Research Project: Global Business Environment and Aviva plc Analysis

This research project investigates the benefits and drawbacks of the global business environment on the operations and functions of Aviva plc, a British multinational insurance company. The project includes a research proposal outlining the introduction, background, aims, objectives, rational, literature review, and methodology. The main body of the project provides an executive summary, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and recommendations. The study examines the impact of globalization, international forces, and various expansion strategies, such as joint ventures, on Aviva's business. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of operating in a global market, considering factors like political, economic, and social influences. The methodology includes qualitative and quantitative research approaches, with a preference for questionnaires and primary data collection. The project concludes with an analysis of Aviva's global business environment, offering insights into its successes and challenges.

RESEARCH
PROJECT

Table of Contents
TITLE: ............................................................................................................................................3
PART 1: RESEARCH PROPOSAL ...............................................................................................3
Introduction............................................................................................................................3
Background.............................................................................................................................3
Research Aims And Objectives .............................................................................................3
Rational For Choosing The Research Topic .........................................................................4
Literature Review...................................................................................................................4
Methodology: ........................................................................................................................7
Timeline of Research Activities ............................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
PART 2: RESEARCH PROJECT ................................................................................................12
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................12
Methodology.........................................................................................................................12
Results/Findings ..................................................................................................................15
Discussion.............................................................................................................................24
Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................26
Recommendation..................................................................................................................27
Reflection ............................................................................................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................29
Appendix .............................................................................................................................31

TITLE:
To investigate the benefits and drawbacks of a global business environment on operations
and functions of company. A case study on Aviva plc.
PART 1: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Introduction
Global business environment can be defined as the task and societal environment of an
enterprise, which is impacted by the international forces (Adams, 2015). These force include
international global labour market, technological, economic, political and legal force, and global
competition. For this research project, chosen company is “Aviva plc” which is a British
multinational insurance organisation. It was founded by Sir Adrian Montague in 2000 and
headquartered in London, UK.
Background
Globalisation has led to maximising competitions and a financial and economic shift
developing to emerging economics. It encourages a sense of cultural awareness, global economic
inter-dependency and international co-operations. For this, Aviva plc decide to expand business
functions in emerging country which will help them to gain competitive advantages and achieve
better outcomes for their global business. Global business environment provide different benefits
and drawbacks to the company. Along with this, in order to globalise business function at
different nations, there are different options such as Joint venture, Franchising, Strategic alliance,
Acquisitions and many other. All this are essential and important ways but Aviva plc only use
joint venture (Andriof and et. al., 2017). Main reason behind selecting this mode is that it can
support an organisation to increase productivity and grow business faster.
Research Aims And Objectives
Research Aim:
"An investigation to the benefits and drawbacks of a global business environment on
functions of an organisation". A case study on Aviva plc.
Research Objectives:
 To analysis the basic concept of global business environment.

 To investigate the benefits and drawbacks of global business environment on functions of
Aviva plc.
 To identify the impact of global business environment on functions of an organisation.
 Recommend different ways through which company can easily globalise their business
function.
Research Questions
 What is the basic concept of global business environment?
 What are the benefits and drawbacks of global business environment on functions of
Aviva plc?
 What is the impact of global business environment on functions of an organisation?
 Recommend different ways through which company can easily globalise their business
functions
Rational For Choosing The Research Topic
Main reason behind choosing this research topic is to analysis the importance of global
business environment for an organisation. This is one of the best concepts for the company to
expand their business functions and accomplish better outcomes (Awa, Ojiabo and Emecheta,
2015). This helps an enterprise DejaVu Sans Mono;MS Minchoto retain strong relation with
international clients and increase their sales and revenues. Therefore, the major reason for
conducting the investigation is to exploring the knowledge and skill of a learner in the particular
area of research.
Literature Review
It is defined as the search and evaluation of the available literature so as to find the issue
related to a particular topic or area. It defines the detailed view of the perception of researcher. It
is used to address the objectives and aim of the research.
To analyse the basic concept of global business environment
According to Tanner, (2018), global business environment is the environment in which a
business is going to operate with different conditions which sometimes favours and sometimes
not. This environment could be a neighbouring country or the country in other continent. If a
company is processing its business in global market than the effect of global market will be on
the company. This is the change for which every company which is going to invest globally
should be prepared. Since Aviva plc is also operating globally, therefore the impact of global

market also affects its functions. Basically there are four components which can affect the
business of Aviva plc. Such as competitors, suppliers, distributor, customers. In global business
environment, companies which are selling the same products or services with Aviva plc are
known as the competitors. The suppliers are those who provide raw material of services to Aviva
plc. The distributors are responsible to distribute the services of Aviva plc to its customer.
Customers are the end user of the services provided by Aviva plc. All of the above components
of Aviva plc affects the working or functionality of company into global business environment.
Benefits and drawbacks of global business environment on functions of Aviva plc.
According to Anderson, (2017), the main advantages and disadvantages of global
business environment on the functions of Aviva plc are as follows:
Advantages
The main advantages of Aviva plc to be globalized is that it does not depend on its local
economy and can continuously invest in the global market. Every company has the target of
increase in sales and service. If a company is providing its services in a specific country than it
would not have the chances to expand its business globally. Entering into the global business
environment provides an opportunity for Aviva plc to expand its business across the globe and
thus can increase its sales and services.
Disadvantage
The disadvantage of entering into the global market to any company is that the result to
entering into global market will not come in quick time, it can take a number of years to show
the result. Another effect is that, the company requires additional workforce or resources to come
and serve for them. The factors of affecting the business will also increase when entering into the
global market. Companies like Aviva plc have to modify the changes according to the
requirement of the local customers in which market is exploring.
Impact of global business environment on functions of an organisation
According to Leigh-Hunt, (2016), following are the impact of global business
environment on Aviva Plc.
Political:
When Aviva plc is going to invest its business in global market than it has the biggest
influence of political stability of that country in which it is going to invest. If the policies of
Aviva and that country does not match than it will be harder for the company to survive because

policies will impact its business functionality. Change in the policies of Aviva is necessary for
the company to survive in other country.
Economical:
If Aviva is going to invest in other country than the economical factor of that country also
affects its working. If the economic condition of country is not good i.e. the purchasing power of
customers is not good than the business of Aviva will surely affected. Thus it should invest in
that country where the economy will be strong enough to built a new market.
Social:
The social factors include the personal aspects of customer such as nature, knowledge of
product or services, reliability etc. Aviva group should compare the social and self factors so that
its product will be able to purchased by the customer of country where it is investing.
Different ways through which company can easily globalise their business function.
According to Miley, (2018), the ways through which a business a globalise itself are
stated as follows:
Joint Venture:
If a company does not mind to share their business than joint venture is good option for a
company which is going to start its business on a new soil. Aviva plc can start its business with a
company which is already operating in that country. This will surely reduce the cost of both
companies and the profit and loss will be divided accordingly.
Acquisition:
If Aviva plc have sufficient funds than it can acquire a company which is already
operating its business in that country. Acquisition suggests that the company will be truly owned
by Aviva and thus they can easily enters into the foreign market. The policies and laws can be
used by Aviva because the acquired company is well known with.
Franchising and Licensing:
If Aviva wants to establish its business on foreign soil with its name than franchising and
licensing is the better option for them to start globally. A person or company will use the name
of Aviva to start its business, the resources and mechanism will be offered by Aviva and it will
get every year fee of using its name by others.
Methodology:
Research Approaches

Research Approaches are the plans and the procedures which consist of steps to perform
a particular task. There are two types of Research Approaches. These are:
1. Qualitative Research Approach: This approach provides the knowledge about the
opinions, thoughts regarding the project at a broad level. It is used to understand the
reasons and for the in-depth research of the task (Buckley and Ghauri, 2015).
2. Quantitative Research Approach: This approach uses the numerical symbols and
numbers. This approach is mainly used for the surveys and statistical data collection.
In these Approaches, Qualitative Approach is preferred as it provides an in-depth and detailed
description about the research done.
Main Research Techniques
For developing and getting more knowledge about the topic, research techniques are
used. Some of them are:
1. Interviews: An interview is a conversation in which face-to-face questions are asked by
the interviewer and answers are given by the interviewee (Cavusgil and Knight, 2015).
2. Questionnaire: A questionnaire is a set of written questions and answers made for the
purpose of surveys and research.
3. Case Study: Case Study refers to the detailed examination and study of a subject with its
real life context and explaining in the form of a formal research.
4. Modelling: Modelling refers to the analysing and collection of those data which supports
in the specific study of the topic.
In these Research Techniques, Questionnaire is preferred to be used because the data collection
is not on a broad base. Data is collected which relates to the questions directly.
Data Collection Procedures
Data Collection Procedure is the process of collecting the quality information in order to
provide the relevant answers to questions. There are two types of Data Collection Procedures:
1. Primary Data: These are fresh collected data or can be described as the first hand
collection of data known as the Primary Data (Dyllick and Muff, 2016). The Difficulties
in Collecting Data from Primary Source is that it is a time consuming process and it is
also an expensive work.

2. Secondary Data: The data which we have been already presented by someone else and
now it is collected for the evaluation or for the study purpose. This type of data is
collected through books, magazines and journals etc.
The use of Primary Data is preferred because it directly comes from the observations, actions and
reactions on the different issues and it is mainly related to the specific study related to the topic.
The sources can be the speeches, interviews, questionnaire, paintings, photographs and many
more.
Analytical Techniques
Analytical Techniques are those defined techniques or procedures which tell the
researcher how to analyse a problem or the fact related to the problem. These techniques are
classified into time-limited and task-limited.
On the basis of the time limited techniques, Gantt chart is used in the project
management. With the help of this chart, the specific time required for the completion of any
project can be evaluated (Eloranta and Turunen, 2015). Or in other words, it can be said that the
most suitable time related to the completion of research activities such as defining aims and
objectives, literature review, etc. is presented through Gantt Chart.
Timeline of Research Activities
Timeline is identify as one of the main and important part of the research because with
the help of this researcher can easily analyse opening and closing time period of research
activities. For this Gantt Chart is introduced as a horizontal bar chart that gives a graphical
illustrations of a time that assist to plan, set up and track particular tasks in the research project.
Gantt charts are useful and effective for scheduling and planning project (Epstein, 2018). They
support an investigator assess how long a research project should take, analysis the resources
required and plan the order in which research will complete all tasks. This tool is also essential
and helpful for the investigator in managing the dependencies between each and every activities
of research. There are different activities for this research project such as problem identification,
aims and objectives, literature review, research methodology, collection of data, analysis of data,
conclusion and recommendation and submission of final project. All this steps are useful and
important for an investigator to identify time opening and ending time of all research activities.
Thus, it is useful and valuable for an investigator to achieve effective outcomes for the research
project.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adams, C. A., 2015. The international integrated reporting council: a call to action. Critical
Perspectives on Accounting. 27. pp.23-28.
Andriof and et. al., 2017. Unfolding stakeholder engagement. In Unfolding stakeholder
thinking (pp. 19-42). Routledge.
Awa, H. O., Ojiabo, O. U. and Emecheta, B. C., 2015. Integrating TAM, TPB and TOE
frameworks and expanding their characteristic constructs for e-commerce adoption by
SMEs. Journal of Science & Technology Policy Management. 6(1). pp.76-94.
Buckley, P. and Ghauri, P., 2015. The internalisation theory of the multinational enterprise: A
review of the progress of a research agenda after 30 years. In International Business
Strategy (pp. 99-121). Routledge.
Cavusgil, S. T. and Knight, G., 2015. The born global firm: An entrepreneurial and capabilities
perspective on early and rapid internationalization. Journal of International Business
Studies. 46(1). pp.3-16.
Dyllick, T. and Muff, K., 2016. Clarifying the meaning of sustainable business: Introducing a
typology from business-as-usual to true business sustainability. Organization &
Environment. 29(2). pp.156-174.
Eloranta, V. and Turunen, T., 2015. Seeking competitive advantage with service infusion: a
systematic literature review. Journal of Service Management. 26(3). pp.394-425.
Online
Tanner. A., 2018. Concept Of Global Business Environment. [Online]. Available
through:<https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-global-environment-definition-
importance.html>.
Anderson. T., 2017. Benefits and Drawbacks of Global Business Environment. [Online].
Available through:<https://bizfluent.com/info-8172773-global-business-advantages-
disadvantages.html>.
Leigh-Hunt. N., 2016. Impact of global business Environment. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/organisation-
management/5b-understanding-ofs/assessing-impact-external-influences>.
Miley. M., 2018. Ways Of Entering Into Global Market. [Online]. Available
through:<https://budgeting.thenest.com/five-modes-entry-foreign-markets-
25303.html>.