Business Information Analysis

This research explores the existing consumer’s trends and awareness about the environmental impact of using plastic while analysing the environmental effect due to the existing operation of Woolworths. The research has been focused on the exploration of the existing consumer’s trends and awareness about the environmental impact of using plastic while analysing the environmental effect due to the existing operation of Woolworths. The research design and methodology, sampling, implementation, and suggested questions to be investigated are discussed in detail.

Running head: BUSINESS INFORMATION ANALYSIS
Business Information Analysis
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1BUSINESS INFORMATION ANALYSIS
Research Design and Methodology:
Research Technique
This research has been focused on the exploration of the existing consumer’s trends
and awareness about the environmental impact of using plastic while analysing the
environmental effect due to the existing operation of Woolworths. The research has three
optional choice of choosing research philosophy namely positivism, interpretivism and
realism (Neuman 2013.). On the other hand, this research aimed to collect data both from
secondary sources as well as from real time environment. Therefore, the research will follow
the realism philosophy that will allow the researcher to interpret the previous research data
and information as well as the real time data collection. Two types of tools will be used to
collect the primary data for this research, namely Survey and Interviews. At the same time,
the survey report will be analysed by quantitative data analysis where the interview data and
secondary data will be analysed with qualitative analysis.
For survey a structured Likert scale based questionnaires will be developed with
some interventions of demographical classification questions. The Likert scale will allow to
analyse the paper with simplistic numerical analysis (Myers 2013). At the same time, for
primary data collection the research will conduct a survey on the stipulated number of
consumers and a face to face semi structured interview to the managers from various
departments considering the research aims. As per the structure of the study, it will not
consider any pre assumption or hypothesis (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015). Therefore,
the research follows exploratory research design with group based interview session and
survey. For secondary data collection the research focuses on the previous market analysis,
published industry report, company report of Woolworths, articles on business strategy and
environmental impacts.

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The population
The target population for this research is divided into two segments namely the consumers of
the Woolworths and the personnel from operational and other departments of the company.
The selection of these populations has been done strategically to explore the current situation
while, finding the future optimum strategy for the company for environmental sustainability.
Consumers are the service and the product receivers, who are also deeply engaged with the
usage of plastic and polythene packages and carry-bags. At the same time, the existing
environmental sustainability plan of Woolworths can only be analysed from the internal
operator, where the management, production, logistics, marketing and other department work
in a synchronised way (Bryman and Bell 2015).
This research has been focused on the exploration of the existing consumer’s trends and
awareness about the environmental impact of using plastic while analysing the environmental
effect due to the existing operation of Woolworths. Therefore, in order to understand the
perspective of the external usage of the plastic material the information from the consumers
will be very helpful (Sekaran and Bougie 2016). If the consumers stop accepting or using the
plastic bags, the company has to reduce its usage for their packaging system. Therefore, the
consumers must have certain environmental awareness, which will help to increase the
environment friendly business activity as well. At the same time, the existing environmental
sustainability plan of Woolworths can only be analysed from the internal operator. In terms
of internal operator, the manager from the production, logistics and sales operation should be
considered from both Woolworths and its competitor companies (Walliman 2017). At the
same time the marketing manager would be also very helpful to present the market condition
regarding the plastic use and environmental sensitivity. It will help to find the scope for
betterment that would be beneficial for both the environment and the consumer reputation.
Sampling

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Considering the fact that both qualitative as well as quantitative research method will
be used in fulfil the objectives of the research, both probability as well as non probability
sampling will be used for the research. The probability sampling may be defined as the
method of sampling that utilizes some form of random selection (De Vaus and de Vaus
2013). For randomly select the sample, the researcher will assure that different units in the
population have equal probabilities of getting chosen. In order to conduct the survey,
probability sampling will be used. The sampling frame for the survey will include 30
consumers of different age range. In order to conduct in-depth interview, non probability
sampling will be done. A non probability sampling can be defined as the sampling technique
where samples are gathered with the help of a process which does not give all the individual
in the population equal chances of being selected (Baltar and Brunet 2012). 3 managers of the
Woolworths organization and 2managers of two of its competitors namely Coles and Aldi
will be interviewed. Thus it can be clearly understood that purposive non probability
sampling will be performed. The researcher will select the sample based on their knowledge
about the population as well as the study itself.
Implementation
For implementation plan the research method has to consider the data collection at the initial
section. Since, the research considered both primary and secondary data collection, where the
primary data will be collected by the interview and survey process and secondary data will be
collected from literature review and article review (Pedhazur and Schmelkin 2013). The
research will implement the secondary research method through collecting online data and
information from secondary resources, such as articles, published report, journals, market
report, company report and others. For interview sessions, the appropriate questionnaires

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will be developed under the regulation of data protection act and other ethical consideration.
It will be also maintained for the survey questionnaires.
This research has been aimed on the exploration of the existing consumer’s trends and
awareness about the environmental impact of using plastic while analysing the environmental
effect due to the existing operation of Woolworths. Therefore, the survey will be conducted
on the consumers who will visit to the social media page of the Woolworths and the official
website as well as marketing website. Before the conduction of the survey and interview the
purpose of the research will be conveyed to the participants and respondents (Lewis 2015).
Apart from that participant will be free to ignore any question or quit the interview or survey
session. The willingness of the participants are the key concern of this research. Despite that,
the research will make sure that any confidential data either from personal, professional or
industrial context will not be misused in any further study. Hard draft of the collected data
will be completely administrated by the researchers of this research paper.
Suggested questions to be investigated
The following 4 questions will be asked to the selected managers of two major competitors of
Woolworths, that is, Coles Supermarket and Aldi.
1. What are the strategies implemented by the organization to develop as well as
maintain environmental sustainability of the organization?
2. Do you think that enhancing the sustainability of the company has direct link with the
consumer loyalty? If so, please state the reason behind it.
3. What policies have the management of your organization taken in order to educate the
consumers about the negative usage of plastic bag and benefits associated with the use
of reusable bags?

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4. Do you think the current strategies implemented for ensuring sustainability of the
organization enough to deal with the issue of environmental degradation within the
organization?
The following 3 questions will be asked in to the managers of Woolworths:
1. Do you think that the current vendor selection system is sufficient to maintain the use
of plastic and plastic package in production cycle and logistics?
2. What are the strategies of your organization t o stay ahead of the latest developments
in the environmental sector?
3. What challenges are currently faced by the company when it comes to maintain
sustainability and remain competitive in the market at the same time?
The questions have been designed in a way so that the current measures to maintain
environmental sustainability taken by the competitors of Woolworths can be evaluated. This
will help the organization to make further decisions in regards to their commitment to
sustainability. The question asked to the managers of Woolworths will help the researcher to
understand the view point of the company when it comes to sustainability and analyse the
strategies taken by the same.
The following 10 questions will be asked to the choen sample of consumers of the
Woolworths industry.
1. In what age group do you belong?
1. 15-20
2. 21-30
3. 31-40
4. More than 40

6BUSINESS INFORMATION ANALYSIS
2. I fully understand the meaning of sustainability
1. Strongly Disagree
2. Disagree
3. Agree
4. Strongly Agree
3. How concerned are you about the environmental degradation happing due to lack of
sustainability in the retail industry?
1. Extremely concerned
2. Moderately concerned
3. Slightly concerned
4. Not at all concerned
4. How many numbers of time per month do you order a packaged delivery from Woolworths
Online?
1. Once in month
2. Very less
3. Frequently
4. Regularly
5. What type of packaging materials do you obtain majority of times while marketing offline
or offline?
1. Plastic bags
2. Recyclable

7BUSINESS INFORMATION ANALYSIS
3. bio-degradable
4. 100% post-consumer recycled materials
6. How often do you receive plastic packaging while marketing at Woolworths?
1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Most often
4. Majorly
The above mentioned survey question will enable the researcher to understand the perception
of consumers about environmental sustainability and the amount of usage op plastic bags
during marketing in Woolworths.
Project Schedule
Activities Start date Duration (days)
Selection of Topic 20-Aug 5
Constructing the Layout and Plan 25-Aug 10
Literature Review 05-Sep 20
Selection of research methods 20-Sept 10
Data Collection from Secondary Resources 01-Oct 15
Data Collection from Primary Collection 10-Oct 20
Analysis and Interpretation of Collected Data 25-Oct 15
Formulating Conclusion 10-Nov 5
Development of Draft 15-Nov 5
Final Work Submission 20-Nov 5
Table: Activities Timeline
Source (created by author)

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Final Work Submission
Development of Draft
Formulating Conclusion
Analysis and Interpretation of Collected
Data
Data Collection from Primary Collection
Data Collection from Secondary Resources
Selection of research methods
Literature Review
Constructing the Layout and Plan
Selection of Topic
16-Aug 31-Aug 15-Sep 30-Sep 15-Oct 30-Oct 14-Nov
Start date
Figure: Gantt chart
Source: (created by author)

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Reference:
Baltar, F. and Brunet, I., 2012. Social research 2.0: virtual snowball sampling method using
Facebook. Internet research, 22(1), pp.57-74.
Bryman, A. and Bell, E., 2015. Business research methods. Oxford University Press, USA.
De Vaus, D. and de Vaus, D., 2013. Surveys in social research. Routledge.
Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five
approaches. Health promotion practice, 16(4), pp.473-475.
Myers, M.D., 2013. Qualitative research in business and management. Sage.
Neuman, W.L., 2013. Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Pearson education.
Pedhazur, E.J. and Schmelkin, L.P., 2013. Measurement, design, and analysis: An integrated
approach. Psychology Press.
Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R., 2016. Research methods for business: A skill building approach.
John Wiley & Sons.
Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research
methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.
Walliman, N., 2017. Research methods: The basics. Routledge.