CSR Impact on LSI Architects: Meeting Sustainable Objectives Project

This project examines the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities within LSI Architects, a construction company, to meet sustainable objectives. The project begins with an introduction to CSR and its importance, followed by a project management plan outlining activities, timelines, and financial resources using tools like Gantt charts, work breakdown structures, and network diagrams to manage the project. The study employs a qualitative research approach, utilizing questionnaires to gather data from managers regarding their understanding and perceptions of CSR initiatives. Thematic analysis of the survey responses reveals insights into LSI Architects' current CSR practices, their impact on customer buying behavior, and the role of different departments in implementing CSR. The project concludes with recommendations for LSI Architects to enhance its CSR initiatives and achieve long-term sustainability, including suggestions to consider additional CSR activities within the working environment. The critical path analysis determined the project can be completed in 76 days instead of 87 days.

MANAGING SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS

ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1: Work breakdown structure .......................................................................................4
Illustration 2: Gantt Chart................................................................................................................4
Illustration 3: Network Diagram......................................................................................................5

PROJECT TOPIC
“Implementing CSR activities within organisations to meet sustainable objectives”
INTRODUCTION
Each and every organisation considers various kinds of the methods and techniques in
order to boost up profitability and achieve objectives. Corporate social responsibility is one of
the highly important tools which is used by most of the firms in corporate world. The present
study is based on LSI Architects company which is one of the small enterprises within
construction industry of UK. The project provides information about ways in which CSR
activities have created an impact on the business operations. Moreover, from the study reader
will be able to assess that from CSR initiatives LSI Architects meet sustainable objectives up to
which extent properly. Apart from this, it elaborates various project management tools like Gantt
chart and network diagram. The critical path is also determined in the study which is supportive
to reduce total project duration and achieve objectives within the time frame. At the end of the
study, suggestions or recommendations are provided to LSI Architects to use other effective CSR
initiatives within the working environment.
TASK 1
P1 Aim as well as objectives of the study
Aim:
To analyse influences of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) on a company for
gaining competitive benefits and achieving sustainable objectives.
On the basis of above stated aim, objectives gained which are mentioned as below:
Objectives:
 To identify existing CSR activities implemented by LSI Architects within the workplace.
 To recognise the impact of CSR initiatives on the buying behaviour of the customers
within LSI Architects.
 To assess influences of CSR activities on competitive benefits of the selected retail store.
 To recommend LSI Architects for considering additional CSR initiatives to meet the
objectives.
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P2 Preparation of project management plan based on activities, time and cost
A formal outline in which activities showed that how the project will be started, executed
and monitored in an appropriate manner is known as project management plan (Ramazani and
Jergeas, 2015). It is one of the highly important concepts of each and every study by which team
is able to meet its agreed objectives properly. Through this plan individual of the project and
overall group can know that which activities are mandatory to consider and which can be avoid
(Garel, 2013). For the present research of LSI Architects company, project management plan is
prepared as shown below:
Activity Name of task or activity Preceding
activity
Time resources
(in days)
Financial
resources (in GBP)
Planning phase of project 21 days 1390 GBP
A Select topic of the project - 5 300
B Determine issues or problem
statement
A 2 150
C Devise aims and objectives A, B 3 200
D Preparing budget C 4 90
E Allocate needed resources D 7 650
Implementation phase of
project
49 days 4170 GBP
F Reviews of different kinds of
literatures
E 11 980
G Select specific tools for
research
E 5 350
H Collect valid and reliable F, G 13 1120
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information (Walker, 2015)
I Structuring collected data in
proper way
H 3 260
J Assessing facts which are
gathered
I 17 1460
Closing phase of project 17 days 1990 GBP
K Draw an appropriate
conclusion
J 9 750
L Give suitable advice to LSI
Architects
K 4 590
M Project documentation K, L 3 450
N Final submission of the project M 1 200
Total duration and budget of the research 87 days 7550 GBP
P3 Stating work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
Project management is a wide topic which includes several kinds of the tools and aspects.
After taking help of these techniques, project plan become highly effective and can be managed
appropriately. Basic tools of this particular subject include WBS, network diagram, critical path
as well as the Gantt chart (Martinsuo, 2013). These all the charts and structure are prepared with
the help of above project management plan and this is stated below:
WBS
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Illustration 1: Work breakdown structure
Gantt Chart
4

Illustration 2: Gantt Chart
Network Diagram
Illustration 3: Network Diagram
Critical Path
1+3+4+5+6+8+9+10+11+13+14
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Project duration
5+3+4+7+11+13+3+17+9+3+1 = 76 days
From the above critical path, it has been derived that project can be completed within 76
days instead of total 87 days. Moreover, the project will accomplish before 11 days from the
deadline predetermined.
TASK 2
P4 Conducting small-scale research by considering base of qualitative method
In order to make an analysis of a particular problem statement, different kinds of research
methods are taken into consideration by the scholar. After taking help of these tools effective
study can be done and valid conclusion can be drawn. There are basically two methods included
for conducting research like qualitative and quantitative. In the project when the solution has to
be determined using facts and figures then the second method of research is considered i.e.
quantitative approach. On the other hand, if a study is based on the theoretical concept then not
required considering numerical part and that time qualitative tool is undertaken (Mackey and
Gass, 2015). The present project uses questionnaire and avoid to the numerical facts and
secondary information. Due to this reason, the qualitative technique of investigation seems
highly suitable in the present study where in which survey source used by the analyst. Moreover,
questionnaire and analysis of the study both are stated below:
Research Questionnaire
Demographic Information
Name _________________
Age ___________________
Gender ________________
Que. 1: Do you know about CSR initiative concept properly used by an organisation?
 Yes
 No
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Que. 2: Which among these CSR activities currently adopted by LSI Architects company?
 Women empowerment
 Financial support to charitable trusts
 Developing rural areas
 Environment protection
Que. 3: Do you agree that CSR initiatives help toboost up buying behaviour of consumers?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Moderate
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Que. 4: Do you think that CSR activities are supportive to improve sales and profitability of LSI
Architects in the industry?
 Yes
 No
Que. 5: From the following which of the department is responsible for framing and
implementing CSR initiatives within an enterprise?
 Human resource
 Corporate governance
 Administration department
Que. 6: Do you agree that LSI Architects can sustain in market for long-term after performing
CSR activities?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
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 Moderate
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Que. 7: Do you want to recommend LSI Architects for adopting additional CSR activities
within workplace?
 Yes
 No
Thematic analysis:
Theme 1: Managers know about CSR initiative concept properly used by an organisation.
Responses Respondents
Yes 8
No 4
Total 12
Yes
No
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
8
4
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Analysis: From the above stated theme, it can be found that 8 managers out of 12 of LSI
Architects enterprise have knowledge about CSR initiatives. In opposite to this, only 4
respondents were unaware of these kinds of strategies executed within the working environment.
The reason is that, the majority of the managers involved by the companies while framing as
well as introducing CSR activities. There are few managers who are not taking participation in
this CSR activities by which they do not know about this.
Theme 2: CSR activities which are currently adopted by LSI Architects company.
Responses Respondents
Women empowerment 3
Financial support to charitable trusts 4
Developing rural areas 3
Environment protection 2
Total 12
Women empowerment
Financial support to charitable trusts
Developing rural areas
Environment protection
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
3
4
3
2
Analysis: It has been depicted on the above prepared chart that, LSI Architects adopted
different types of the CSR activities currently. As per 4 managers of LSI, it supports charitable
institutes and trusts in monetary form which is one of the effectual CSR. Apart from this, it
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