BRP Proposal Template for Business Research Project 2021-22

This document provides a proposal template for Business Research Project 2021-22, including ethical review form and company consent form. The proposal focuses on assessing the challenges faced in management of post COVID situation with in UK retail: A study on ASDA. The report includes terms of reference, research questions, research aim and objectives, relation to previous research, methodology, ethical considerations, and timeline.

BRP Proposal Template
Business Research Project
LSBM300
2021-22

Index
Instructions 2
1. The Proposal Template 3
2. Ethical Review Form 7
2.1 Ethical Review Form: Part 1 8
2.2 Ethical Review Form: Part 2 9
2.3 Ethical Review Form: Part 3 10
3. Company consent 11
Appendix 1: Participant information sheet 12
Appendix 2: Participant consent form 13
Appendix 3: Company consent form 14
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 1

Instructions
This document has three sections:
 Section 1: The Proposal Template
 Section 2: The Ethical Review Form (Parts A, B and C)
 Section 3: Company Consent Form
All students are required to complete Sections 1 and 2, and together these form the Business
Research Project Proposal.
Only students who are conducting research directly with a company need to complete Section 3.
Important: If your research involves the use of human participants, you will need to complete the
Ethics Approval Form. Failure to complete the Ethics Approval Form, when required to do so, will
result in your work being returned unmarked. No research with human participants can be undertaken
without receiving Ethics Approval and achieving a pass grade on the proposal.
Before you submit this Proposal form, please make sure that you have:
 Read the Business Research Project Handbook and follow all instructions.
 Read the lecture and seminar materials in the Business Research Project module area
in Canvas.
 Discussed your ideas with a Business Research Project seminar tutor. You can do this
face to face in the seminars or learning sets, or you can do this by email or through MS
Teams.
 Discussed with a Business Research Project seminar tutor any questions you have
about Part 3 of the Ethics Approval Form (if required).
 (If you are completing research directly with a company) Gained consent from the
company if you are conducting research on a company.
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 2

1. The Proposal Template
AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank you to my superior who made has given me guidance to
complete this project in most effective manner. With help of suggestions it has become
possible to formulate the research proposal in highly precise and structured format.
Use the following sections in your proposal. Once completed, delete the text with instructions, update
your headings (see the ‘Styles’ in the tab ‘Home’) and update your table of contents.
Student number [do NOT write your name]
Please state which tutor(s) you discussed your proposal with, and the forum you used
(e.g. face to face, email, MS Teams)
Title
Topic: To assess the challenges faced in management of post COVID situation with in UK retail: A study on ASDA
Terms of Reference (approx. 400 words)
Rationale
Covid 19 is one of the adverse situation that has adversely affected the working practices of organization. It has
become difficult to manage the post COVID situation due to various challenges in turn becomes essential to give emphasis on
overcoming these issues. In the current era, retail sector is growing with rapid speed and offering different type of opportunities
to the companies. It is important for the company to pay attention on developing the significant technique overcome the
challenges such as ineffectively chain, higher government rules and regulations, etc. ASDA is one of the international
organization operating in retail sector offering groceries, clothing, etc. The current study will pay attention on assessing the
challenges faced in management of post COVID situations by ASDA. The present report will pay attention on using the
qualitative research type and thematic analysis for gaining depth understanding. With help of the particular study ASDA will
become able to ascertain the crucial challenges affecting post COVID management. The study will help in overcoming the gap
prevailing in knowledge to manage the post COVID circumstances in turn accomplishing the objectives of gaining
competitiveness can become possible to survive in the industry.
Research questions
• What is the concept of post COVID situation management and its significance?
• Which are the challenges affecting management of post COVID situation within UK retail sector?
• What is the impact of strategies adopted for overcoming challenges regarding managing post COVID situation by
ASDA?
• Which are strategies pertaining to improve management of post COVID situation management in ASDA?
Research Aim
The main aim of the current investigation is to ascertain the challenges faced by ASDA for management of post
COVID situation.
Research objectives
• To understands the concept of post COVID situation management and its significance
• To evaluate the challenges affecting management of post COVID situation within UK retail sector
• To ascertain the impact of strategies adopted for overcoming challenges regarding managing post COVID situation
by ASDA
• To recommending strategies pertaining to improve management of post COVID situation management in ASDA.
Relation to previous research
Theme 1: Concept of post COVID situation management and its significance
According to Khatib and Nour (2021) Post COVID refers to the circumstances that are arising after the
occurrence of pandemic. There are various ways in which companies are getting affected from the prevailing
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 3

circumstances in turn accomplishing the organizational objectives have become difficult. For this purpose, companies
are paying attention on developing the effective strategies for overcoming the challenges by focusing on developing
such effective plan and tactics for having grater monitoring and controlling procedure. On the other side, Li and et.al.,
(2021) depicted that Post COVID management is concerned with declining the risk and complications arising due to the
unforeseen circumstances in turn gaining the ability to compete with changing business scenarios. It is important for the
organization to have effective approach for overcoming the prevailing situations in higher competitive way by reducing
risk of loss, compliance with imposed rules & regulations, etc.
In the views of Nandi and et.al., (2020) having effective post management is highly important of the
organizations as it is adversely affecting their operational practices. The main reason behind having the appropriate
management is to ensure that ability to communicate effectively with customers, reducing cost of operation, enhancing
performance to compliance with legal complications, possessing appropriate pricing strategies, handling human
resource, etc. These are the main aspects which are required to be managed effective is to derive good level of
profitability and sustainability in turn greater ability to successfully operate in industry can become possible. In against
to this, García-Vidal and eta.l., (2020) articulated that trend in the business environment regrading the working has
completely changed which require firm to pay attention on developing the significant level of tactic that can enable to
get competitiveness to uplift the organizational performance. Implementing effectual management can provide the
assistance in contingent working expansion, increasing employee safety, required separate critical skills & roles, etc so
that greater performance in turn attaining the organizational objectives can become possible. On the basis of this it can
be interpreted that having effective post COVID management is highly important in respect to get the greater
competitiveness in respect to deal with changing situation.
Theme 2:Challenges affecting management of post COVID situation within UK retail sector
In the views of Jayathilake and et.al., (2021) there are several factors which are required to be taken into
consideration for having the productive performance in turn attaining organizational objectives can become possible.
The challenges comprise requirement of risk communication and community engagement, preventing & mitigating the
health related issues, etc. These challenges have not enabled the fir to get the appropriate ability to continue the
operational practices in turn accomplishing objectives of reducing cots and inclining profitability has become tough for
firm. On the other side, van Hoek, Gibson and Johnson (2020) said that the major challenges that are affecting the
performance of firm and making difficult to manage the post pandemic scenario where customer are highly aware of
quality, pricing, etc factors. The challenges include ineffective & inconsistent supply chains, inappropriate access of
resources, higher requirement of technological equipment, offering training & development to staff to coordinate with
changing business requirements, etc. These are the few crucial challenges which has made difficult to ensure the
smooth functioning of enterprise.
According to Liu and et.al., (2022)has adversely affected the growth & development of companies due to rise
in restriction of mobility of people, material, etc. The crucial challenges that are faced by the enterprise involves both
internal & external element. It is important for the companies to pay attention on finessing thee both type of issues such
as hampers the ability to communicate with stakeholders, decreased disposal income reducing customer expenditure,
higher requirement of clarity between firm & end customer, enhanced governments & industrial standards, etc. In the
constant to this, Butterick and Charlwood (2021) stated that firm's operation in the current era after the post pandemic is
highly getting affected due to the increasing of complexity and decreased access source of finance. Management of the
organization due to the unavailability of the ease and flexibility is offering the burden on employees which is hampering
their productive performance. It is important for the organization to overcome this challenge which has made difficult to
have effective planning for monitoring and controlling the operation that has adverse influence on the monitoring of
organization.
Theme 3: The impact of strategies adopted for overcoming challenges regarding managing post COVID
situation by ASDA
As pr the views of Joshi and Sharma (2022) in order to gain success it is important for the company to
give emphasis on having such effective strategies that can boost its ability to coordinate with prevailing business
environment. The major course of action which are basically adopted for the purpose of having significant capabilities to
increase the productiveness of employees. This involves executing clear & transparent communication channel with
ensuring two-way flow of information in turn confidence among staff via boosting belonging feeling. In the contrast to
this, Amenta and et.al., (2022) depicted that training and development is one of the crucial strategy that can allow the
firm to get the appropriate ability to ensure that higher capabilities to staff by developing the skills and attributes. This
allows the staff to get the appropriate level of ability & convenience to boost the morale and motivation to give full
potential in turn attaining the business outcomes for both personal & organizational development can become possible.
This is positively affecting firm's performance to meet its standard outputs.
According to Mahmoudi, Javed and Mardani (2021) the major course of the action which is basically
executed by the enterprise by for having growth by surviving the exiting circumstances is taking business online.
Digitization is helpful in meeting the objective of connecting with customer for selling the goods in turn attaining goal of
profitability, sustainability, etc has become possible. On the other side, Makka (2022) firm has given focus on investing
in innovation, responding to demands in logistics, changing business, models, re branding business image, etc are the
strategies which are taken into process for having good capability to coordinate with negative situation in turn grater
favorable outputs can be achieved.
Methodology
It is the specific procedure used to identify, selecting, processing and analyzing the information about the
challenges faced in management of post COVID situation.
Research methodology
There are two types of the research that involves qualitative and quantitative. For the current investigation qualitative
type of the research will be taken into consideration as it is the theoretical subject matter. This will provide the benefit of
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 4

accomplishing the objective of undemanding concepts, identifying the challenges in managing the post COVID and impact of
strategies so that significant depth study can be formulated.
Research approach and philosophy
There are two types of research approach that involves inductive & deductive. The philosophies are divided into two
parts interpretivism and positivism. For the current study it will pay attention on using the inductive approach and interpretivism
philosophy as qualitative type of study in turn accomplishing the objective of study can become possible.
Data collection methods
It is highly important to collect the information in appropriate manner so that accurate formulation of report can
become possible. This can be exerted by using the primary & secondary methods so that having appropriate information to get
the ability to accomplish the predetermined objectives of research. For the current report, researcher will focus on using the
secondary method for gathering information from articles, journals and books. This will enable scholar to get the detailed
information about post COVID management challenges in turn accurate report to attain the aim of study.
Data analysis methods
For evaluating the gathered data there are two techniques that can be taken into procedure which comprises
thematic test technique and SPSS. The current study is related with qualitative study so using thematic analysis approach is
helpful for the scholar in respect to gain the competitiveness to complete study in precise manner. With help of this technique
of data analysis interpreting the collected data in accurate manner for assessing the challenges affecting management of post
COVID situation and impact of strategies adopted for overcoming issues can be properly done.
Ethical considerations
There are few ethical requirements of research report which are required to be accomplished for completing the
study in highly reliable manner. For this reason, scholar will focus on having the inclusion of references by giving credit to other
scholar and ensuring data is paraphrased & not copied. In addition to this, researcher will pay attention using the copy right
sources, correct keywords, etc so that higher reliability & validity via maintaining ethical consideration. These ethical
considerations can help in meeting the objective of study such as understanding concepts, recognizing challenges, impact of
strategies, etc. can be done in most significant pattern
Research Limitations
In order to conduct the research regarding the highlighted subject matte scholar n can face the certain limitations.
This involves time, resources and money that can hamper the performance of the report. There is less time but scholar will
focus on using the significant sources and keywords to get correct details. The limitation of resource & money as various sites
are paid so utilizing multiple articles or collecting data can help in achieving the significant information to form the report in
highly precise and fair manner.
Timeline
S.N Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
1 Research topic selection 1 day Mon 4/18/22 Mon 4/18/22
2 Defining Aims and Objectives 1 day Tue 4/19/22 Tue 4/19/22 1
3 Evaluating Literature Review 1 day Wed 4/20/22 Wed 4/20/22 2
4 Recognizing and choosing of Research Methods 1 day Thu 4/21/22 Thu 4/21/22 3
5 Data collection 1 day Fri 4/22/22 Fri 4/22/22 4
6 Data Analysis 1 day Mon 4/25/22 Mon 4/25/22 5
7 Concluding , findings 1 day Tue 4/26/22 Tue 4/26/22 6
8 recommendation 1 day Wed 4/27/22 Wed 4/27/22 7
9 Consulting with tutor to check the study and outcome
derived. 1 day Thu 4/28/22 Thu 4/28/22 8
10 Feedback 1 day Fri 4/29/22 Fri 4/29/22 9
11 Submission after feedback 1 day Mon 5/2/22 Mon 5/2/22 10
Gantt chart
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 5

Network diagram
References
Books and Journals
Amenta, C. and et.al., 2022. The Challenges Underlying Firm Revival and Resilience in the Post-COVID-19 Phase. In COVID-
19 and Communities (pp. 53-73). Springer, Cham.
Butterick, M. and Charlwood, A., 2021. HRM and the COVID‐19 pandemic: How can we stop making a bad situation
worse?. Human Resource Management Journal. 31(4). pp.847-856.
García-Vidal, G. and eta.l., 2020. Facing post COVID-19 era, what is really important for Ecuadorian SMEs?. International
Journal of Engineering Business Management. 12. p.1847979020971944.
Jayathilake, H.D. And et.al., 2021. Employee development and retention of Generation-Z employees in the post-COVID-19
workplace: a conceptual framework. Benchmarking: An International Journal.
Joshi, S. and Sharma, M., 2022. Impact of sustainable supply chain management on performance of SMEs amidst COVID-19
pandemic: an Indian perspective. International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation.9(3). pp.248-276.
Khatib, S.F. and Nour, A.N.I., 2021. The impact of corporate governance on firm performance during the COVID-19 pandemic:
evidence from Malaysia. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business. 8(2). pp.0943-0952.
Li, H. and et.al., , 2021. The co-evolution of knowledge management and business model transformation in the post-COVID-19
era: insights based on Chinese e-commerce companies. Journal of Knowledge Management.
Liu, H. and et.al., 2022. Corporate environmental governance scheme and investment efficiency over the course of COVID-
19. Finance Research Letters. p.102726.
Mahmoudi, A., Javed, S.A. and Mardani, A., 2021. Gresilient supplier selection through fuzzy ordinal priority approach:
decision-making in post-COVID era. Operations Management Research. pp.1-25.
Makka, A., 2022. Moral Leadership in a Post-COVID-19 World. In Leadership after COVID-19 (pp. 173-186). Springer, Cham.s
Nandi, S. and et.al., 2020. Do blockchain and circular economy practices improve post COVID-19 supply chains? A resource-
based and resource dependence perspective. Industrial Management & Data Systems.
van Hoek, R., Gibson, B. and Johnson, M., 2020. Talent management for a post‐COVID‐19 supply chain—The critical role for
managers. Journal of Business Logistics.
era. TEM Journal. 10(2). pp.645-655.
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 6

Appendices (optional)
You are not necessarily required to include any appendices. However, if necessary to include any, you may provide draft
questionnaires, large tables, long lists, diagrams/images, illustrations and/or graphs etc that cannot be included in the
main body of the proposal.
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 7

2. Ethical Review Form
This form is designed to ensure that the Bloomsbury Institute London operates an ethical review
process that falls within the University of Northampton Research Ethics Procedure and the Guidance
on Ethics for Researchers.
All students need to fill in this form; however, you may only need to complete Part 1 (see explanation
below).
The Ethical Review Form consists of 3 parts:
 Part 1 is an initial assessment of your project. The question is asking you whether you
will be conducting empirical research for your Business Research Project. Your
methodology may involve the collection of primary data through questionnaires,
interviews and observations etc. or you may be conducting ‘desk based research’ i.e.
only using secondary research data.
 If you are only using secondary research data, you will not need to complete Parts 2 or
3 of the form.
 If your research involves human participants, i.e. you are collecting primary data, you
have to complete Part 2 of the form.
 If your answer is no to all the questions in Part 2, ethics approval is automatic and
providing you receive a pass grade for your proposal you may continue with your
study.
 If your answer is yes to any of the questions in Part 2, you need to fill in Part 3 of this
form. You should discuss this with a tutor prior to submission of your proposal.
 Upon submission, your proposal will be graded and then reviewed by the Head of
Research/Ethics Committee. You will be informed of the decision, together with any
comments, as soon as possible. You may be asked to provide a fuller report and a
meet with the Ethics Committee.
 If the committee finds it difficult to make a decision, we may pass this on to the
University of Northampton Research Ethics Committee. However, in the vast majority
of cases, we hope to resolve any issues.
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 8

2.1 Ethical Review Form: Part 1
Part 1 needs to be completed by all Business Research Project students.
Please read the following two statements and place an X in the area indicated for the statement that
most accurately represents your research intentions.
Student Statement Insert X Student Action
Statement 1
I have read the above information. I
confirm that my research does not
include study on human participants.
X
You do not need to complete Part 2
of this form. Ethics approval is not
required.
Statement 2
I have read the above information. I
confirm that my research does
involve the study on human
participants.
Please proceed to complete Part 2
of this form.
Proposals that are submitted without the completed Ethical Review Form will not be graded.
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 9

2.2 Ethical Review Form: Part 2
Part 2 only needs to be completed if you put a cross against Statement 2 in Part 1 above.
Yes No
I have prepared a participant information sheet (including information on secure data
storage), and submitted it in Appendix 1.  
I have prepared a participant consent form (including information on right to withdraw
from the study), and submitted it in Appendix 2.  
If you have put a cross No for either of the above, please note that your final Research Project will
have to include a participant information sheet and a participant consent form.
Please answer all of these questions by ticking yes or no in the box provided.
Yes No
1.
Does the study involve participants who are particularly vulnerable or unable to
give informed consent? (e.g. people under the age of 18, people with learning
disabilities, students you teach or assess)  
2.
Will it be necessary for participants to take part in the study without their
knowledge and consent at the time?  
3. Does the study involve audio or visual recording of people in public places?
 
4.
Will the study involve the discussion of sensitive topics? (e.g. sexual activity, drug
use, illegal activities, death, whistleblowing)  
5.
Are drugs, placebos or other substances to be given to the study participants or
will the study involve invasive, intrusive or potentially harmful procedures of any
kind?  
6.
Does your study involve a topic that would be considered ‘sensitive’ (age, culture,
race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic standing, or religion)?  
7.
Is physical pain or psychological stress from the proposed project likely to cause
harm or negative consequences beyond the risks in normal life?  
8.
Does the study involve groups or materials that may be construed as terrorist or
extremist?  
9. Will financial inducements (other than expenses) be offered to participants?
 
10.
Does the study involve the collection of data that is not anonymised (contains
identifying information such as name and address)?  
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, please fill in Part 3.
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 10

2.3 Ethical Review Form: Part 3
Part 3 only needs to be completed if you ticked Yes for any of the statements in Part 2 above.
2.3.1 Explanation of intent to address ethical issues
Please provide an explanation of how you intend to address the ethical issues raised in Part 2.
You will need to do this in consultation with a Business Research Project tutor. Please identify which
tutor you discussed these issues with, and how the discussion took place.
Tutor’s name:
How discussions took place:
Explanation of how you intend to address the ethical issues raised in Part 2:
There are no ethical issues arise in the part two as there was no human participation due to
execution of secondary research.
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 11

3. Company consent
Print off this form and gain the required signature. You then need to scan the page and insert it as an
image in Appendix 3.
Alternatively, the company may choose to give you a signed consent document of their own, which
you will need to scan and insert in Appendix 3.
Consent from the host Company
Student Name: _______________________________________
Student ID number: _______________________________________
I consent to the aforementioned named student carrying out research on company premises
or in relation to this Company.
Senior Manager Name: _______________________________________
Senior Manager Signature: _______________________________________
Host Company Name: _______________________________________
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 12

Appendix 1: Participant information sheet
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 13

Appendix 2: Participant consent form
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 14

Appendix 3: Company consent form
BRP Proposal Template 2021-22 Page 15