Analyzing CSR and Transparency Challenges: Aston Martin Case Study

This project examines the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of Aston Martin, focusing on the challenges arising from a lack of transparency in its corporate governance. The research explores the definition of CSR, its importance in the automotive industry, and the specific issues faced by Aston Martin due to governance shortcomings. The study investigates the impact of these issues, including potential accounting errors, fraud, and damage to brand image and customer loyalty. The research employs a secondary evaluation, analyzing online articles and journals to understand the concepts. The project uses the research onion methodology, adopting an interpretivism philosophy and an inductive approach. It recommends improved communication, regular board meetings, and the formation of an independent audit committee to enhance transparency and fulfill CSR responsibilities. The findings highlight the importance of ethical practices and stakeholder considerations. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of effective communication and an independent audit committee for transparent corporate governance to meet a company's CSR objectives.

Research Title: To evaluate about the issue associated with the lack of
transparency in Corporate Governance of an organisation. A case study on
Aston martin
INTRODUCTION
Abstract: The current poster is based on the topic of issues faced by an
organisation which are associated with the lack of transparency in Corporate
Governance. Thus, a study is conducted to develop better understanding about
the concept of CSR along with evaluating the impact lead by above stated
issue. For that purpose, a secondary evaluation is lead out which comprises
analysis of various online article and journals to develop better awareness
about selected topic.
Introduction: Corporate social responsibility is mainly associated with the
management concept that aim at setting a balance and integrating social and
environmental concern with the business operations in order to meet the
expectation and desires of its stakeholders along with overall society and
environment. The current assignment is based on Aston martin that is well
known automotive organisation deals in manufacturing of luxury cars and
other vehicles. This particular research project is focused on the issues faced
by a company while managing and leading its CSR which comprises of lack
of transparency in its corporate governance which create many challenge and
drawback for a company.
Background: The background of current research project is based in the
issues faced by an organisation due to lack of transparency in its corporate
Governance. CSR is a vast concept that comprises of many topic like ethical
practices, corporate governance etc. An organisation faces many issues and
implication regarding the CSR especially associated with the fulfilment and
effective utilisation of its corporate governance. The main emphasis and focus
of current research is associated with the issue associated with the lack of
transparency in Corporate Governance of an organisation for which the
selected company is Aston Martin.
Hypothesis (Aim): The main aim associated with current research poster is,
“To review about the concept of CSR along with the main issues faced due to
lack of transparency in Corporate Governance of an organisation”. A research
project on Aston Martin.
Hypothesis and Research questions
 What is meant by the conception of CSR along with its importance
for Automotive Industry?
 Is their any significant impact of issues faced by Aston Martin due
to lack of transparency in its Corporate Governance?
 What are the better ways that can be adopted by Aston Martin to
overcome the issues of lack of transparency in corporate
governance to fulfil its CSR in a better way?
Further, this lack of transparency in corporate governance also leads to many
accounting errors and frauds which understate the share of Aston martin which has
caused huge losses. Thus, an evaluation can be made that lack of transparency in
corporate governance is a big issues for an organisation that hampers its brand
image and customer loyalty as lards to lack of information which enhance the
chances of error and frauds along with difficulty in decision making.
To investigate about the better ways that can be adopted by Aston Martin to
overcome the issues of lack of transparency in corporate governance to fulfil its
CSR in a better way.
According to the information provided by Yatin Pawar, 2017, to
ensures a positive working environment and fulfil its CSR responsibility it is vital
for a firm to bring transparency and clarity in its decision making and strategy
formulation that is associate with overcoming the issues of lack of transparency in
corporate governance. The best way that could be adopted by Aston Martin to
bring transparency in its corporate governance comprises of leading better
communication and interaction among all stakeholders so that better decision and
more transparent decisions can be made. Leading regular board meeting and
monitoring work of boards members along with timely communication of
strategies are vital ways to bring transparency in corporate governance. Further
formation of independent audit committee is also a viable way to keep a check on
business operations and bring transparency in corporate governance. Further,
regular audit also ensures a more ethical and prominent way of operations to fulfil
and meet CSR responsibility by Aston martin in order to overcome the issues of
lack of transparency in corporate governance.
Objectives/Purpose: The main objective set out for current research project
are listed as follows:
 To evaluate about the concept of CSR and its importance for
Automotive Industry.
 To determine the impact of issues faced by Aston Martin due to lack
of transparency in its Corporate Governance.
 To investigate about the better ways that can be adopted by Aston
Martin to overcome the issues of lack of transparency in corporate
governance to fulfil its CSR in a better way.
CONTENT
Materials: It comprises of information regarding the resources along with other
assets and material used for leading out current research project. The material
required for current investigation comprise of financial resources and monetary
funds to meet the possible expenditure and cost. Further, technical material
which comprises of laptop, internet and other online and digital tools are also
made for data collection and analysis.
Analysis: This section of current research project comprises of discussion and
evaluation of various online articles and other authenticated journals. Analysis
of literature review provides a better understanding and awareness about the
selected topic a description and evaluation of which is provided below in
association with current caresser topic based on issues of lack of transparency
in corporate governance.
To evaluate about the concept of CSR and its importance for Automotive
Industry
As per the view point of Jamali, D. and Karam, C., 2018, , the
concept of CSR is associated with the ways and efforts that are adopted by
companies while managing their business operation and process to lead a
overall positive impact on society and overall environment. Thus, CSR is a self
regulating model that is used by an organisation to set a balance and
coordination between demands and desires of its stakeholders along with
meeting expectation of overall society and environment. In automotive sector,
the implication of CSR comprises of operating their business activities in such
a way that enhance value for society and at the same time contributes for
prevention and conservation of environment. For instance, the e-vehicles
launched by Aston martin is having a aim to reduce carbon emission and
providing a much healthy and positive atmosphere for society.
To determine the impact of issues faced by Aston Martin due to lack of
transparency in its Corporate Governance.
The concept of CSR comprises of having an efficient Corporate
governance which is based on ethics and consists of all the rules and processes
according to which businesses are operated and controlled. With respect to the
information provided by the Gábor Szalay, 2019, it has been evaluated that the
main issues which are faced by an organisation that arise in their corporate
governance comprises of conflicts of interest, accountability issues, oversight
issues, lack of transparency and ethic violation. It has been evaluated that the
lack of transparency in corporate governance is faced by Aston martin which
has lead to many issues for this organisation comprises of evidence that its
major shareholders are not properly informed and many difficulty and
complexity are also faced in decision making process.
CSR and Partnership
INTRODUCTION

Methodology and Models
This section of current research poster comprises of discussion
about the main research methods and techniques used for leading out current
investigation and study. To lead better adoption of research methods and
suitable models implication of research onion is made a discussion and
evaluation of which is provided below:
Research Philosophy- it being the first layer of research onion
that is basically divided and bifurcated into four main parts consists of
positivism, Interpretivism, realism and pragmatism. With respect to nature of
current investigation use of interpretivism philosophy is made as it lead to
better support for qualitative and theoretical nature of information and also
allows better evaluation of set objectives.
Research approach- it is mainly of two types comprises of
deductive and inductive form of research approach. In accordance with set
objectives and hypothesis for current research poster, implication and use of
inductive approach is more suitable and justifiable as it provide better
scanning and analysis of theoretical and in-depth form of information for
better accomplishment of desired objectives.
Research strategy and model- a large number of strategies are their that can
be adopted or used by a researcher for conducting a study and investigation
which comprises of survey, interview, observation, action research,
experimental research etc. Out of theses research models and strategies,
utilisation of survey model is made which comprises of review and analysis
of available online articles and journals for the purpose of data collection.
Choices of method- basically there are two main kinds or types of research
method which consists of qualitative and quantitative method from which
adoption of qualitative way of investigative is adopted for current research
poster as it ensures and leads to collection of more in-depth and theoretical
form of data to have better perception and implication about selected
research topic.
Data collection- from the two main sources of data collection i.e.
primary and secondary sources adoption of secondary sources are made for
current project as it is less time consuming and easily available. Data has
been collected with the help of authentic online articles and authorised
journals.
Results
The main outcomes and result of current investigation comprises
of better understanding about the concept of CSR which is model used by
business organisation to set a balance between interest of its stakeholders
and overall society. Further, it has been also find out that difficulty in
decision making and reduce profit along with reduction of customer loyalty
is lead by issue of lack of transparency in corporate governance. Further, the
result of current poster also comprise of evaluation of effective
communication and independent audit committee as a way to overcome the
issue of lack of transparency in corporate governance.
OUTCOMES
Conclusion
With respect to current research project a conclusion can be made
that the concept of CSR is vital for business organisation as it lead to more
ethical practises and consideration to meet expectations and desires of
shareholders along with overall society and environment. Further, it has been
also summarised that complexity in decision making and reduction in loyalty
of stakeholders is lead by lack of transparency in corporate governance.
Finally, it has been concluded that adoption of effective communication
along with an independent audit committee lards to a more transparent
corporatize governance to meet the CSR of a company.
Recommendations
On the basis of current research project following recommendations could
be made for Aston martin to overcome the issues of lack of transparency in corporate
governance to fulfil its CSR in a better way:
 Adoption of effective communication is highly recommended for Aston
Martin as it lead to more clarity and enhance transparency at workplace by
manes of enhanced discussion and interaction.
 Formation of independent audit committee is also suggested for Aston
martin as it lead to better check and monitoring over work of boards of
directors which facilitates and ensures more ethical operation and also
improve transparency in corporate governance.
Implications
The main implication of current research project comprises of analysis of
impact lead by issue of lack of transparency in corporate governance on the overall
business operation and profitability of Aston martin. It has been implicated that the
lack of transparency hampers the decision making process and also leads to reduction
of customer loyalty and hampers concomitant level of shareholder as they are unaware
about the vital information. Thus, a reduction in profitability along with increased
chances of accounting frauds and unethical business conduct are lead by lack of
transparency in corporate governance.
Discussion
A Discussion could be made that CSR is vital and important concept which
makes an organisation more socially accountable and ensures meeting up of desires of
its stakeholders and overall society. Further, a discussion can be made that lack of
transparency in corporate governance hampers decision making and also reduce the
profit of an organisation through loss loyalty level in customers and stakeholders.
Thus, bitter ways are needed by organisation to fulfil its CSR along with overcoming
the issue of lack of transparency which comprises of effective communication and
formation of independent audit committee.
Yakovleva, N., 2017. Corporate social responsibility in the mining industries.
Routledge.
Jamali, D. and Karam, C., 2018. Corporate social responsibility in developing
countries as an emerging field of study. International Journal of Management
Reviews. 20(1). pp.32-61.
Online
Yatin Pawar. 2017. 5 Effective Ways To Bring Transparency In The Workplace.
[Online]. Available through: <https://upraise.io/blog/5-ways-bring-transparency-
workplace/>.
References