Impact of Competition on Organizational Strategies: Asda Case Study

This research proposal examines the impact of competition on organizational strategies, using Asda as a case study. It begins with an introduction outlining the significance of competition in the retail sector and its effects on businesses like Asda. The rationale highlights the need for companies to adapt strategies to survive and thrive amidst intense competition. The aim of the research is to analyze how competition affects organizational strategies to maximize profits. The objectives include assessing the importance of competition, evaluating its impact on strategies, identifying Asda's competitive strategies, and recommending improvements. The research methodology will employ a qualitative approach, incorporating both primary (surveys) and secondary data sources. The proposal outlines the data collection methods, including surveys sent to Asda managers, and provides a detailed time plan and resource requirements. The research aims to provide insights into how companies can formulate effective strategies to leverage competition for enhanced profitability and market share. The proposal concludes with a list of relevant references.

Research Proposal

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................1
RATIONALE/BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
AIM OF RESEARCH......................................................................................................................2
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH.............................................................................................2
RESEARCH QUESTIONS.............................................................................................................2
RESEARCH STRATEGY...............................................................................................................3
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH..............................................................................3
SOURCES OF DATA.....................................................................................................................3
POPULATION AND SAMPLING.................................................................................................4
DATA COLLECTION METHODS................................................................................................4
TIME PLAN....................................................................................................................................5
RESOURCES REQUIRED.............................................................................................................6
references.........................................................................................................................................7
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TITLE
To analyse the impact of competition on organizational strategies for maximizing profits:
A Case study of Asda.
RATIONALE/BACKGROUND
Competition exists in every field and possesses greater benefits for the organization.
Asda is an American owned British founded supermarket retailer. The company offers wide
range of products to their customers. This includes grocery, general merchandise as well as
financial services. Asda face cut throat competition from major retail brands which are operating
in the market place (Godes, Ofek and Sarvary, 2009). In order to get an edge over competitors
the company has to bring alteration in its strategies so that it can run its operations effectively in
the market. The company like Asda sets competitive prices of its products so that; it can gain
loyalty of large number of customers. This leads in increasing market share of the business.
Moreover, the efficiency of the firm is enhanced significantly.
In the present business environment, the role of competition has greatly increased. The
major issue related with this is declining sales of the firm as a result of increasing number of
entrants within retail sector (Ax, Greve and Nilsson, 2008). Thus, there is greater need for the
company to consider strategies of the competitors so that, they can survive in the market place
for longer duration. The present research shed light on the positive and negative impact of
competition on the business strategies. Further, it would be effective for the businesses in gaining
insight to the importance of analysing competition while determining policies.
INTRODUCTION
In today's organization, the role of global competition has both positive as well as
negative impact on business strategies. The impact of global competition on business strategies
has increased the pressure related with globalization. Due to pressure of globalization, the firm is
likely to outsource to minimize the production costs and labour which further results in
increasing profitability of the firm to a greater extent (Yeyatiand Micco, 2007). The role of
competition is significant for Asda in finding better ways of carrying out effective performance.
Competition is considered as the critical driver of innovation as well as performance. It has
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greater benefits for the organizations in terms that it enables them in adopting innovation which
assists in flourishing new ideas within the market place. Open competition allows vendors and
manufacturers to make delivery of wide range of competitive products to the customers across
the globe (Benefits of competition, 2015). This leads to high performance with lower price. One
of the major benefits of competition is that, it assists the firm to look over to quality of services.
Service quality is the key that results in offering satisfaction to its customers. With the increase
in competition, the business like Asda is forced to bring alteration within their services so as to
ensure quality in it.
Proposed research aims at analysing the impact of competition on organizational
strategies for maximizing profits. The proposed investigation includes the positive and negative
impact of competition on the organizational strategies. The study would make use of wide range
of research methods so that, researcher can draw valid conclusion.
AIM OF RESEARCH
The aim of the present research is: To analyse the impact of competition on
organizational strategies for maximizing profits: A Case study of Asda
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH
 To assess the significance of competition in enhancing profitability of Asda.
 To evaluate the impact of competition on organizational strategies.
 To identify strategies adopted by Asda in order to face competition.
 To recommend the ways through which the firm can formulate effective strategies to take
advantage of competition.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 How organizational strategies are affected through competition?
 What strategies have been adopted by Asda in order survive in the market place?
 What are the ways in which competition enhances business profitability?
 What can be alternative ways through which the firm can formulate effective strategies to
take advantage of the competition?
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RESEARCH STRATEGY
Research strategy plays an essential role for the researcher in collecting background
information and making analysis of the data which has been gathered. This has imperative role in
assisting scholar towards achievement of research goal. Research strategy is regarded as
methodology which helps the researcher in investigating the issue under investigation. In present,
there are two types of research strategy that includes qualitative as well as quantitative (Flick,
2011). For the proposed investigation that aims at analysing the impact of competition on
organizational strategies for maximizing profits would employ qualitative approach. This is
because; this approach would assist the researcher in collecting detail information about
responses of the employees in relation to the phenomenon under subject matter. It would prove
to be beneficial in gaining in depth knowledge about views of the population taken for
investigation. Through this, the scholar can develop suitable conclusion from the findings gained
through investigation.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH
Research can be primary as well as secondary. The former is referred to as new research
which is conducted with the aim to respond to specific issues or questions. It is firsthand account
of the study which is written by person who is part of investigation. It includes techniques such
as questionnaire, survey as well as interview (Kuada, 2012). In contrast to this, secondary
research uses information which has already been researched for certain other purpose. It
involves published data, books, online, journals and articles etc. For the proposed research on
competition, both primary and secondary research will be conducted. This is due to the reason
that, such would result in gaining deeper knowledge regarding the phenomenon under study.
SOURCES OF DATA
The sources of data are categorized into two. This includes primary as well as secondary
data sources. For the proposed investigation impact of competition of organizational strategies in
terms of maximizing products would make use of both primary and secondary sources of data.
Primary data is information which is being gathered by the researcher himself. This is a form of
original, new research information. Primary data includes methods such as interview,
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observations as well as questionnaire (Nalzaro, 2012). This would assist the researcher in gaining
detailed knowledge regarding views of respondents on the subject matter under investigation.
Thus, valid conclusion can be drawn from the research. On the contrary, secondary sources of
data include information which has already been produced by other individuals. It includes
techniques such as internet, books, office statistics, magazines etc.
POPULATION AND SAMPLING
Sampling is regarded as the technique which is employed for the purpose of studying few
selected items. The small selection is known as sample. For the proposed study on impact of
competition, probability sampling technique would be employed. For the purpose of conducting
research it becomes difficult for the researcher to collect information from entire population
(Goddard and Melville, 2004). With the aim to resolve such, selection of sample is done. This
technique is effective as it offers equal opportunity to all the employees in getting selected as
part of investigation.
Another major aspect in sampling relates with determination sample size. It is referred to
as the number of units that have become part of the research (Saunders, 2003). This presents the
number of respondents from whom the data will be collected for conducting research. For the
present investigation that aims at analysing the impact of competition of organizational strategies
sample size of 10 respondents will be taken. This will include managers of Asda.
DATA COLLECTION METHODS
Data collection technique plays an essential role in carrying out investigation with
effectiveness. Such tool would be used by the researcher with the aim to collect information in
order attain research aims and objectives. There is existence of two methods for data collection.
This includes primary and secondary methods. For the proposed study, on impact of competition
both primary and secondary methods will be employed. Primary method includes collection of
data for first time (Hogg, 2008). With the assistance of such the new information will be
gathered by the researcher while conducting investigation. Primary data collection can be carried
out through techniques such as questionnaire, interview, focus group as well as survey. This acts
as an aid in gathering detailed views of the respondents.
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Under the proposed research, survey method would be used for collecting primary
information. This would be collected through means of questionnaire that will be mailed to the
senior managers of Asda. This method of data collection is suitable as it takes into account
geographical barriers.
TIME PLAN
Activity 1th
Week
2nd
Week
3 rd
Week
4t
Week
5th
Week
6th
Week
7th
Week
8th
Week
9th
Week
10th
Week
Drafting
Researc
h
Proposal
Literatu
re
Review
Setting
aims
and
objectiv
es
Drafting
literatur
e review
Drafting
of
methodo
logy
Develop
ing
question
naire
Collecti
on of
Data
Analysis
of Data
Draft
Findings
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Analyse
data
Remaini
ng
chapters
completi
on
RESOURCES REQUIRED
There is existence of wide range of resources which are needed for the purpose of
conducting the research with effectiveness (Guercini, 2014). This includes the following:
 Financial resources
 Human resources
 Technological resources
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REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Ax, C., Greve, J. and Nilsson, U., 2008. The impact of competition and uncertainty on the
adoption of target costing. International Journal of Production Economics. 115(1). pp.92-103.
Flick, U., 2011. Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner's Guide to Doing a Research
Project. SAGE.
Goddard, W. and Melville, S., 2004. Research Methodology: An Introduction. Juta and Company
Ltd.
Godes, D., Ofek, E. and Sarvary, M., 2009. Content vs. advertising: The impact of competition
on media firm strategy. Marketing Science. 28(1). pp.20-35.
Guercini, S., 2014. New qualitative research methodologies in management. Management
Decision. 52(4). pp.662–674.
Hogg, K. M., 2008. Composing Qualitative Research. Qualitative Market Research: An
International Journal. 11(4). pp.439–443.
Kuada, J., 2012. Research Methodology: A Project Guide for University Students.
Samfundslitteratur.
Saunders, M., 2003. Research Methods for Business Students. Pearson Education.
Yeyati, E. L. and Micco, A., 2007. Concentration and foreign penetration in Latin American
banking sectors: Impact on competition and risk. Journal of Banking & Finance. 31(6).
pp.1633-1647.
Online
Benefits of competition. 2015. [Online]. Available through: <http://www.amd.com/en-us/who-
we-are/corporate-information/competition/benefits>. [Accessed on 2nd October 2015].
Nalzaro, M., 2012. Methods of data collection. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.slideshare.net/ludymae/chapter-9methods-of-data-collection>. [Accessed on 2nd
October 2015].
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