regional analysis

To understand and identify the specific businesses, industries and marketing strategies, the FGCU research team used qualitative research techniques. For the purposes of clarification and introduction, qualitative research is characterized by free-ranging, open-ended interviews among a limited number of respondents. It is primarily used as an exploratory and/or a motivational technique used to identify important

marketing variables and to suggest the relationships among those variables. Qualitative research is further useful in understanding decision-oriented market research from the respondent’s perspective and in the respondent's own language.

The qualitative research methods used for this study included a series of key informant interviews and focus group brainstorming sessions in the six southwest Florida counties. The key informant interviews and focus groups for this study used a specific set of questions that were broad in nature and used motivational and

Regional Economic Research Institute Page 55 exploratory techniques to providing a free ranging, open-ended format for discussion (Appendix 9).

Specifically, the key informant interviews and the focus group analysis for analysis for this study were used to:

 Identify and assess the existing resources, services and climate for starting and growing new businesses;

 Identify ways to develop the needed community support and resources to support a regional incubator network;

 Identify the types of businesses and companies that would and should be included in a regional business incubator network and the focus, location and ownership structure that should be employed;

 Identify the overall strength and drivers of success and the barriers and limitations to developing a regional incubator network in Southwest Florida;

 Identify the services and processes that will need to be employed to both attract participants and sponsors, and to enhance the ability of a regional business incubator network to grow and succeed; and

 Determine appropriate development and marketing strategies to grow a regional incubator network in the most effective and responsible way.

Regional Economic Research Institute Page 56 This information is then used to assess the feasibility of promoting and growing a regional incubator network in Southwest Florida. Although the initial preplanning for the key informant interviews and focus group sessions occurred concurrently with the best practices benchmark analysis described in the preceding section (Section 3-Literature and Benchmark Review), the actual analysis started after the benchmarking study was completed.

The first step for the research team in doing the Key Informant Interviews and the focus group analysis was to establish parameters and criteria for the selection of participants for the research. These selection criteria involved the following:

• Participants would be drawn from the six-county region;

• Participants would be drawn from four distinct stakeholder groups: government, education, business/industry and entrepreneurial small business development;

and

• Participants would represent leaders and/or key stakeholders from the identified areas.

Procedurally, the study director contacted the six counties' economic

development offices, corporations and councils (EDO and EDC). The EDO and EDC’s directors were asked to select names from their respective databases of clients and customers based upon the selected key stakeholders’ categories.

For the key informant interviews, a list of five names from each of the respective service counties was given to the research team who personally contacted and

Regional Economic Research Institute Page 57 scheduled an appropriate time to conduct the key informant interviews. Prior to the interview, the faculty team conducting the interview sent each participant an email introducing themselves and the purpose of the study and said that they would be contacting them to schedule an interview. Almost all interviews were conducted at the key informant's workplace and the length of the interviews ranged from 40 to 60

minutes.

For the Focus Group sessions, approximately three weeks prior to each of the respective sessions, an email and/or letter were sent out to selected participants. In three counties, the EDO or EDC director or designee assisted by directly contacting these persons directly to schedule the focus group sessions. The email invitation informed the participants about the purpose of the study, the research process, that they were selected to participate in the focus group, and that they would receive a $50 gift certificate for their participation and effort. Directly following each session,

participants received a letter of thanks from the study team director and their $50 gift certificate. It is important to note that participants were very responsive to the request to participate

Regional Economic Research Institute Page 58 KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS

Introduction

In addition to the literature review, benchmarking, and focus groups, the study included 22 key informant interviews to add to the understanding of community and regional desires, plans, economies, and infrastructure. Key informants (stakeholders) in each of the counties were identified with the assistance of the county economic

development offices. Each county provided the names of key informants that

represented various community interests including business, economic development, education, and government. The faculty project team contacted 22 key informants and arranged a time to meet personally with each these individuals from varied professional groups in the three county areas. Exhibit 8 shows the professional areas of the 22 key informants. Each interview took approximately 45 minutes to complete and provided key findings and recommendations for consideration by the region and faculty project staff.

A key informant interview guide was developed that included 11 questions to guide the discussion. Each question is provided in below with a summary of the responses and key answers (See Appendix 9). Question 11 was an open-ended

question that asked for additional comments, and recommendations. These interviews, along with the five focus groups, provided a strong foundation concerning local

preferences and resources for developing a regional business incubator plan.

Regional Economic Research Institute Page 59 Exhibit 8

List of the Key Informant Interviews by County/Industry Key

Informant County Industry

1 Charlotte County Administration

2 Charlotte County School Board

3 Charlotte Engineering

4 Charlotte County Economic Development Office

5 Collier College Administration

6 Collier County School Board

7 Collier Economic Development

8 Collier Software/Technology CEO

9 Collier Furniture and Design

10 Glades Economic Development

11 Glades County Administration

12 Hendry Agriculture (Administration)

13 Hendry Economic Development

14 Lee University Administration

15 Lee County Government Administration

16 Lee Regional Planning Council

17 Lee Economic Development

18 Lee State, Economic Development

19 Sarasota Economic Development

20 Sarasota University Administration

21 Sarasota Non-Profit Foundation (CEO)

22 Sarasota County Administration

Regional Economic Research Institute Page 60 KEY INFORMANT QUESTIONS