Business Research Plan: Impact of CSR on Business Performance

This business research plan investigates the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on business performance, using Marks & Spencer as a case study. The report includes an introduction to CSR, a literature review exploring the significance of CSR in managing business operations, its contribution to business success, and its impact on business performance. The research methodology utilizes a research onion framework with a positivism philosophy and a mixed-method approach. The plan outlines the aim and objectives of the research, including questions to be answered, and details the research methodology, accessibility considerations, ethical issues, significance, deliverables, required resources, and an implementation timetable. The research aims to identify the importance of CSR, its contribution to business success, its impact on business performance, and ways for Marks & Spencer to manage CSR activities effectively. The report concludes with a business research plan evaluation and references.

Business research plan

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................................4
AIM AND OBJECTIVES...........................................................................................................................8
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................9
ACCESSIBILITY.....................................................................................................................................11
ETHICAL ISSUES....................................................................................................................................11
SIGNIFICANCE.......................................................................................................................................11
DELIVERABLES.....................................................................................................................................12
REQUIRED RESOURCES.......................................................................................................................13
IMPLEMENTATION TIME TABLE (GANTT CHART)........................................................................13
BUSINESS RESEARCH PLAN EVALUATION.....................................................................................15
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Corporate social responsibility is management concept where the business integrates with
social as well as environmental concerns in business operations. Corporate social responsibilities
are how the organizations handle process of business as well as activities in order to develop the
positive impact on the society. This is helpful in develop the positive impact on mindset of
people and also improve the business performance. Besides potential loss of socially conscious
staff on corporate social responsibility impacts ability of business in order to attract top talent as
well as impact on job satisfaction level of customers. It is because this staff member’s feel
working for socially conscious manager gives them sense of the purpose. The Corporate social
responsibility is a necessary phenomenon because it has the direct impact on the brand reputation
as well as business performance (Amjad and et. al., 2018). The main purpose of conducting this
investigation is to determine how the corporate social responsibility impact on the performance
of business. In conducting the present Investigation, there have been Marks and Spencer
organization chosen. This firm was founded through Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in year
1884. It is specialized in selling of the clothes, food products and the Home items to consumers.
Marks and Spencer organization has taken the responsibilities to number of the stakeholders such
as suppliers, customers and staff members, local communities and partners seriously basis. For
conducting the business activities in a responsible manner, firm should underpin its values like
innovation, trust quality and service. In context to this, Marks and Spencer firm fulfill its
corporate social responsibility in which will develop the positive impact on the brand reputation
and the performance level of the business.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The literature analysis is a valuable and important aspect of study because its allows to
gather secondary information and knowledge, for instance newspapers, papers , books, reviews,
journals and many other related sources. In the study of work void, literature reviews encourage.
CSR is essential in increasing the business performance and develop the positive impact on
mindset of people, according to current report. In the previous report, the effects of corporate
social responsibility on business performance have been discussed in a detailed manner. In the
literature review, the research questions have been discussed by using the secondary sources
(Aoyama, Hoshika and Honda, 2018).
Significance of corporate social responsibility in context to managing business operations
On the basis of Sanela Arsic and Ivan Nenad Mihajlović (2020) corporate social
responsibility means that a corporation performs and handles its social and environmental
consequences sustainably and ethically. This ensures that the person's, the culture, politics and
society where businesses are involved are carefully considered. The reputation of a organization
can be sponsored and its reputation established by a socially conscious business. Social
responsibility encourages staff to make good use of corporate resources. Formal social
management systems will improve workplace moral standards and contribute to higher
workforce productivity. In the control of the corporate activities of a company there are various
inputs of CSR. Significance of the corporate social responsibility for managing operations of
business mention below:
Benefits over rivals- Corporate social responsibility practices allow a company to
succeed through offering consumers higher quality goods and services. Business can easily
differentiate itself from its competition in a market by taking corporate social responsibility.
Towards this way, the organization needs to take good account of social and environmental
factors (Chang and Yeh, 2017).
Enhanced sales- It's another significant feature of corporate social responsibility
operations, which promotes an organization’s business growth. Companies can effectively boost
their profits by offering better goods and taking into account social and environmental factors.

Improve the public image- It is critical because when determining who to buy from,
customers determine an organization's public image. In fact, accountability lies mainly in helping
a corporation in the acquisition of even more consumers for the successful management of its
market activities. Good managed cams help a company to promote brand equity, and resound
positive values (Cuesta‐Valiño, Rodríguez and Núñez‐Barriopedro, 2019).
Contribution of corporate social responsibility towards business success
On the basis of CHRIS B. MURPHY (2019) the branding of a organization can be
sponsored and its reputation established by a socially conscious business. Social responsibility
allows staff to make good use of corporate resources. Over years, businesses are increasingly
focused on Social Responsibility if they support female rights; protect environment or attempting
to eliminate poverty at a local, regional or global level. The initiative may also encourage
employee morality and contribute to improved efficiency in workforce. From the point of view
of aesthetics, socially responsible firms create more attractive images for customers as well as
shareholders. The implementation of socially responsible policies leads to an attraction and
retention of customers, who are important for the long-term sustainability of a business. In fact,
many consumers will be able to pay a discount for products because they know that some of
profits would have a similar impact on social causes. Firms will also see a spike in traffic if local
environment is improved. For instance, banks that offer loans to households with low incomes
will see a direct upturn in their businesses. In order to receive a check for compensation, socially
conscious businesses aim to attract individuals who want to make difference in world. There's
really strength in the number of large corporations where joint actions can yield significant
results, increasing the positive working climate and enhancing profitability. Local firms, due to
superior brand photography, often also enjoy an impact on their competitiveness (Gaur and
Kumar, 2018).
As contrary to these Steve Zwick (2020) clients, staff members, partners, suppliers and
local authorities Marks & Spencer has been serious about their obligations. Our ideals of quality,
efficiency, creativity and trust are based on a responsible way to do business. Today, company
takes care of all important issues in society, whether it is welfare for humanity, the problem of
climate change, industrial waste management, recycling of raw materials or environmental and
ethical trade. corporate social responsibility operations require a mixture with company and not

an autonomous operation. Reporting standards are sending a very strong message to their
shareholders that their intentions are to aim at the company's long-term sustainability. For
instance M&S informs consumers about its profitability in just two years from its plans to invest
£ 200 million over five years from 2007. M&S’s entire CSR business is classified under Plan A
as M&S. findings include climate change impacts, objectives and accomplishments, waste
generated and managed, raw material sustainability and fair trade partnerships (Gjesfjeld and et.
al., 2020).
Impact of the Corporate Social responsibility on business performance
Mohamed Zairi and John Peters (2020) CSR has quickly emerged in the field of study
and has been established. This has found to be an excellent approach and structure. Tackling role
of companies in society and laying down conduct criteria under which a business will fallow to
have a positive and meaningful impact on society. Way to comply with values which exclude the
quest for profit at all costs. CSR practices can have an impact on the satisfaction, employee
engagement and enhanced brand equity. CSR defines a company's contribution to social welfare
and enhancement by creating economic value for individuals and also for future. The social
responsibility of corporations is considered as the commitment of an organization, which aims to
make use of positive impact on its partners while reducing negative impact in society. It was also
an integral part of the business strategy for companies to deal with the environmental and social
impacts of company activities. CSR as "engagement of companies, collaborating with workers,
their families, their local communities and society in general to lead to the sustainable economic
growth, in a manner that is good for the business (Gürlek, Düzgün and Uygur, 2017).
Ways through which Marks & Spencer can manage its Corporate Social responsibility activities
and improve business performance
As per opinion of Skye Schooley (2020) the most effective social responsibility
campaigns tell history of an organization, provide input from its clients and position a
corporation as a strong leader on social issues, and figure out how community investment dollars
should be invested. In the competitive market climate today, social obligations of organizations
need to go beyond "doing something better." The ability to create positive attention quickly for a
company is among the greatest benefits of a profitable, commercial company. In relation to

coverage in media and the social media, many key business awards are awarded for the
appreciation of corporate responsibility. On other hand, businesses that do not take responsibility
for company behavior may seriously harm their reputation. In fact, M&S is able to monitor its
corporate social responsibility activities through many means, including designing plans for key
skills, recognizing challenges for its customers, creating social programs to make their workers
proud, widening the company concept of corporate social responsibility and several others.
Conducting the Corporate social responsibility activities are helpful for business and make
improvement in it. The Corporate social responsibility is helpful in making the business
performance better as well as successful. Both these are looking for more efficient ways of
handling Corporate social responsibility programs at Marks & Spencer’s workplace. On other
hand, corporate social responsibility is able to performance of the M&S quickly through some
innovative ways. Those forms are the development of a proposal for winning value, build a
committed customer retention network, provide customer support, encourage excellent
customers experience and so on. All of these are more efficient and realistic ways in which M&S
enhances and maintains long-term consumer loyalty and give their better performance for
making business successful (Güven, 2018).

AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Aim
The aim of research is “To determine impact of Corporate Social responsibility on
business performance.” A study on Marks & Spencer.
Objectives
 To identify significance of corporate social responsibility in context to managing
business operations.
 To examine the contribution of corporate social responsibility towards business success.
 To examine impact of the Corporate Social responsibility on business performance.
 To analyze ways through which Marks & Spencer can manage its Corporate Social
responsibility activities and improve business performance.
Questions
 What is the importance of corporate social responsibility in context to managing business
operations?
 How corporate social responsibilities contribute towards the business success?
 How Corporate Social responsibility impact on business performance?
 What are the ways by which Marks & Spencer can manage its Corporate Social
responsibility activities and improve business performance?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology refers to process that is mainly used in collection of the reliable
information regarding the specific subject area. In this section of an investigation, there are
various methods considered in collection of Information and also analyze them in an effective
manner (Kelly and et. al., 2018). There has been research onion used that developed through
Saunders et. al. (2007).The different layers considered in the research onion mentioned below:
Research philosophy- This introduces to set the philosophies concerned to stance from
which the research is conducted. This is studied in ways of the ontology and epistemology. There
has been interpretivism and positivism two different types of the research philosophies. The
interpretivism of philosophy claims that an individual is mainly observe own understanding as
well as reality of the perception. On the other hand, the positivism philosophy assumes that the
knowledge is based on area of study that is conducted researcher. In order to conduct the present
investigation, there has been positivism research philosophy used because this is helpful in
giving the quantitative data regarding the specific subject area police from this is helpful and
analyze the opinions and viewpoints of the different investigators (Lee, Chang and Lee, 2017).
Research Approaches- This is another part of the research methodology and this is
effective in collection of information through using the qualitative as well as quantitative
information. For collection of information, there are inductive and deductive two different types
of the research approaches. In the present investigation, there has been deductive research
approach used because it provides authenticate as well as other information related to specific
subject area. The deductive research approach is mainly focus on providing the specific and
related information.
Research Choice- The research choices are of two different types such as qualitative and
quantitative. For collection of information regarding the impact of corporate social responsibility
on the performance of company, there has been a quantitative research choice applied. The main
reason for using the quantitative research method is that this facility in gathering the reliable as
well is valid information within less period of time (Li, Liu and Huan, 2019).

Data Collection- It is a process of gathering the reliable information and data regarding
specific subject area. Primary and the secondary are two different sources of Collection of data.
In order to collection of information from the secondary method about corporate social
responsibility and its impact on the business performance, there will be questionnaire developed.
Other than this, in order to collection of information from the secondary data common there has
been different sources used as such as magazines, articles, journals, internet sources and some of
the other relevant sources related to specific subject area.
Research strategies- There are various kinds of Data Collection strategies which mainly
used for gathering the data by using different strategies such as interview, observation, case
study, questionnaire, Focus Group and others. These all are considered as the main instruments
which helps in collection of information regarding the specific subject area. In context to
collection of information from about corporate social responsibility and its impact on the
business performance there will questionnaire use because it is reliable source for gathering the
valid information within less time period.
Sampling- It is related to process that is mainly used through an investigator for the
statistical analysis under which that number of the participants is mainly taken from total
population. This is process of selecting the number of population to develop statistical tools from
them and estimate the characteristics of whole population. Different aspects considered in the
sample mention below:
Population profile- This investigation is based on the demographic profile of the
population which depends on various characteristics like gender, income level, age and others.
This is used to research a product or service and how better this is trading. In order to conduct
the investigation on corporate social responsibility and its impact on business performance, there
has 40 managers of the Marks and Spencer chosen because they have the detailed knowledge
regarding the corporate social responsibility (Moisescu, 2017).
Sample size- The sample size is process through which an investigation can easily
gathered from number of participants as sample size. On the basis of present investigation, there
have been 40 managers of the Marks and Spencer organization recruited through using the
random sampling method. The main reason behind using the random sampling method is that it
gives the equal chance to all the selected participants.

ACCESSIBILITY
It is one of the necessary part of an investigation because this assists an investigator to
take the permission about collection of information through user reliable sources. In context to
this, the data accessibility is helpful for an investigation to enable that every person to make the
data informed decision by easy to use of analytics. This is helpful in completing an investigation
in an effective manner. Under this, researcher is required to take the permission from the
manager in order to Collection of data about the corporate social responsibility and its impact on
the business performance. This will be effective for an investigator to take the permission from
the managers of Marks and Spencer in order to collection of information from using primary
sources regarding the corporate social responsibility and also its impact on the business
performance (Page and et. al., 2019).
ETHICAL ISSUES
In conducting the present investigation, there are some of the ethical issues arise which
included in the studies such as responsible publications, privacy, respect, the intellectual
property, legality, informed consent, honesty and integrity and many others. These all are
considering as the main ethical issues which develops the impact on conducting the investigation
to researcher on the impact of CSR on business performance. In context to this, the
confidentiality is related to privacy in which the information and data of the respondents needs to
be keep secret or not to be disclosed in front of anyone through an investigator. The informed
consent is known through saying at which this meaning to be informed as to provide the consent.
The individual inform is related to respondents which told who think that might happen
throughout and investigation in a manner they need to be identified. Researcher should give all
the information to the respondents about the investigation. It is the responsibility of the
researcher to communicate all the findings to respondents about the research project in a detailed
manner (Yuen, Thai and Wong, 2016).
SIGNIFICANCE
The present investigation is based on the impact of corporate social responsibilities on the
business performance. This is one of the effective as well as significant at academic and practical

level. At the academic level, the subject area is helpful for the students to enhancing their
understanding as well as knowledge regarding corporate social responsibility and its impact on
the performance of business. Through conducting this study, their knowledge can be enhanced
about the significance of Corporate Social Responsibility in order to managing the operations of
business in an effective manner. On practical level, the present study assessed and investigated
through make improvement in the research skills as well as analytical skills like time
management, a literature review and other. These all the skills will helpful in completion of a
project in a significant manner. If the present investigation is published, this will more effective
for the organizations or person and societies through make improvement in their understanding
regarding role of the Corporate Social Responsibility in business as well as management
functions (Schoonderbeek, 2018). Other than this, firms can get the benefits through lower cost
of operations, increase sales, high productivity level are also getting the more resources through
willing investors. In context to this, corporate social responsibility is more thoughtful as well as
practical way to give back to society. In this, company gives some part of its profit for the social
benefit. The present investigation is necessary at the practical and academic level through
understanding regarding the corporate social responsibility and how this impact on the business
performance.
DELIVERABLES
The research deliverables is necessary because this helps in support an investigation to
divide the each and every activity in the small group. In this part of research, the work
breakdown structure is effective as well as suitable tool for the deliverables. This is deliverable
oriented hierarchical decomposition of research activities which are mainly implemented through
the team of project or an investigation with an aim to achieving the set research in as well as
objectives. The work breakdown structure is a cornerstone of the better research planning
implementation for monitoring form of a reporting and also controlling. In regards to this, there
are some of the deliverables on the basis of present study mainly conducted like title of
Investigation and description of Investigation, Research question, introduction of project,
collection of information from using the secondary sources in literature review part, research
methodology, explanation review of project and also timeline. These all are the major