ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to clarify the research objectives and to prepare the way for a useful discussion of the results generated from the analysis of data gathered through the postal survey. The research aims and hypotheses to be tested will be reviewed. This will be followed by an in-depth examination of the postal survey which proved a significant tool for the collection of primary data. A further section will consider the characteristics of the sample of business service firms surveyed. Firstly, though it is necessary to explain the focus upon the UK business services sector, and to provide a brief review of the UK sector.
