Analyze the Research Methodologies Used in Case Studies

The provided content consists of various research methodology articles and a questionnaire. The articles discuss different research methodologies, including content analysis, single case research, participatory peer research, and research design and analysis. These articles provide insights into the applications of these methodologies in various fields such as management, special education, behavioral sciences, and social work. The questionnaire is designed to gather opinions from managers at McDonald's on various aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its impact on functional departments within the organization. This assignment aims to summarize the content and apply research methodology concepts to a real-world scenario in the context of management.

Project Management
1

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1) Project aims and objectives...................................................................................................3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................4
P2) Management plan..................................................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
Timelines and action plans...........................................................................................................6
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................10
Research methods......................................................................................................................10
TASK 5..........................................................................................................................................11
Evaluation of project outcomes.................................................................................................11
TASK 6..........................................................................................................................................19
Recommendation/evaluation of project outcomes.....................................................................19
TASK 7..........................................................................................................................................20
Research process........................................................................................................................20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................22
Appendix........................................................................................................................................23
2

INTRODUCTION
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is modern approach for any organization
regarding business and competitive strategies. Different plans and policies are implemented for
establishing good relationship with collaborative and fulfilling their requirements. The present
report is based on understanding managing project for implementing CSR activities within MC'
Donald to improve profitability and financial sustainability. It is public limited organization of
USA that provides restaurant and fast food services to million people worldwide. However, a
systematic project tools to accomplish set goals and activities are to be described. Including this,
different research methods and project outcomes can be introduced through this assignment.
Moreover, a systematic planning procedure for projecting and implementing CSR approach for
economic growth of entity can be expressed. Thus, learners are able to understand concept of
project management for managing project and accomplishing task through this report.
TASK 1
P1) Project aims and objectives
1) Project title
CSR impact on marketing of products to improve profitability and economic stability: A
case study on MC' Donald.
2) Aims and objectives
The project is based on understanding corporate social responsibility concept for
financial development of Mc' Donald. However, systematic planning procedure including
conducting research through survey, analyzing managers' views on quality services of
organization and further outcome can be gained for expansion of entity. Including this,
significance of project planning and its implementation is to describe through this assignment
that affects business and competitive strategies for long time periodicity (Bryman and Bell,
2014). Besides this, by presenting this project, various tools and components of project
management regarding financial development of entity through implementing CSR activities are
to be expressed effectively. Thus, aims and objectives of the project can be understood as
below:-
Aim of the project
3

To understand CSR impact on functional area (Marketing) in respect to enhancement of
profitability and sustainability for MC' Donald.
Objectives of study
The study is comprises of different objectives to reach out for effectiveness of
organization can describe as below:-
 To identify impact of CSR on functional department in terms of improving its
performance.
 To find out impact of CSR on the firms profitability.
 To recognize role that CSR play in improving sustainability of the business firm.
TASK 2
P2) Management plan
1) Scope of research project
Through this research project, all activities for projecting to understand CSR impact on
marketing department of organization for enhancing profitability. For completion of project,
research is to be conducted to analyze managers' views on product services of entity (Dumay and
Cai, 2015). Thereby, actual performance of organization is gained through this process. It
generates different ideas for competitive advantages and improving quality services provided by
MC' Donald. However, it is helpful for increasing productivity of entity as well high level of
demand for services. Besides this, present project is based on understanding all activities to
implementations to be followed on for recognizing CSR impact on marketing department of
organization to increase profitability and economic sustainability for effective competitive
advantages.
2) Risk management
Risk is considers as problems occur at workplace involving uncertainty and potential
losses. There are different of risks can be obtained during developing project plans in respect of
budget, technical, business, product specific risks and so on. However, due to inefficient
resources and fund, project cannot be succeed. Likewise, uncertainty also affects projection and
its planning procedures. However, technological error as software risk is a problem for
completing the set tasks. Apart from this, risks related timing and lack of coordination among
team members can be occurred that affects projection and its succession. Therefore, it is
4

necessary for project manager to set planning and analyzing all factors for completion of project
efficiently. In this regard, segmenting work according to workers' ability is needed to be
followed on for proper projecting. Similarly, solving out all problems obtained at workplace are
required by preparing strategies and its implementation (Flick, 2015). Therefore, by managing
risks, project plan can be succeed effectively to recognize CSR impact on marketing department
of MC' Donald to improve profitability and financial sustainability effectively.
3) Cost control
It is a technique for cost effectiveness relating to project succession. For this purpose,
budget is prepared on behalf of current performance of organization in financial and non-
monetary terms. It is considered as best tool for allocation of resources and fund efficiently. In
accordance to this, planning is made including forecasting and decision making for effective
projection to reach out set target as analyzing CSR impact on organization's effectiveness.
However, through cost control approach, all finance related risks are reduced as well able to
prepare planning procedure for projecting completion (Gast and Ledford, 2014). Including this,
cost control concept is related with succession of project and financial development of
organization effectively. In this regard, adequate fund can be allocated for projection regarding
competitive advantages and enhancing profitability at high level.
4) Quality control
The project management technique as quality control is interlinked with projecting and
innovations used for its achievement. It is one of the great management plan to be focusing on
for better quality of services for its implementation. In accordance to this, various aspects are
analyzed for project management and recognizing impact of CSR on marketing department of
organization to improve profitability and financial sustainability. For example; if there is 10
questions in questionnaire which are interlinked with each other. In case, if answers are not
according to interrelated questions then in that case wrong result can be gone in irrelevant
direction. This will hamper research quality, thus, in order to prevent this problem to get
succession of project. In this regard, project quality can be managed as well controlling over
excess and implement efficiencies to gain research objectives efficiently (Leary, 2016). Hence,
quality control is effective management plan for projection and identifying impact of CSR on
organization's effectiveness.
5

TASK 3
Timelines and action plans
Projecting plan is an agenda and decision making process for accomplish task related to
analyzing CSR impact on functional department as marketing and selling for improving
profitability as well financial sustainability. In accordance to this, 10 managers from different
departments of MC' Donald are selected for conducting survey for getting their views on CSR
approach on entity's effectiveness and competitive advantages (Lushey and Munro, 2015). All
activities for projecting including cost to be incurred and time that can be incurred on each
activity. However, timelines for each action plan can be expressed as following plan:-
Plan Activity Cost Timelines
Conducting research Asking questions
consists in a
questionnaire to
managers of
departments of MC'
Donald through survey
.
150 1-2 weeks
Strategic plans Preparing strategies
for analyzing CSR
activities impact on
marketing department
to increase
profitability and
decision making
process for segmenting
work among different
team members.
100 1 week
Implementation of
action plans
Prepared strategies and
set action plans are
600-700 4-5 weeks
6

implemented through
this process for
effective project
management.
Performance
evaluation
Actions plans and all
contributors'
performance are
identified in this
activity critically.
Including this,
comparison between
actual and standard
performance of project
and organization.
200-300 2 weeks
Result assessment Achieved outcome
including performance
project accomplished
result is gained
analyzed in this
process.
50 1 week
Getting feedback After assessing risks,
feedback is gained
through asking each
team member's views
on projection and
issues as well solving
out manner to
overcome them.
However, their
100 1 week
7

experiences regarding
project activities are
achieved in this
project activity.
Preparing report Overall completion of
this project, all
activities are
summarized and also
report is prepared
regarding planning
procedure and manner
to accomplish the task
in brief.
50 1 week
However, by asking questions to all departments' managers including finance, HR,
marketing, CSR impact can be analyzed on productivity of MC' Donald. In this regard, by
following on all above mentioned activities including cost and time frame will be able to
complete the task. Including this, it will be valuable for proper projection and also different ideas
are generated for allocating resources and fund efficiently. Besides this, source of information as
conducting survey will be suitable for creating ideas for improving profitability and economic
stability at high level including competitive advantages.
Gantt Chart:-
8

Task
Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Manually
Scheduled Conducting research 14 days Fri 5/26/17 Wed 6/14/17
Manually
Scheduled Strategic plans 7 days Mon 5/29/17 Tue 6/6/17 1
Manually
Scheduled
Implementation of action
plans 20 days Tue 5/30/17 Mon 6/26/17 2
Manually
Scheduled Performance evaluation 14 days Wed 5/31/17 Mon 6/19/17 3
Manually
Scheduled Result assessment 7 days Wed 5/31/17 Thu 6/8/17 2,3
Manually
Scheduled Getting feedback 7 days Thu 6/1/17 Fri 6/9/17 4
Manually
Scheduled Preparing report 7 days Thu 6/1/17 Fri 6/9/17 5
9

TASK 4
Research methods
Research method is a source of information to analyze market position and competitive
strategy for sustainability. However, data can be collected through at primary and secondary
level. In this process, for primary data collection, information are gathered through conducting
survey, face to face interview, door to door asking questions etc. Therefore, primary data are
collected in quantitative and qualitative ways by analyzing different views on quality services of
entity and its efficiencies. While, on the other side, for secondary data collection, information are
collected through ready and prepared material just as'; newspaper, articles, magazines,
government articles and so on (Mackey and Gass, 2015). Thus, research methods are applied for
collecting data and recognizing business organization's performance as well its market position.
On the basis of this, several kinds of ideas are created for better quality services and increasing
efficiencies of entity systematically. Hence, conducting research is basis for operating further
activities by which varieties of ideas are created for enhancing profitability and profit earning
capacity of organization.
In this present project, survey method is to be conducted for asking questions to 10
managers of MC' Donald from different departments to analyze their views on CSR impact on
functional department to improve profitability and financial sustainability of organization
(Perner, Citerio and Joannidis, 2015). However, different opinions can be gained that affects on
further implementation for competitive advantages.
TASK 5
Evaluation of project outcomes
Thematic analysis
Theme 1: Quality services of MC' Donald in respect of customer satisfaction
Effective 4
Satisfactory 2
Ineffective 3
Unsatisfactory 1
10

Interpretation:- At first, managers views are gained on organization's service qualities to
meet customer expectations. However, positive outcome is gained as 4 out of 10 managers
expresses their views that MC' Donald provides effective food and customer dealing services
that's why it has good position worldwide. Including this, their opinions are gained in different
ways that presents organization's effectiveness and its efficiency for competitiveness in future
time.
Theme 2: CSR impact on functional department of organization
Highly 6
Moderate 3
No link between CSR and functional department 1
11
Effective Satisfactory Ineffective Unsatisfactory
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
Column B

Interpretation:- In this research, analyst asks manager regarding CSR impact on
functional department as marketing and sales to enhance its profitability and long term
sustainability. Through this research, it is analyzed it plays crucial in increasing business and
competitive strategies for meeting customers' requirements. For this, 6 out of 10 managers
expresses positive responses that is considers as an indication for continuing CSR activities in
further years.
Theme 3: “CSR is useful approach for improving profitability and financial sustainability
of MC' Donald,”
Strongly agree 3
Agree 4
Disagree 2
Strongly disagree 1
12
Highly
Moderate
No link between CSR and functional department
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Column B

Interpretation:- For this research, analyst gains managers views on CSR activities role to
improve profitability and economic sustainability. However, positive outcome are achieved on
this statement's agreement. In this regard, it has been identified that CSR plays essential role in
increasing profit earning capacity and also useful for getting proper satisfaction from customers
on quality services of entity.
Theme 4: department which is highly responsible for CSR activities in context of
competitive advantages
Finance department 2
Marketing 5
HR 2
production 1
13
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
Column B

Interpretation:- Managers' views are gained on responsible department of MC' Donald
for CSR activities impact on profitability. Through this research, marketing department is highly
accountable for increasing profit earning capacity and competitive advantages. However, 50%
managers are agreed with marketing department's role model for implementation effectively.
Theme 5: society get more attracted towards product services for applying CSR to operate
business activities
Yes 8
No 2
14
Finance department Marketing HR production
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Column C

Interpretation:- It is analyzed that society get aware with MC' Donald services and its
effectiveness for CSR activities. In this regard, positive views are gained for social awareness to
increase profitability and financial sustainability of organization at high level.
Theme 6: services is required for MC' Donald's profitability
Food services 3
Customer dealing services 4
Marketing and advertising 3
15
Yes No
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Column C

Interpretation:- In this research question, analyst asks for required services to be focused
on for improving profitability through applying CSR activities. It is recognized that organization
is required to improve its customer dealing services to gain proper effectiveness and long term
sustainability.
Theme 7: MC' Donald's service qualities in comparison to KFC
Best 2
Better 4
Good 2
Bad 1
Worse 1
16
Food services
Customer dealing services
Marketing and advertising
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
Column C

Interpretation:- It is competitive approach to analyze managers' views on competitive
strategies of MC' Donald. It is identified that organization's performance is better than KFC that
affects productivity and profitability in further years and presents ideas for sustainability power
of company in future time.
Theme 8: Continuously apply CSR activities to improve profitability and competitive
advantages in future time
Yes 9
No 1
17
Best Better Good Bad Worse
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
Column C

Interpretation:- It is a kind of forecasting and decision making approach for MC' Donald
to be continued CSR activities for further implementation of organization. It is gained maximum
managers views positively on this fact related with business and competitive strategies for its
effective sustainability for further years.
TASK 6
Recommendation/evaluation of project outcomes
According to this project management assignment, project succession planning procedure
is determined that provides different opinions of managers regarding CSR impact on functional
department within MC' Donald. However, proper projecting and steps are described for
improving profitability and financial sustainability (Simonsohn, Nelson and Simmons, 2016).
Including this, through this assignment, various project outcome and different ideas are created
for better quality services and sustaining its good position in market. Along with this, for
completion of project, it is needed for researcher to ask questions to managers effectively and
analyzing their views critically. On the basis of which, further varieties of ideas are generated to
18
Yes No
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Column C

analyze their opinions to improve profitability of organization at high level. In this regard, almost
positive outcomes are gained from that can be lead to increase effectiveness and different kinds
of developments for competitive advantages and sustaining its good reputation for long time
period. Therefore, project can get succeed through preparing strategies and implementing them
in future to increase its business and competitive strategies at large scale. It is recommended that
project manager should select appropriate candidates and workers for projecting and segmenting
their work according to their abilities (Tarone, Gass and Cohen, 2013). Including this, all project
management activities should be implemented in accordance to set project plans including
research and decision making process to identify impact of CSR on marketing department to
improve profitability and competitive advantages for sustaining its effective goodwill for long
time period effectively.
TASK 7
Research process
The present research process is based on understanding different views of MC' Donald
managers on impact of CSR on functional department as marketing and sales to improve
profitability and economic sustainability to maintain competitiveness. However, project is
accomplished in proper planning steps including activities form conducting research, analyzing
managers views on the basis of these making decisions for further activities. In this regard,
customer satisfaction strategies as well enhancing competitiveness ideas are gained for
sustainability of MC' Donald. Including this, a systematic process is expressed for asking
questions to managers and further promoting CSR for effectiveness of organization at high level.
Besides this, through this project management, all activities are presented to accomplish task and
coordinating other departments for proper growth and increasing marketing of food services as
well customer dealing of MC' Donald in efficient way.
CONCLUSION
The report is concluded that project management is an activity which is helpful for any
organization's growth efficiently. Including this, various project activities are described for
analyzing 10 managers from different departments of MC' Donald on impact of CSR on
functional department to increase profitability and economic sustainability is described.
19

Including this, proper projecting and steps for accomplishing tasks are expressed including
estimated incurred cost and time to be consumed on projection is presented through this
assignment. Moreover, different opinions are gained for identifying impact of CSR for
organization's effectiveness is obtained. Besides this, research plan including questionnaire and
significance of CSR is gained for project accomplishment to enhance profit earning capacity of
entity through this report.
20

REFERENCE
Books and Journals
Bryman, A. and Bell, E., 2014. Research methodology: Business and management contexts.
Dumay, J. and Cai, L., 2015. Using content analysis as a research methodology for investigating
intellectual capital disclosure: a critique. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 16(1), pp.121-155.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Gast, D. L. and Ledford, J. R., 2014. Single case research methodology: Applications in special
education and behavioral sciences. Routledge.
Leary, M. R., 2016. Introduction to behavioral research methods. Pearson.
Lushey, C. J. and Munro, E. R., 2015. Participatory peer research methodology: An effective
method for obtaining young people’s perspectives on transitions from care to adulthood?.
Qualitative Social Work, 14(4), pp.522-537.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S. M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.
Perner, A., Citerio, M., and Joannidis, M., 2015. Year in review in Intensive Care Medicine
2014: II. ARDS, airway management, ventilation, adjuvants in sepsis, hepatic failure,
symptoms assessment and management, palliative care and support for families,
prognostication, organ donation, outcome, organisation and research methodology. Intensive
care medicine, 41(3), pp.389-401.
Simonsohn, U., Nelson, L. and Simmons, J., 2016. Research Methodology, Design, and
Analysis. Annual Review of Psychology, 69(1).
Tarone, E.E., Gass, S.M. and Cohen, A.D., 2013. Research methodology in second-language
acquisition. Routledge.
21

APPENDIX
Questionnaire:- It consists of a list of questions of to be asked to managers of MC' Donald.
However, it can be framed as:-
Q.1 What about quality services of MC' Donald in respect of customer satisfaction?
 Effective
 Satisfactory
 Ineffective
 Unsatisfactory
Q. 2 In your opinion, is CSR impact on functional department of organization?
 Highly
 Moderate
 No link between CSR and functional department
Q.3 Do you agree with, “CSR is useful approach for improving profitability and financial
sustainability of MC' Donald,”
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Q. 4 In your opinion, which of the following department is highly responsible for CSR activities
in context of competitive advantages?
 Finance department
 Marketing
 HR
 production
Q. 5 Is society get more attracted towards product services for applying CSR to operate
business activities?
 Yes
 No
Q. 6 According to you, which of the following services is required for MC' Donald's
22

profitability?
 Food services
 Customer dealing services
 Marketing and advertising
Q. 7 Comment on MC' Donald's service qualities in comparison to KFC.
 Best
 Better
 Good
 Bad
 Worse
Q. 8 Should organization continuously apply CSR activities to improve profitability and
competitive advantages in future time?
 Yes
 No
23