Managing Successful Business Project: CSR and Competitive Advantage

This project, centered on the Charlotte Street Hotel, explores the significance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in enhancing competitive advantage and sustainability. The research encompasses a comprehensive project management plan, including detailed timelines and resource allocation. A Gantt chart visually represents the project's phases: planning, implementation, and closure. Small-scale research, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, was conducted with hotel managers to gather insights on CSR practices. The findings, presented in several tables, highlight the relationship between CSR and competitive advantage, the impact on brand image, and key issues within the hotel. The research identifies the advantages of CSR implementation, including increased sustainability and employee satisfaction. The project also delves into research methodologies, providing a thorough analysis of the data collected and offering conclusions and recommendations for successful CSR implementation within the hotel. The project concludes with a reflection on the research process and its implications.

MANAGING SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
P1Aim and objective of project...................................................................................................3
P2 Project management plan........................................................................................................4
P3 Producing Gantt chart.............................................................................................................5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods..................6
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................12
P5 Research methodologies.......................................................................................................12
P6 Conclusion and recommendation.........................................................................................15
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................16
P7 Reflection on research project..............................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................18
Index of Tables
Table 1 relationship between CSR and competitive advantage......................................................7
Table 2 CSR and brand image.......................................................................................................8
Table 3 issue in the Charlotte street hotel........................................................................................8
Table 4 Advantage of CSR activities...............................................................................................9
Table 5 implement CSR activities................................................................................................10
Table 6 CSR and business performance......................................................................................11
2

TASK 1
P1Aim and objective of project
Research Topic
“Implementing CSR activities within organization to meet sustainability objectives.
Introduction
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an essential part of business units which ensures
that firms conduct their operations ethically. It is necessary for the organizations to consider the
social, economic and environment aspects (Pérez, Martínez and Del Bosque, 2013). In the
globalized era CSR has become the important way that can help in increasing competitive
advantage and raising brand awareness. It builds trust of users and staff members so that they be
loyal towards the company and be associated with the brand for longer duration. The major
advantage of implementing corporate social responsibility is that it supports in improving the
business standing so that firm can sustain in the market for longer duration. Positive publicity
and media interest support in increasing the sales revenues of the corporation. Present research is
based on the case study of Charlotte hotel (Romani, Grappi and Bagozzi, 2013). The study has
been conducted with the purpose of identifying the significance of CSR in order to increase
competitive advantage and sustainability of the firm.
Research Aim
“To identify the role of CSR in increasing competitive advantage and sustainability; A study on
Charlotte street hotel”.
Objectives:
 To understand the conceptual frame work of Corporate social responsibility in globalized
era.
 To investigate the role of CSR within Charlotte street hotel.
 To identify the impact of CSR in increasing competitive advantage and sustainability. To suggest ways that can support organization in implementing successful CSR activities
in order to gain competitive advantage.
Research question
 What is the meaning of corporate social responsibility?
 Which role play by the CSR in the Charlotte street hotel?
3

 How CSR impact on the sustainability of the organization?
P2 Project management plan
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Research project 94 days Mon 2/27/17 Thu 7/6/17
Planning for the project 24 days Mon 2/27/17 Thu 3/30/17
Selection of research topic 10 days Mon 2/27/17 Fri 3/10/17
Make problem statement 6 days Mon 3/13/17 Mon 3/20/17 3
Setting of time frame and allocation
of resources 8 days Tue 3/21/17 Thu 3/30/17 4
Implementation of activities 61 days Fri 3/31/17 Fri 6/23/17
literature review 16 days Fri 3/31/17 Fri 4/21/17 5
Selection of research methodologies 18 days Mon 4/24/17 Wed 5/17/17 7
Calculation of the costs 7 days Thu 5/18/17 Fri 5/26/17 8
Data analysis and interpretation 20 days Mon 5/29/17 Fri 6/23/17 9
Evaluate results 11 days Mon 5/29/17 Mon 6/12/17 9
Project closer 18 days Tue 6/13/17 Thu 7/6/17
Conclusion and recommendations 9 days Tue 6/13/17 Fri 6/23/17 11
Proper documentation of results 7 days Mon 6/26/17 Tue 7/4/17 13
Submission of project 2 days Wed 7/5/17 Thu 7/6/17 14
Project plan is divided into three phases; planning, implementation and project closer. In
the planning stage researcher has to select the research topic which is one of the major task in the
project. It has taken 10 days in choosing the topic on which individual is going to investigate.
After that scholar has make problem statement and set time framework. As per the requirement
of activities individual has allocated resources, it has taken 8 days in allocating the resources. In
the Implementation stage researcher has review literature of other authors on CSR activities.
After that research methods have been selected and data will be analyzed in order to get
optimistic results. This stage will take 61 days (Kemper and et.al, 2013). In the last phase scholar
will conclude the project and will give recommendation. Individual will make unnecessary
modification as per the requirement of client and final report will be submitted. Total duration of
entire project will be 94 days.
4

P3 Producing Gantt chart
5

Gantt chart is the tool that illustrate starting and finishing timing of the project. It also
defines the summary of entire project which is going to complete. Presented Gantt chart shows
that CSR report will take 24 days in the initial planning stage (Erhemjamts, Li and
Venkateswaran, 2013). Implementation phase will be completed within 61 days. And close phase
will take 18 days.
TASK 2
P4 Small scale research
Researcher has taken permission of higher authorities of Charlotte street hotel for asking
questions with their managers regarding CSR activities and implementation in the company.
Individual has selected managers of Charlotte street hotel as respondents in order to collect
information about the subject matter. In the cited firm there were 30 managers but investigator
has involved 10 managers in the research or has asked questions with them. It is 33.33% of
overall population. In this 30% respondent were female and 70% were male participants.
Gender
Age
Name
Is there strong relationship between competitive advantage and CSR?
 Strongly agree
6

 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Do you think that CSR activities are helpful in increasing brand awareness?
 Yes
 No
According to you what is major issue in the Charlotte street hotel?
 Women right
 Employees safety
 Poor quality
What is the main advantage of implementing CSR activities in the organization?
 Increase sustainability
 Gaining competitive advantage
 Brand awareness
 Employees satisfaction
How can you implement CSR activities in the organization?
 Organizing charity events
 Through voluntary
 Providing financial support to community
Do you really think, that CSR can enhance business performance?
 Yes
 No
To recommend strategy for CSR implementation in the Charlotte street hotel.
Theme 1: There is strong relationship between CSR and competitive advantage.
Table 1 Relationship between CSR and competitive advantage
Strongly agree 7
7

Agree 4
Disagree 3
Strongly disagree 1
Question 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 2
6 2
7 3
8 2
9 3
10 4
11 4
12 4
13 1
14 1
15 1
Mean
2.06666666
67
Median 2
Mode 1
8
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 7
4
3
1
Column B

Interpretation: Above study it is analyzed that seven respondents has said that they are strongly
agreed with the point that there is strong relationship between CSR and competitive advantage.
Four respondents have viewed that they are agreed with this point. On other hand three answers
have said that they are disagreed with the point that there is relationship between CSR and
competitive advantage (Erhemjamts, Li and Venkateswaran, 2013). So it can be interpreted that
corporate social responsibility has strong linkage with this aspect and it can help the Charlotte
street hotel in gaining competitive advantage. From the above calculation it is found that mean
value of response is 2.06, value of median is 2 and mode value is 1. From the above results it can
be interpreted that there is strong relationship between CSR and competitive advantage. Changes
in one aspect impact on others directly.
Theme 2: CSR activities helps in increasing brand image of the company
Table 2 CSR and brand image
yes 9
No 6
Question 2
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 2
5 2
6 1
7 2
8 1
9 1
10 1
11 2
12 1
13 2
14 1
15 1
Mean 1.3333333333
Median 1
Mode 1
9

Interpretation: Study has describes that nine respondents have said that with the help of CSR
activities Charlotte street hotel can enhance its brand reputation. On other hand six answers have
said that they do not think that CSR supports in increasing brand image of the cited firm
(Hofman and Newman, 2014). So it is analyzed that corporate social responsibility helps in
improving brand image and helps in increasing revenues as well. It is beneficial for the
organization an increase its sales and make people loyal towards the firm. Mean value of the
response is 1.33, median is 1 and mode is 1. From the above calculation it can be interpreted that
corporate social responsibility supports in increasing brand image of entity.
Theme 3: Main issue in the Charlotte street hotel
Table 3 issue in the Charlotte street hotel
Women right 2
Employees safety 7
Poor quality 6
Question 3
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 3
9 2
10
yes
No
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9
6
Column F

10 2
11 2
12 1
13 1
14 1
15 2
Mean 2.1333333333
Median 2
Mode 2
Interpretation: It is found that there are many problems in the Charlotte street hotel, women
rights, employee safety and poor quality products are main issues in the organization. When the
researcher asked question on it, then seven respondents have viewed that they think that safety
of staff members is the major problem in the workplace (Kemper and et.al, 2013). Six answers
have viewed that cited firm offering poor quality services to the guest s that is why sales of the
company is very low. Two managers have said that women are not safe in the organization that is
main issue in the cited firm. From the discussion it can be interpreted that Charlotte street hotel
is facing the issue of employees safety and it needs to work on it for making its staff members
satisfied and loyal towards the brand. Mean value is 2.13, median is 2 and vale of mode is 2. It
can be interpreted that employee safety is the major issue in the cited firm due to which it is
unable to accomplish its objective.
Theme 4: Advantage of implementing CSR activities in the organization.
11
2
7
6 Women right
Employees safety
Poor quality

Table 4 Advantage of CSR activities
Increase sustainability 6
Gaining competitive advantage 4
Brand awareness 3
Employees satisfaction 2
Question 4
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 3
8 3
9 4
10 4
11 1
12 1
13 1
14 1
15 1
Mean 1.8666666667
Median 1
Mode 1
12
Increase sustainability
Gaining competitive advantage
Brand awareness
Employees satisfaction
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 6
4
3
2 Column E