Asda's Leadership & Management Response to Covid-19 Crisis

This report investigates the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on leadership and management practices within Asda. The research aims to understand how companies responded to the crisis, specifically analyzing the consequences of Covid-19 on Asda's leadership and management approaches. It s...Read More

Research Methods

Table of Contents
1. Research Aim ..............................................................................................................................3
2. Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................3
3. Methodology................................................................................................................................3
4. Ethical Considerations.................................................................................................................5
5. REFERENCES............................................................................................................................7
6. ETHICAL CHECKLIST.............................................................................................................8

1. Research Aim
“To analyse the effect of Covid-19 on leadership and management practices in an
organisation. A study on Asda.”
2. Research Objectives
 To understand the responding nature of the companies to Covid-19 Crisis in their
management practices.
 To analyse the consequence of Covid-19 on leadership and management practices in
Asda.
 To analyse best pattern for managing Covid-19 within Asda.
 To determine different challenges Asda faced while implementing best leadership and
management practices.
Research questions
 What is the responding nature of the companies to Covid-19 Crisis in their management
practices?
 What is the impact of Covid-19 on leadership and management practices in Asda?
 What is the best pattern for managing Covid-19 within Asda?
 What is the major challenges Asda faced while implementing best leadership and
management practices?
3. Methodology
Research methodology is the chapter that helps in the collection and analysis of data in
effective and efficient manner. There are certain research methods that is used for conducting the
investigation are explained with their proper justification. This is related with the development of
whole investigation in such a manner that aim and objectives could be attained (Bairagi and
Munot, 2019).
Research Approach: Research approach is referred as a cycle that assists in taking
scientist for making the examination a coordinated manner (Arifin, 2018). For executing the
whole investigation in a proper manner, research approach holds great level of importance. There
are generally two parts of examination approaches that are insightful and inductive. For
incorporating the current investigation, researcher has chosen insightful approach because it is

great for taking and analysing great insights about impact of COVID-19. This also plays
significant role in conducting whole exploration in statistical and quantitative manner.
Research Design: Research design is referred as the research methodology that assists
investigator to conduct investigation in systematic and proper manner. The design is classified
into three main types that are: exploratory, descriptive and experimental research design.
Investigator has shown dependence upon descriptive research design because it holds serious
importance in conducting research in numerical and statistical manner. Therefore, it can be
clearly determined that those methods are given more priority which helps in carrying and
analysing numerical piece of information (Chenneville and Schwartz-Mette, 2020).
Research Methods: Research methods is the methodology that assists investigator to
gather and analyse data. In research method, data collection method is very significant and
provides two kinds of methods which are primary and secondary data collection method.
Investigator has used both these methods so that defined aim and objectives could be attained in
timely manner. In respect of accumulating first hand data, researcher has chosen primary data
collection method because it also provides significant tool for the collection of data.
Questionnaire is used so that raw data can be carried out through this and objectives could be
simply attained in minimum period of time. On the other hand, secondary data collection method
is also used for the purpose of accumulating used and published piece of information. The
sources used for second hand data are: books, articles, newspapers, journals, publications and so
on (Saltz and Dewar, 2019).
There are two kinds of research methods which include: qualitative and quantitative
method. Researcher has dependent upon quantitative research choice so that focus can be put on
the accumulation of numerical data and analysis of this accumulated numerical information.
Quantitative research choice has great significance in the current investigation because it makes
the whole research more relevant, accurate and reliable (Clark-Kazak, 2017).
Research Participants: Sampling is the process which helps in the selecting respondents
systematically, effectively and efficiently. It gives two important types that are: probability and
non-probability sampling. Researcher has selected probability sampling so that large number of
participants can be selected from the selected organisation. 30 number of participants are
selected so that they can give great information about analysing the effect of Covid-19 on
leadership and management practices in an organisation (Wang and et. al., 2017).

4. Ethical Considerations
There are various ethical principles that is necessary to be taken into consideration while
performing investigation. Some of the significant ethical principles that have given great
importance are: informed consent, minimise the risk of harm to respondents, protect anonymity
and confidentiality of participants, avoiding deceptive practices, giving respondents the right to
withdraw from investigation and many more (Zangirolami-Raimundo, Echeimberg and Leone,
2018).
Respect for the autonomy, privacy and dignity of communities and individuals: One of
the most important element while conducting investigation is chosen number of respondents.
Researcher has made sure that consent is taken from the selected participants as well as chosen
organisation for collecting data from them. For taking valid consent, investigator has used
participant consent form as well as participation information form. Researcher also conveys to
respondents that the information gathered from them remains confidential so that no one could
hurt and ask them why they have given any information. The personal information about the
individuals are not shared to anyone so that chance of misusing it could be reduced (Brittain and
et. al., 2020).
Scientific integrity: Researcher has also focused on ensuring information in systematic
and effective manner. With the motive of gathering authentic and reliable piece of information,
investigator has used primary and secondary methods for the accumulation of reliable and
authentic information. Researcher also used those articles, journals and publications that are
authorised as well as relevant. So, by using this researcher has aimed to collect relevant and
reliable data (Ørngreen and Levinsen, 2017).
Social responsibility: Researcher has focused on fulfilling certain social responsibilities
by making accurate, reliable and relevant piece of information (Goldberg and et. al., 2017). This
investigation is can be used by many professionals, organisations and other researchers to gain
information about the selected topic. Researcher also made sure that organisation and persons
involved in this investigation get great importance and their dignity does not go down by taking
out information about their position (Pandey and Pandey, 2021).
Maximising benefit and minimising harm: Researcher makes sure that the selected
participants has not harmed while gathering information from them. Researcher has given

importance to the personal values of researcher and also focused on their psychological well-
being of respondents (Dźwigoł, 2018).

5. REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Arifin, S.R.M., 2018. Ethical considerations in qualitative study. International Journal of Care
Scholars, 1(2), pp.30-33.
Bairagi, V. and Munot, M.V. eds., 2019. Research methodology: A practical and scientific
approach. CRC Press.
Brittain and et. al., 2020. Ethical considerations when conservation research involves
people. Conservation Biology, 34(4), pp.925-933.
Chenneville, T. and Schwartz-Mette, R., 2020. Ethical considerations for psychologists in the
time of COVID-19. American Psychologist, 75(5), p.644.
Clark-Kazak, C., 2017. Ethical considerations: Research with people in situations of forced
migration. Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees/Refuge: revue canadienne sur les
réfugiés, 33(2), pp.11-17.
Dźwigoł, H., 2018. Scientific research methodology in management sciences. Фінансово-
кредитна діяльність: проблеми теорії та практики, (2), pp.424-437.
Goldberg and et. al., 2017. Is mindfulness research methodology improving over time? A
systematic review. PloS one, 12(10), p.e0187298.
Ørngreen, R. and Levinsen, K., 2017. Workshops as a Research Methodology. Electronic Journal
of E-learning, 15(1), pp.70-81.
Pandey, P. and Pandey, M.M., 2021. Research Methodology Tools and Techniques.
Saltz, J.S. and Dewar, N., 2019. Data science ethical considerations: a systematic literature
review and proposed project framework. Ethics and Information Technology, 21(3),
pp.197-208.
Wang and et. al., 2017. Genome privacy: challenges, technical approaches to mitigate risk, and
ethical considerations in the United States. Annals of the New York Academy of
Sciences, 1387(1), p.73.
Zangirolami-Raimundo, J., Echeimberg, J.D.O. and Leone, C., 2018. Research methodology
topics: Cross-sectional studies. Journal of Human Growth and Development, 28(3),
pp.356-360.

6. ETHICAL CHECKLIST

RESEARCH ETHICS CHECKLIST Form RE1
This checklist should be completed for every research project which involves human
participants. It is used to identify whether a full application for ethics approval needs to be
submitted.
Before completing this form, please refer to the University Code of Practice on Ethical
Standards for Research Involving Human Participants. The principal investigator and,
where the principal investigator is a student, the supervisor, is responsible for exercising
appropriate professional judgment in this review.
This checklist must be completed before potential participants are approached to take
part in any research.
Section I: Applicant Details
1. Name of Researcher (applicant):
2. Status (please click to select): Active
3. Email Address:
4a. Contact Address:
4b. Telephone Number:
Section II: Project Details
5. Project Title: “To analyse the effect of Covid-19 on
leadership and management practices in an
organisation. A study on Asda.”
Section III: For Students Only:
6. Course title and module name and
number where appropriate
Business Management
BMP6001 Dissertation

7. Supervisor’s or module leader’s
name:
8. Email address:
9. Telephone extension:
Declaration by Researcher (Please tick the appropriate boxes)
✓ I have read the University’s Code of Practice
✓ The topic merits further research
✓ I have the skills to carry out the research
✓ The participant information sheet, if needed, is appropriate
✓ The procedures for recruitment and obtaining informed consent, if needed, are
appropriate
✓ The research is exempt from further ethics review according to current University
guidelines
✓ Where relevant, I have read the ethical guidelines of the regulatory body that is
relevant to my discipline and verify that the research adheres to these guidelines
Comments from Researcher, and/or from Supervisor if Researcher is Undergraduate
or Taught Postgraduate student:
This project meets the standard set by UoB policy named “Code of Practice for Research
Students and Supervisors 2019-20”.
This project also confirms with “UoB Research Ethics Framework”.

Page 11 of 15

Section IV: Research Checklist
Please answer each question by ticking the appropriate box:
YES NO
1. Will the study involve participants who are particularly vulnerable or
who may be unable to give informed consent (e.g. children, people
with learning disabilities, emotional difficulties, problems with
understanding and/or communication, your own students)?
No
2. Will the study require the co-operation of a gatekeeper for initial
access to the groups or individuals to be recruited (e.g. students at
school, members of self-help group, residents of nursing home)?
No
3. Will deception be necessary, i.e. will participants take part without
knowing the true purpose of the study or without their
knowledge/consent at the time (e.g. covert observation of people in
non-public places)?
No
4. Will the study involve discussion of topics which the participants may
find sensitive (e.g. sexual activity, own drug use)?
No
5. Will drugs, placebos or other substances (e.g. food substances,
alcohol, nicotine, vitamins) be administered to or ingested by
participants or will the study involve invasive, intrusive or potentially
harmful procedures of any kind?
No
6. Will blood or tissues samples be obtained from participants? No
7. Will pain or more than mild discomfort be likely to result from the
study?
8. Could the study induce psychological stress or anxiety or cause
harm or negative consequences beyond the risks encountered in
normal life?
No
9. Will the study involve prolonged or repetitive testing? No
10. Will financial inducements (other than reasonable expenses and
compensation for time) be offered to participants?
No
11. Will participants’ right to withdraw from the study at any time be
withheld or not made explicit?
No
12. Will participants’ anonymity be compromised or their right to
anonymity be withheld or information they give be identifiable as
theirs?
No
Page 12 of 15

13. Might permission for the study need to be sought from the
researcher’s or from participants’ employer?
No
14. Will the study involve recruitment of patients or staff through the
NHS?
No
If ALL items in the Declaration are ticked AND if you have answered NO to ALL questions in
Section IV, send the completed and signed Form RE1 to your School/Centre Research
Ethics Officer for information. You may proceed with the research but should follow any
subsequent guidance or requests from the School/Centre Research Ethics Officer or your
supervisor/module leader where appropriate. Undergraduate and taught postgraduate
students should retain a copy of this form and submit it with their research report or
dissertation (bound in at the beginning). MPhil/PhD students should submit a copy to the
Board of Studies for Research Degrees with their application for Registration (R1). Work
which is submitted without the appropriate ethics form will be returned unassessed.
If ANY of the items in the Declaration are not ticked AND / OR if you have answered YES to
ANY of the questions in Section IV, you will need to describe more fully in Section V of the
form below how you plan to deal with the ethical issues raised by your research. This does
not mean that you cannot do the research, only that your proposal will need to be
approved by the School/Centre Research Ethics Officer or School/Centre Research
Ethics Committee or Sub-committee. When submitting the form as described in the
above paragraph you should substitute the original Section V with the version
authorized by the School/Centre Research Ethics officer.
If you answered YES to question 14, you will also have to submit an application to the
appropriate external health authority ethics committee, after you have received approval
from the School/Centre Research Ethics Officer/Committee and, where appropriate, the
University Research Ethics Committee.
Page 13 of 15

Section V: Addressing Ethical Problems
If you have answered YES to any of questions 1-12 please complete below and submit the
form to your School/Centre Research Ethics Officer.
Project Title
“To analyse the effect of Covid-19 on leadership and management practices in an organisation. A
study on Asda.”
Principal Investigator/Researcher/Student
Supervisor
Summary of issues and action to be taken to address the ethics problem(s)
Please note that it is your responsibility to follow the University’s Code of Practice on Ethical
Standards and any relevant academic or professional guidelines in the conduct of your
study. This includes providing appropriate information sheets and consent forms, and
ensuring confidentiality in the storage and use of data. Any significant change to the
design or conduct of the research should be notified to the School/Centre Research Ethics
Officer and may require a new application for ethics approval.
Signed: Principal Investigator/Researcher
Approved: Supervisor or module leader (where appropriate)
Date:
For use by School/Centre Research Ethics Officer:
 No ethical problems are raised by this proposed study - Retain this form
on record
Page 14 of 15

 Appropriate action taken to maintain ethical standards
 The research protocol should be revised to eliminate the
ethical concerns or reduce them to an acceptable level,
using the attached suggestions
 Please submit School/Centre Application for Ethics Approval
(Form RE2(D))
 Please submit University Application for Ethics Approval
(Form RE2(U))
Signed:
Date:
Page 15 of 15