Business Report: PRIMARK's Sustainable Approach, CSR, and Key Skills

This business report provides a comprehensive analysis of PRIMARK, a multinational fashion company, focusing on its business strategy, particularly its sustainable approach to management and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The report delves into the application of sustainable development principles, strategic planning, and CSR challenges within PRIMARK. It examines various CSR approaches employed by micro, SME, and corporate businesses, evaluating how their success is measured. The report also includes a reflective journal assessing the development of key skills, such as communication, numeracy, ICT, problem-solving, and team management, crucial for both personal and professional growth. The report highlights the importance of sustainable practices and effective communication in achieving business goals and attracting a large customer base. It explores the implications and practical considerations of sustainable strategies, along with positive changes implemented by PRIMARK, such as water conservation efforts. Furthermore, it analyzes different CSR approaches, including accommodative, proactive, and defensive strategies, providing examples like Ella's Kitchen and Little Soho to illustrate these concepts. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and insights regarding PRIMARK's business practices and their impact on sustainability and CSR.

FORMAL BUSINESS
REPORT and
REFLECTIVE REPORT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................1
Explanation of sustainable approach to business strategy and management .............................2
Evidence and analyse the different approaches to CSR of micro, SME and corporate business
and how to measure their success in CSR strategies ..................................................................3
PART 2............................................................................................................................................6
Reflective report on key skills development...............................................................................6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Business management refers to an effective term that shows the disciplines which
consists of organising, analysing and planning the various types of the business operations.
These term includes the fundamental terms which includes the skills and knowledge that is
needed for run an organisation. Business communication defines the terms of sharing
information between the person within the business organisation. In this effective
communication helps in reaching the goals on specified period of time. This report is based on
the PRIMARK that is one of the largest multinational fashion company which is associated with
the British Foods. The company was headquartered in London, UK. This study includes the
applications of the sustainable approach to the business management that considers the major
concepts that is strategic planning and CSR challenges. Further this project involves the
reflective journal that update the learning skills which is key to developed a person personally
and professionally. It explains the communication, numeracy, ICT, problem solving and the
team management skills that represents as a key features of the skills development. These both
helps in making the business and a person a successful in the market place and also attracts the
large base of customers(Bovée, Thill and Raina, 2016).
PART 1
Introduction
Business communication skills helps the employees to communicate within the
organisation in an appropriate manner. This also helps in enhancing a person individual skills so
that they professionally developed their career for achieving the future success. In this to transfer
the information effective communication is needed that helps in making the strong collaboration
due to which critical issues can be solved easily. It is a significant profession that enhance the
knowledge of management so that organisation will sustain for a longer period of time and gain
high profits. Sustainability is an effective approach to business entity that helps in making the
value in the market for a longer period of time by focusing on the environmental and social
environment. This term is developed on the different strategies that foster the company to stay in
the industry for a long time frame(Dzialoshinskiy and Pilgun, 2015).
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Explanation of sustainable approach to business strategy and management
Sustainable development is a system approach for growing and developing recognition
for managing resource, producer and social capital for providing the benefits to the future
generations. This objective of the sustainable development is attaining with the high potential
that shows in the planning, organising and measurement system with the organisation. This term
is reflected with the work of leaders of the business which they can adopts the effective business
activities and strategies so that requirements can be fulfils of the firm and stakeholders by
showing the sustainable results in the future of the company. Sustainable approach can be gained
by the business firm by proper arranging the human resources and financial resources. Because
both these terms helps in gaining high profits and and also make the values in the market for a
longer time frame(Gretzel and et. al., 2015). Mainly sustainable development is highly depend
on the economic activity that helps in building a strong human and other resources team that
grow the enterprise. In developing the sustainable approach effective communication values
more because it is the only medium of transferring the essential information and awareness
among the people regarding the use of inputs and resources. For enhancing the image and
maintains sustainability organisation can follows the system approach that mainly emphasis on
the interaction of the internal and external environment in relation to the stakeholders. Because
in this stakeholders are basically denoted as CSR dimensions that helps in gaining higher profits
and revenues also helps in beating the rival firms by creating the high value position in the mind
of the customers by using the social responsibility. In this PRIMARK can indulges in social
welfare with the use of CSR policies that helps in long lasting survival. In context of PRIMARK
various sustainable approach to business strategy can be shown below.
Implications for organisation - It is a dictum that issues related with environment are
place an major impact on the sustainability and growth of the business venture. There are some
laws regarding the welfare of the environment that helps in placing a higher growth of the
company. It showcasing a effective results for the society but make a high investment done by
the company but also provided the path to success. Due to this capturing high opportunities by
the company will be limited. In terms of PRIMARK, manager need to make various strategies
that helps in longer sustainability for this they adopted the environmental laws which is helps in
making a long survival in the society(Leiss and Larkin, 2019). This type of strategies are
essential for expanding and growing the business by focusing on adopting more and more
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opportunities. Properly follow all the rules and regulations can helps in making the revolutionary
change according to their external factors that is helpful in longer sustainable development. To
set the higher brand position of the firm PIRMARK can effectively communicate with their
clients and customers in the society due to this enterprise may generate higher profits and
revenues in their more years of survival(Tang, Gallagher and Bie, 2015).
Practical considerations - This approach suggest that if the organisation can focus on
maintaining their high image by focusing on practicality as a basic of planning that sustainable
development is the important concept because it is the primary path for expanding the firm and
gaining growth(Castle Bell and et. al., 2015). In context of PRIMARK, they contributes more on
their sustainability and for their they can contributes more in welfare of the society by providing
the responsibility to the new employees for producing the goods as per market demands. In this
approach the firm will make a strategy related to the technical terms that reflects the practical
considerations. This shows quite difficult for the company to use the advance technology as per
the changes occur in the society so that business will gain high profits.
Positive signs for change - In today's business world businesses can majorly focus on
the environmental excellence that shows the high strategic thinking on which organisation can
working. The positive change that a firm will adopts is the cooperation of economic and
practices which helps in developing the environmental and social benefits by protecting the
natural resources. In case of PRIMARK, company can focuses on change that presents the
positive results in sustainability development. For example- PRIMARK manufacturing the plant
that removes the waste water around 40% and cooling the water in the factories for the use. This
process is a continuous process rather than dissolve by the single use. This helps in providing the
healthy life at the workplace to the people which reflects the positive signs at the working
environment(Soleimanof, Singh and Holt, 2019).
Evidence and analyse the different approaches to CSR of micro, SME and corporate business
and how to measure their success in CSR strategies
CSR approach to micro business enterprise
Accommodative approach – This approach to CSR suggest that the organisation
majorly believe in welfare of the society and social responsibility that will helps in gaining the
high profits by the company. In this main motto of the business firm is to focus on following all
the laws and codes of conducts in an appropriate way. Some companies does not hide their
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activities which they perform externally. Although, theses business venture can reduce the
development in waste because in this they firm will not test their outputs on the animals. In this
manager of the organisation also focus on paying fairly to their employees and also they can
keep their records as a open book in front of the society(Jošt, Heričko and Polančič, 2019). This
will show the social responsibility that helps in adapting the changes in policies to overcome the
issues and controversy. For examples- Ella's Kitchen is that bets example in context of this
approach of CSR because the firm offers the significant benefits to their staff members. In this
enterprise can focus on reducing the development of waste by not testing their products on the
living beings i.e. animals and also offers the customers the organic goods that is healthy and
tasty. In this manager of venture can also provide the fair wages to their workers as per their
ability and capabilities so that they will encourage towards the good work. In this way
organisation is show their responsibility towards the society and changes their policies as per the
needs of the environment of business so that customers are satisfied and this will generate more
profits and revenues(Pankin and Shagaeva, 2018).
CSR approach to SME companies
Proactive approach – As per accommodating approach, Proactive is the one that shows
the companies can take the responsibilities for their society and the people also by reducing their
profit margin. These companies does not react on criticism but put their force on fulfilling the
social responsibilities even when they trap into the crab. They put the ethical code of conduct as
a part of the company vision and mission so that they involves in eliminating the harness on the
environment and society(McMurray and et. al., 2016). These business venture provides training
to their employees on recycling and modify the resources appropriately this helps in offering the
best quality products to the customers and also enhances the living standards of the people. This
will place an major increment in boosting the subordinates employees so that they will retain for
a longer period of time. In this they also give donation on some percent of their profits. For
example- Little Soho that is the prominent restaurant and having their own medical centre where
they provided the medical facilities to their employees and also their individual families at
reasonable cost. This will enhance the goodwill of the firm in the marketplace. In this manager of
the restaurant can adopts their CSR approach that reflects the interest of the shareholders and
other stakeholders. In this way this application helps in solving the critical problems without
being reactive.
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CSR approach to corporate business venture
Defensive approach - This corporate social responsibility approach reflects that the
companies are specifically focus on the social responsible as compare to earn high amount of
profits. Their main purpose is not to be performing their actions that majorly shows the social
responsibility but the only emphasis on gaining high profits and revenues. In this business
enterprise may their own rules and laws and assure that no other people can take a action on it.
For example- If any organisation can make more waste than it would necessary to eliminates the
waste in the legal conducts. In this firms will offers their workers a significant number of leaves
annually that they can mentioned in the employment law by considering that these leaves are
enough for them(Zhang and Galletta, 2015). In this manager of the business enterprise can only
focus on the legal laws that they were decisioned that considers low position regarding corporate
social responsibility. They also seek the protection of doing limited things which are needed in
the legal standards. At this manager of the organisation is being responsible for reducing the
query and make sure that that no wrong despite gives the possible terrible results. For example-
PRIMARK, this company can make more waste at the time of manufacturing and producing the
goods and services. For this they can make the legal laws and regulations for eliminating the
wastage at the time of completion the task rather than dumping it illegally that spoil the target of
earning high profits that shows unethical to cover-up the legal disposable process.
Obstructionist approach - This approach of corporate social responsibility suggest to
obstruct something that means to block in the way. As it suggest the hindrances in following the
social responsible on the other hand they only work for generating higher profits and revenues.
In this corporation can adopts this approach for crossing the ethical lines such as dumping the
waste and hazardous material in local area. As their only motto to survive for gaining high
financial resources. In this business venture does not do anything for solving the environmental
and social issues(Lee, 2015). In including to this organisation can also go against the laws and
legislations and do that that is beneficial only for the company side and also use their whole
power to save from being penalised for their misunderstandings. In simple meaning this business
firms will avoid the corporate social responsibility by including in the unethical and illegal work
for hiding their wrong action from the stakeholders and society. it will reflect the economic
priorities of the firm by removing the burden of welfare of the society and environment. For
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example- the company PRIMARK was one of the famous company that have followed varitioes
of agreements for safety measure to the women and other members of society under the project
name HERproject where they can work for saving the life of the women's from malnutritions and
unhygienic situations. In this project company helps the women to being healthy for their they
can provide training and medical services to their female employees.
PART 2
Reflective report on key skills development
Self assessment and reflection is undertaken as an approach which is helpful in
identifying the prominent skills and also depicts those key areas in which a person need proper
improvement. As it is helpful in order to describe the significant actions in which an individual
take change for their skills by taking prominent learning approaches. As per this, it depicts
getting prominent attention towards the significant practices and theories that are helpful in terms
of improving the skills. This section is based on the individual reflection in which my
communication skill is quite good in terms of leading the business towards the success and
growth within the rapid changing business environment. In regard of this, the significant skills
tends to identify and self assessed by me and also find the effective manner for proper
improvement(Barksby, Butcher and Whysall, 2015). In terms of this, VARK questionnaire is
helpful considering the personal development actions which is always undertaken with my
employability abilities. Moreover, being a good leader in the company my roles and
responsibilities are useful in order to identify and collaborate with my co-workers and due to
this, I have gone through from various issues as due to this, I tends to gain a good learning
experience that is helpful for me in order to improve my knowledge and skills. In terms of
carrying forward the reflection Gibbs reflective model is helpful as it depicts the full experience
considering the significant issues. Some of its major steps are discussed as under:
Description: When me my co-workers are working on the same project which is related
with the effective improvement and development of an organisation in significant areas. In terms
of this, I need to over go from various steps and should perform prominent task on the grounds
of my capabilities and skills(Pianpeng and Koraneekij, 2016). In terms of this, at the time of
performing several tasks or project I also need to consider self analysis in terms of representing
my own capabilities that tends to describe me that I should improve my overall numeracy and
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ICT skills as I cannot gather and use significant stats and charts that is helpful for me in doing
planning and forecasting any risk for the future purpose. Additionally, it tends to identify and
analyse my overall skills and for this, I need to go through with the VARK questionnaire which
is helpful in order to describe the suitable activities as I can adopt it with the improvement of
skills as I need to take proper guidance from my managers and get involved in other technical
programs to get proper training to improve my ICT skills for the proper betterment of the future
performance. In terms of this, after the self assessment I need to identify that I am quite good in
maintaining healthy communication, problem solving and comfortable in working with others
that become my strength to work with team and considering it in smooth manner without any
confusion and conflict.
Feelings: Along with this, I work on the project by coordinating with my fellows and
other associates then it becomes my responsibility to identify about the requirements to perform
about the need of suitable guidance and support and the direction considering the performance of
task within the specific period of time in an effective way. Moreover, it is also required by me in
order to ask to my co-workers that what they actually doing in terms of motivating them. Despite
from this, I also feel quite descriptive which is not understood by many of my team members
regarding their efforts undertaking the performance of team towards the achievement of goals
and objectives and also deliver the information to my associates as it tends to develop
misunderstanding among team regarding the communication with group(Wain, 2017).
Evaluation: It is described that it is the significant thing that go right for me which is the
flow of the quality of information which is offered to my co-workers and undertaken as in more
effective way as it is the nature for them regarding the good performance. Additionally, due to
my numeracy and ICT skills and also face lot of issues in order to forecast things considering the
project that tends to lose interest towards my subordinates for the overall performance. In terms
of this, it is identified that the overall project went well due to the proper support of my
subordinates and other positive behaviour which is helpful for me in order to achieve effective
goals and objectives within the stipulated period of time. In terms of this, it tends to depict that I
am quite good in communication skill which is helpful for me in order to clear my overall goals
and targets to my co-workers that helps in making things clear within my mind and it is expected
from them regarding the proper measurement which they need to consider at the time of
performing the task.
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Analysis: By undertaking the overall situation it is identified that my significant
communication skills, problem solving skills and so on in proper and also helpful for me in
effectively completing the project within the stipulated period of time and also tends to maintain
healthy terms with my co-workers for the upcoming task or project. Moreover, with the
efficiency of my communication skills I can prominently gain faith and trust of my fellows that
is useful for the respective company in terms of retaining them for the longer period of time.
Furthermore, I also say that my team working skills is also useful in offering significant
information to other team members in order to create trustworthy connection(Wareing, 2017).
Conclusion: After undertaking the prominent information, it is concluded that there are
various skills that are useful for me in terms of providing effective information and message to
my subordinates who tends to prominently listen my thoughts and suggestions and make things
clear in my mind considering the accomplishment of objectives. It is also identified that effective
listening is helpful as because of this, employees get offer methods for effective working.
Considering this, it is also identified that there are various skills of my own which include ICT
and numeracy in which I am not much good enough for the proper improvement as due to this I
become more effective regarding my overall performance of future task and project as some of
these skills are helpful in terms of identifying future risk factor and also useful in effective
planning.
Action Plan:
Objective: To enhance both ICT and numeracy skills with the support and help of my managers
within just 2 months.
 To enhance these skills, I need to take effective feedback from higher authority to carry
out my overall learning in prominent way regarding the development of ICT and
numeracy skills for the projects.
 Despite from this, I should attend various seminars, training programs and workshops in
order to improve these skills that is beneficial for the development of career.
CONCLUSION
From the above explanation on study it is to be concluded that the sustainability in
business is an essential term in every organisation. This term involves the business strategy that
helps in longer sustainability of the firm. It can be based on the various approaches to the
sustainability that helps in gaining the high profits by satisfying the needs and demands of the
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market place. In this effective communication plays an major role for making the strategies
effectively so that it helps in stronger the market position of the firm. In this various approaches
to corporate social responsibility helps in gaining the higher success by attracting the more
customers on the global level. At last it involves the reflective journal that helps in developing
the varieties of skills by participating in different modules weekly. This helps in developing the
personal and professional growth that provides the benefits in the future terms.
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