1 Evaluate the stated research objective and the information needs presented in the proposal. Automotive Supply, Inc. is a large wholesaler located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It supplies auto parts to service stations, department stores, discount houses, and retail parts outlets in and around the Tulsa area. Bill Douglass, president of Automotive, was con- cerned about his company's declining sales. Between 1982 and 1986 revenues dropped from $8 million to $5 million, and he feared the business would go under unless something was done to improve its sales picture. "It's those foreign imports," lamented Douglass, "they're ruining my parts business." ASI only sold parts for domestic cars, and Douglass did not want to enter the foreign parts market. In an effort to improve profits. Douglass contacted the Rightway Research firm to submit a proposal for marketing research which would help in formulating a long-range growth strategy for Automotive. Limited funds forced Douglass to set a low budget for the research project. Douglass received Rightway's proposal and was in the process of evaluating it. The submitted proposal is as follows:

A list of the information needs and sources of information to meet those needs follows.

Information needs Source(s) Total demand Auto industry Demand by make and model Proportion of new vs. used sales Diesel car sales Projected gasoline prices Availability of parts from manufacturers Government regulations Wards Automotive Reports Motor Statistics (R.L. Polk & Co.) City, county, and state planning commission reports Manufacturers Growth Age and sex composition Population Statistical Abstracts of the U.S.