Please print or save a copy of these pages for your records.

Participants will be asked to confirm the following:

1. I am aged 18 years and older.
2. I consent to the processing of my personal information for the purposes explained to me. I understand that such information will be treated in accordance with the terms of the Data Protection Act 2018.
3. I confirm operating at board level or as a member of the executive management team, having held one or more of the following roles: executive director, non-executive director, governance professional, or company secretary, and I maintain an interest in organizational values.
4. I have read and understood the information provided in the Participant Information Sheet and I am happy to take part in the research.