Sidney Chemicals Inc., which is located in Europe, has had several years of increasing export sales to a very large network of small distributors in the United States. However, sales dropped by 15 percent last year and their distributors do not know why. The company is considering a research project to help them better understand why sales are dropping. What should the company do to begin the research?

a. Purchase the statistical tools and hire any services that will be needed for the effort

b. Create a prioritized list of objectives to be achieved in the research effort

c. Conduct an internal survey of readily available secondary research data

d. Hire a professional research firm to develop a comprehensive consumer survey