Importance of Social Media Tools for Firm Growth: A Case Study on Sainsbury's

This research proposal aims to determine the importance of social media tools for the growth and development of firms, with a focus on Sainsbury's. It explores the concept of social media, evaluates the advantages of using social media tools for business growth, and identifies the major challenges of implementing social media. The research will use qualitative methods and secondary data sources to gather information.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Table of Contents
CHAPTER: 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
1.1 Research Overview...............................................................................................................1
1.2 Background of Research.......................................................................................................1
1.3 Rationale of Research...........................................................................................................1
1.4 Research Aim:.......................................................................................................................2
1.5 Research Objectives:.............................................................................................................2
1.6 Research Questions...............................................................................................................2
1.7 Time scale.............................................................................................................................2
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................4
2.1Concept of Social Media........................................................................................................4
2.2 Advantage of Social Media tools for enhancing business growth of Sainsbury's................4
2.3 Major challenges of implementing Social media for Sainsbury's........................................4
CHAPTER 3: RESAERCH METHODOLOGY.............................................................................5
3.1 Types of investigation...........................................................................................................5
3.2 Research design.....................................................................................................................5
3.3 Research philosophy.............................................................................................................5
3.4 Data sampling........................................................................................................................5
3.5 Data collection......................................................................................................................5
3.6 Ethical consideration.............................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
Research Proposal Form..................................................................................................................7
Research Ethics approval form......................................................................................................10
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TITLE: “To determine the importance of Social media tools for growth and development of
firms. A Case Study on Sainsbury's.”
CHAPTER: 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Research Overview
In general terms digital technology is often used for the digital resources through which
certain activities can be performed easily. Basically, it is being used in order to communicate
with one another in an effective manner without any complications. Digital technology mainly
includes software applications, programming tools, digital media tools etc. Company which is
taken in this assignment is Sainsbury's which comes under second largest chain of supermarkets
in United Kingdom. Company is having a market share of around 16.9 percent. Present report is
a proposal that will include the importance of Digital media tools for growth and development of
firms. This will help researcher in analysing whether these tools are providing positive or
negative outcomes (Terjesen, Hessels and Li, 2016).
1.2 Background of Research
Digital media, according to the current market scenario is playing a crucial role. Earlier it
was only used for connecting with one another living in different parts of the world. But with the
increase in its popularity most of the companies are also using this platform in order to increase
their customer bases, sales and profitability as well. Therefore, for analysing the growth and
development of the firm through social media can be gained from this. Thus, this research will
assist investigator in identifying what all factors are responsible and puts some kind of impact on
business operations.
1.3 Rationale of Research
Digital Technology has come up as a revolutionary change that has made most of the
things possible of an individual and company as well. Firm can now easily connect with its
customers in order to tell them about the goods and services they wants to provide. This research
is conducted in order to evaluate the importance of digital media in terms of increasing growth
and productivity of the firm. For instance: to know whether it is increasing its sales and
profitability or not (Burns, 2016).
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1.4 Research Aim:
“To identify importance of Social Media tools for growth and development of Firms. A
Case Study on Sainsbury's .”
1.5 Research Objectives:
 To determine the concept of Social Media.
 To evaluate the advantage of Social Media tools for enhancing business growth of
Sainsbury's.
 To identify the major challenges of implementing Social media for Sainsbury's.
1.6 Research Questions
 What is the concept of Social Media.
 What are the advantage that can be gained from Social Media tools for enhancing
business growth of Sainsbury's.
 What are the major challenges of implementing Social media for Sainsbury's.
1.7 Time scale
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1Concept of Social Media
Digital media is one of the essential tool that is being used by every individual and
company as well in order to get effective results. Social media is a broader concept and have
some kinds of impact on society and culture. In simple terms, Social media tools is a
combination of internet and personal computing. With the help of digital technology, company
can easily communicate their products to its valuable customers which can ultimately increase
sales and profitability of the organisation (Taglioni and Winkler, 2016).
2.2 Advantage of Social Media tools for enhancing business growth of Sainsbury's
Social media has played a crucial role in terms of enhancing business operations for a
company. Through this company can interact with large number of consumers which will further
assist firm in increasing their brand image in front of them. Some of the advantages are given
below which can be provided by social media tools in order to improve the growth scale of
business for Sainsbury's:
 Better Customer Satisfaction
 Improved Brand Loyalty
 Cost effective
 Gain Marketplace Insights
2.3 Major challenges of implementing Social media for Sainsbury's
Although social media provides benefits to the organisation but there are some challenges
which can be faced by companies. This can further hamper business operations which can
minimise the sales and profitability. Therefore, some of the major challenges which can be faced
by Sainsbury's while implementing Social media tool are explained below:
 Formulating a social media strategy
 Time management
 Measuring Social Media ROI
 Preferring which social media tool or platform to use
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CHAPTER 3: RESAERCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Types of investigation
It is one of the crucial part of research methodology on which entire research is based and
further it assist in evaluating information and data in an appropriate manner. Generally, there are
two kinds of methods i.e. qualitative and quantitative. Further, for conducting this research,
researcher has used qualitative method in order to get appropriate information (Mata and
Quesada, 2014).
3.2 Research design
Generally there are two kinds of research design and these are descriptive and
exploratory which helps researcher in collecting data and information in an effective manner.
Therefore, in order to do this research descriptive method is being used which will moreover
assist researcher in analysing data in a descriptive way.
3.3 Research philosophy
This helps a researcher in gathering information and data in an effective manner, so that
analysing the same can be done in an appropriate way. Research philosophy is classified into two
components and these are interprivitism and positivism. For doing this research, investigator has
used interprivitism
3.4 Data sampling
It is an important element in a research methodology and information are gathered from
the subset of the population. In order to do this, researcher has used probabilistic sampling and
sample size which is taken is 30. in addition to this, questionnaire is being made under which 10
questions were formulated and for this options were given as well (Bianchi and Andrews, 2015).
3.5 Data collection
In order to do a research this factor is very important to be considered. There are
basically two kinds of data collection method and these are primary and secondary. In context
with this, secondary method was being used which will assist in evaluating a valid conclusion.
3.6 Ethical consideration
There are certain norms that are to be followed so that research can be done in an ethical
manner. This can be based on two factors such as time and cost.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Terjesen, S., Hessels, J. and Li, D., 2016. Comparative international entrepreneurship: A review
and research agenda. Journal of Management. 42(1). pp.299-344.
Burns, P., 2016. Entrepreneurship and small business. Palgrave Macmillan Limited.
Taglioni, D. and Winkler, D., 2016. Making global value chains work for development. The
World Bank.
Mata, F. J. and Quesada, A., 2014. Web 2.0, social networks and e-commerce as marketing tools.
Journal of theoretical and applied electronic commerce research. 9(1). pp.56-69.
Bianchi, C. and Andrews, L., 2015. Investigating marketing managers' perspectives on social
media in Chile.Journal of Business Research. 68(12). pp.2552-2559.
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Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
______________________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: “To determine the importance of Social media
tools for growth and development of firms. A Case Study on
Sainsbury's.”
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective
or hypothesis) “To determine the importance of Social media tools for growth
and development of firms. A Case Study on Sainsbury's.”
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you
want to learn how to do? What do you want to find out?):
The essential research objectives of this particular exploration work are described as below:
 To determine the concept of Social Media.
 To evaluate the advantage of Social Media tools for enhancing business growth of
Sainsbury's. To identify the major challenges of implementing Social media for Sainsbury's.
Research Questions
 What is the concept of Social Media.
 What are the advantage that can be gained from Social Media tools for enhancing
business growth of Sainsbury's.
 What are the major challenges of implementing Social media for Sainsbury's.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying,
personal interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the
topic is important):
Reason of selecting this topic is to determine the importance of social media tool in terms of
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growth and development of firms.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or
hypothesis:
Information will be gathered from secondary sources like books, magazines, journals etc., this
will assist in evaluating a valid conclusion.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g
research, development and analysis of ideas, writing, data
collection, numerical analysis, tutor meetings, production of final
outcome, evaluation, writing the report):
There are different kinds of activities that must be determined in order to get
effective results. Some of the activities are mentioned below which are
considered are given below:
 Identifying research topic
 Development of aim and objectives
 Literature review
 Research methodology
 Preparation of Questionnaires
 Data Collection
 Data analysis
 Conclusion and recommendation
How long this will take:
3 Months
Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: _______________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and
why?
Qualitative methods is used by the researcher for getting appropriate data and information.
What your areas of research will cover:
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Sector of tourism will be considered for doing this research
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for
another qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date
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Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants
or the use of data collected form human participants are required to gain
ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all
relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed
research fully with your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time
before your research project is due to commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
Yes No
 Interviews
 Questionnaires ✓
 Observations ✓
 Use of personal records ✓
 Data Analysis ✓
 Action Research ✓
 Focus Groups ✓
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
filePlease answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults: More than 20
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
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Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be
made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting
questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes No (✓)
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising
from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their
informed consent to be observed.
Yes (✓) No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief
explanation of the study)?
Yes (✓) No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be
a brief summary of your findings in general)
Yes No (✓)
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the
Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes (✓) No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes (✓) No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
Yes (✓) No
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical
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concerns? If so, please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise
because of your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical
concerns may include, but are not limited to the following :
 Informed consent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including
transfer, sharing, encryption, protection).
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and
Ethics Policy:
Yes (✓) No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit
Tutor:
Yes (✓) No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical
issues that may arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to your supervisor.
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