Asda's CSR Project: Developing a Comprehensive Project Management Plan

This assignment presents a comprehensive project management plan (PMP) for implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices within Asda, a major UK retailer. The project, divided into three sections (PMP, Log Book, and Performance Review), outlines strategies for achieving project goals. It includes an analysis of Asda's current CSR policies, aims to assess the impact of CSR on customer purchasing behavior through surveys, and provides a feasibility assessment, cost estimation, and risk management plan. The PMP details the project's scope, objectives, and recommended contents, including a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project scheduling. The report also includes a literature review, research methodology, data analysis (qualitative and quantitative), results, recommendations, and a reflection on the project's execution. The project aims to enhance Asda's brand image and customer satisfaction by integrating CSR initiatives, ultimately contributing to a sustainable business environment.

MANAGING A SUCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

Table of Contents
Introduction:..............................................................................................................................4
Project Management Plan .........................................................................................................4
Project Background: .............................................................................................................4
Recommended contents of the PMP......................................................................................5
Aims and objectives of the Project....................................................................................5
Scope of the project...........................................................................................................6
Feasibility assessment.......................................................................................................6
Cost Estimation.................................................................................................................7
Risk management..............................................................................................................7
Communication Management.........................................................................................10
Work Breakdown Structure.............................................................................................11
Gantt chart.......................................................................................................................12
Literature Review :-.............................................................................................................14
Research Methodology:-.....................................................................................................14
Performance Review /REFLECTION.....................................................................................15
Analysis the data..................................................................................................................16
DATA ANALYSIS.................................................................................................................16
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH............................................................................................16
Quantitative Research..........................................................................................................17
RESULT..................................................................................................................................20
Recommendation.....................................................................................................................20
Reflection of the project..........................................................................................................21
Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................21
Appendices: Questionnaire for the customers: .......................................................................24
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Introduction:
This is a Pearson-set assignment in which there are three sections. The three sections are
accordingly given below,
 Project Management Plan
 Project Log Book
 Performance Review
In the project management plan section the report will focus on the process or taken
approaches to develop a project based on the strategies. And, also the report will describe the
process of the execution of the project and the monitoring methods of the project. In the
project Log Book,the report will present the evidence of the project development that’s mean
in this section the report will describe all the ways or the processes thoroughly done by the
developer to execute the project. The Performance Review in this section the report will
define the individual reflection’s evidence to complete the project. The project is related to
the implementation of CSR practices within Asda. The CSR frameworks will be integrated
with the help of the project management plan that will be presented in the study. The Work
Breakdown Structure along with Gantt chart will be presented in the latter section of the
report which will define the timeframes of the schedules that will take place in the
implementation session.
Project Management Plan
Project Background:
The PMP is a fundamental key factor which defined the strategies or the plans to achieve the
final outcomes of the project. In this section, the report will mainly focus on the process of
how to set the goal or the vision of the project to accomplish the consequences of the
projects. CSR is the resourcefulness of the organization to carry the responsibilities of the
organization on the basis of the welfare of the environment (Levy & Park, 2011). Corporate
Social Responsibility is the mainly helps the organization to obey the formal and informal
rules and regulations to develop or strengthen the economy of the association to produce a
good environment to the employee at the workplace and provides better qualitative products
to the society to integrate and maintain the brand image of the organization. Corporate Social
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Responsibility incorporates the attempts business affiliations endeavour to meet their
commitments both as social experts and money related. Associations are clearly aware of
their social obligations through weight connected by their stakeholders (Du, et al., 2010). In
the age of marketing globalisation most of the organization has started to take more
specialists on the CSR policies to develop the organization and can compete with the market
while providing more trustworthiness and conviction to the employee of the organization and
consumers as well. The project covers the elements of corporate social responsibility and its
significance of the acquirement of competitive advantage. Corporate Social responsibility is
also aligned to the assurance that companies integrate CSR for the promotion of ethical and
social regulations within a society (Okpara & Idowu, 2013). In this context, it should be
highlighted that the CSR initiatives are implemented for the attainment of customer
satisfaction which aids in achieving a sustainable business environment for the future.
Recommended contents of the PMP
Aims and objectives of the Project
The aim of the objectives and the aims are described in this sections. There should always be
a predefined strategies or goals to achieve the deliverables of the project. This is a very
important section because, without the goals. Any project cannot be directed to the
achievement points. The aim of the project is to find out the CSR practices of for example
“selling” of Fair Trade products has an impact on the purchasing nature of the customers.
For the attainment of the aim, the following objectives has been articulated:
 To analyse Asda’s current policy of CSR and any relevant literature on the research
topic.
 To conduct a survey of customers to identify if CSR to present the influence on their
buying choices.
 To analyse the present results of the survey.
 To draw conclusions and recommendations about CSR and its influence on customer
buying behaviour.
Scope of the project
Quality qualifications will be described in this section of the report. The scope of the
project includes the execution and development of CSR initiatives within companies for the
purpose of the promotion of a sustainable business setting. The project will aid in properly
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understanding the utilisation of the technique of project management in relation to CSR. The
project is associated with the importance of varied CSR business operations and its impact
on the customers and the organisations.
Every organisation within the business aims for attaining sustainable development for
the purpose of enhancing sakes and associated profits. So, the current project is entirely
based upon promoting the implementation of diversified types of CSR initiatives within the
premises of company. Sustaining the developments acquired for long time is a definite
necessity in case of enhancing and further expanding the business.
Adding more to this, different techniques which could be utilised for CSR related
project management, will be understood in far more better way. Implementing the CSR
initiatives will further help in creating a positive impact upon employees as well as
customers and clients associated to the company. The proper way of implementing the
techniques will effectively assist in better understanding of the CSR initiatives. Also, the
importance of CSR initiatives is varying according to the type of business operation that is
being carried out. Also, this would be additionally taking in consideration the impact upon
the overall organisation as well as customers.
Feasibility assessment
In this section, the report will be defined the technical approaches, the economic background
to study the feasibilities and figure out the risks of the project. This is a small-scale project
which is based on the implementation of CSR initiatives. Owing to the size of the project, it
has been recognised as feasible. Corporate Social Responsibility has been observed as one of
the most important aspects of business organisations. Feasibility study assists in determining
the reliability along with the validity of a project. The feasibility study also aids in
determining whether the project is economic and financially acceptable in nature. This
project is socially, economically and also technically feasible. Moreover, Asda is one of the
largest retailers in the United Kingdom. Hence, the company has an opportunity to invest
widely in the implementation of the CSR activities (Turner, 2014). On the other hand, the
project is also beneficial for the organisation both on economic and on a social front. The
image of the business in front of the society will improve and it will also lead to attraction
and retention of both customers and shareholders along with other stakeholders. Moreover,
the timeframe set for the execution of the project schedules with feasible. Hence, the project
is feasible in nature.
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Cost Estimation
This is one of the main parts of the project because if the project has not be cost
estimated, then it will be difficult to set the prices of the products and also it is
impossible to continue the project. The estimated cost of the project is $1000. (Very
Unrealistic cost estimation as a student)
Cost of the Project
Log Book Preparation:
 Qualitative Research
 Quantitative Research
$150
$150
Assessment of the risk $100
Training and development session for the
employees
$300
Preparation and Presentation of the
documentation
$200
Communication Plan and implementation $100
Risk management
This section of the report will declare the predicted risks or the issues regarding the
project. There are risks associated with the project which includes human resources
risks, technological risks, financial risks, communication risk along with market
penetration. It is important for the business organisation to evaluate risks right from
the initial phase to attain enhanced results after the implementation of the project.
Risk ID Kinds of
Risks
Analysing
the risks Degree of
impact of the
Solution Responsible
stakeholder
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risk
1. Technologica
l Risks
Without the
aid of proper
technology
the resources
could not be
analysed in
proper way
and so the
overall
project could
be halted.
Negative Asda is required
to update its
technology
which will be
beneficial in
achieving an
enhanced result.
Project
Manager
2. Human
Resources
Risk
If skilled
workforce is
not able to be
hired then
there would
be no one
who could
utilise the
resources for
implementing
in project.
Negative Recruitment and
hiring of project
members and
employee.
Advertisements
will be made for
the job
requirements.
Human
Resource
Department
3. Financial
Risk
Investors
have to be
convinced by
making them
know the
benefits that
would be
obtained by
the project.
Negative Convincing the
investors and the
financial
department to
invest for the
project.
Financial
department
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Without
proper
investment
the outcomes
obtained
would not be
satisfactory
regarding the
project aims
and
objectives.
4. Communicati
on Risk
This risk is
the most
important
one to be
emphasized.
Development
and
procedures at
each and
every stage
have to be
communicate
d among each
other so that
ecverybody
is thorough
with the
practices
currently
going on in
organisation.
Negative Preparation and
execution of an
effective
communication
plan for
communicating
the requirements
of the project.
Project
Manager
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5. Market
Penetration
This tends to
impact the
organisation
in positive
manner since
with CSR aid
organisation
will be
establishing
newer
markets for
their
products. The
project after
completion
will
effectively
assist the
organisation
in doing so.
Positive The company is
required to
attract and retain
customers with
the help of the
CSR programs.
The marketing
department
It is important to assess the risks time to time so that corrective actions can betaken
by the management timely. In order to do so proper plan is to be followed to that its bad
effects can be eliminated.
Communication Management
This is one of the most important parts of the project because a good communication is
always needed to integrate the project fast and it also helps the employee and the managing
director connected which is very beneficial for the project. Communication is recognised to
be one of the most important aspect of a project. The communication amongst the project
managers will be managed with the assistance of continuous meetings along with forums for
the purpose of discussion (Leach, 2014). Communication amongst the members of the
project will be conducted with the help of WhatsApp and group emails. The human resources
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are associated with the project of the CSR initiatives. Communication risks have been
identified in the preceding section of the report. Hence, proper communication activities
should be planned and executed in an effective manner.
Work Breakdown Structure
The WBS is a conceptual framework which helps the project to separate into some parts
which are mainly based on the deliverable centered (Fernández-Sánchez & Rodríguez-
López, 2010). With the assistance of the work breakdown structure, the project work will be
divided based on time frame.
The work breakdown structure: The current project will be taking in consideration time
duration of approximately 200 days for completion on the basis of each activity at different
stages.
Activity ID Activity Timeframe
1 CSR program in Asda 168 days
1.1 Development of project scope and plan 30 days
1.1.1 Establishment of project team 15
1.1.2 Assessment of project task 15 days
1.2 Development of Logbook of Project 30 days
1.2.1 Data collection method 15 days
1.2.2 Risk assessment plan 15 days
1.3 Implementation of monitoring strategy 30 days
1.3.1 Find out the problem of the customer 15 days
1.3.2 Provide appropriate training program 15 days
1.4 Reflects on customer demand 48 days
1.4.1 Understanding customer demands 25 days
1.4.2 Satisfying the needs of customers 23 days
1.5 Consequences of CSR programs 30 days
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1.5.1 Proper Management of CSR programs and activities 30 days
Gantt chart
This chart will provide the details of the time periods which are taken by the production of
the project or the process of the project to complete the project (Moradi, et al., 2011). By this
section, the managing committee of the project can identify the exact time period to complete
the project.
Overall, the entire project will be taking time duration of 200 days for completion. As
observed from Gantt chart, different set of activities are there. In the first stage the scope and
plan of the project would be developed in time duration for 40 days. Among this two
activities are there. The establishing of the team for project will be done within 20 days. In
the remaining 20 days different tasks of the project would be assessed. Coming towards the
second stage a logbook of the entire project will be developed in time duration of 40 days. In
this the activity of data collection would be taking time of 20 days. And the remaining 20
days will be taken by the plan of risk assessment. Contextualising the third stage, demands
from customers will be reflected thereby taking 50 days time. Within this first 25 days will
be taken for deeply understanding the demands usually made by customers. And for the
remaining 25 days, those known needs will be satisfied. The last and final stage is in relation
with the consequences involved related to CSR programs and will be taking 30 days time
duration. Within this, the activity of CSR initiatives and programs will be managed in proper
way.
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