LSME506 - Research Proposal on Supply Chain Difficulties in UK Retail

This research proposal investigates contemporary difficulties in retail from a supply chain management perspective, focusing on retail-oriented firms in the United Kingdom. It identifies potential challenges such as Brexit-related complexities, geopolitical tensions, increased tariff rates, and the impact of COVID-19 on operational efficiency. The proposal outlines research objectives and questions aimed at understanding the extent of these problems and developing strategies to minimize associated risks. The literature review analyzes existing research on supply chain management difficulties, highlighting the importance of adaptive sourcing strategies, inventory management, and digitally powered control to mitigate the negative impacts on company growth and performance. The research methodology employs a positivistic philosophy, deductive approach, and survey strategy, utilizing quantitative methods to gather and analyze data effectively.

Research Proposal
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Table of content
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Rationale.................................................................................................................................3
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................4
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................6
Data Collection and Analysis...........................................................................................................8
Research project outcome................................................................................................................9
References........................................................................................................................................9
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Introduction
Supply chain management is an effective management of flow of services and goods which
include process the duly transformed raw material into final products (Sharma, Joshi and Kumar,
2020). The present research proposal is conducted to identify contemporary difficulties in retail
work from the supply chain management point of view. Research outline the possible supply
chain management difficulties that retail-oriented firms may face along with strategies to
minimize the risk.
Research aim
To identify the contemporary difficulties in retail work from the supply chain
management viewpoint.
Research objectives
 To identify the possible supply chain management difficulties that retail-oriented firms
may face in the United Kingdom.
 To look at the problems and show how big they are in terms of operational efficiency.
 To develop particular mixtures to minimize the risks involved with detecting the
problems.
Research questions
 Identify the possible supply chain management difficulties that retail-oriented firms may
face in the United Kingdom.
 Identify the problems and show how big they are in terms of operational efficiency.
 Identify particular mixtures to minimize the risks involved with detecting the problems.
Rationale
The selection of current research aim is rational as well as significant as it is related with
organization in retail industry. This research helps in identifying the problems and their impact
on operational efficiency retail-oriented firms which will benefit company in this sector to
determine the extent of threat of the problems on their growth and performance. This research
will significantly benefit organization in the same industry to undertake use of strategies to
minimise the risk and conduct their operations effectively. In addition to this this research also
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important to meet academic purpose as well as educational background of researcher and helps
in increasing skills and competencies.
Literature Review
This section of the project tends to provide a systematic analysis and review of the pre-
existing set of data to set a better underdoing and knowledge about the selected topic. The
literature review on the selected topic has been provided below comprise of discussion on the
selected online article and journals:
Possible supply chain management difficulties that retail-oriented firms may face in the
United Kingdom
According to the viewpoint of Schleper, Trautrims and Baldock, 2021 supply chain
management is defined as a flow of services and goods between organisations and locations.
This is mainly inclusive of movement and storage of raw materials of finished quotes work in
process inventory and end to end order fulfillment. It has been underlined that there are some
certain possible supply chain management difficulties that retailer oriented form can face in the
provinces of United Kingdom which is inclusive of complexities that increases after Brexit. This
increases the rate of duty and taxes on retail-oriented firms which increases additional burden on
their overall budget. In addition to this it has been underlined that the other possible difficulty the
retail oriented forms can face in United Kingdom is associated to increase in duties along with
some geopolitical tensions which might create challenges such as difficulty to negotiate trade
agreement. In addition to this it has been underlined that difficulty associated to increase in tariff
rate and cross border transaction fees is also one of the particular concerns that have tendency to
create difficulties for retail oriented firms in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, it has been
evaluated that Covid-19 related issues created short term as well as long term disruption which
might affect the manner of managing supply chain and conduct positive trade negotiations. Both
Covid-19 and Brexit created high uncertainty environment which might create challenges
inflexible supply chain strategy.
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Thus from the analysis it has been identified that there are some certain possible supply
chain management difficulties which have higher and greater tendency to create difficulties for
retail oriented firms in the United Kingdom (Remko, 2020). All these difficulties have greater
possibility to affect long term growth and capability to earn profit however. In this it is essential
for retail oriented organizations to manage these difficulties with the help of implementing
strategies in time effective manner in order to overcome the negative impact of these difficulties
on company overall growth and performance.
Problems and show how big they are in terms of operational efficiency
According to the viewpoint of Xu, Kerbache and El Omri, 2020 supply chain
management plays important role for organization as it allows them to save money and also help
to eliminate unnecessary expenses related with ensuring producing shipping inventory and other
process. In context with the difficulties of supply chain management that retail oriented firm may
face in the United Kingdom it has been identified that problems like increase in tariff rate due to
Brexit, increase in cross border transaction fees, difficulty to negotiate trade agreement, increase
in tax rate and greater and big problem in terms of operational efficiency. All these problems
increases additional expenses and burden on overall budget of company that directly and
indirectly affect operational efficiency of retail oriented firms. Due to Covid-19 and Brexit
supply chain issue have been made much worse which created more challenges in the economic
environment. Due to Covid-19 and Brexit lretail oriented firms see a shortage of products and an
increase in the prices. In addition to this it has been underlined that all these problems have
significant and direct impact on long term performance of company and lead towards creating an
precedent and pressure and organizations in retail industry (Roscoe, and et. al., 2020).
Particular mixtures to minimize the risks involved with detecting the problems
According to the viewpoint of Casadei and Iammarino, 2021 supply chain management is
having ability to significantly decrease cost by making improvement in inventories implementing
strategies to satisfy customers needs and requirements and establish relationship with vendors
and distributors. However due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit there is
increase in the challenges which have direct and indirect impact on operational efficiency and
long term growth of retail oriented firms. However there are certain mixtures to minimise the
risk involved with the detected problems. In this organizations are having opportunity to conduct
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undertake use of redefine sourcing strategy and exploring on sharing opportunities and develop
local suppliers. This will significantly help organization to reduce their cost and money spend on
taxes and cross border transactions. In addition to this with the help of taking advantage of
reviewing their inventory build-up strategy retail oriented firms have opportunity to adjust their
inventory tactics for short term in order to assure business continuity and maintain service level
in any Brexit and COVID-19 scenario (Roscoe, Aktas and Habib, 2020). Companies with the
help of strengthening their capabilities and talent with the help of having more flexible and agile
workforce with the help of digitally powered control again have real-time data visibility which
benefit them to conduct their business operations in effective manner.
Research Methodology
It tends to comprises and forms out a vital section of every research project that
tend to facilitate and provide information about the key research method and approaches that are
being used and applied by the researcher for undertaking an investigation. A discussion about the
research philosophy, approach and method used to determine about the contemporary difficulties
in retail work from the supply chain management viewpoint has been provided below with
proper justification and reasons behind there selection:
Research philosophy- the philosophies section of the research method tend to provide a
broad topic of study that is vital and effective to deal with knowledge development so that
dissertation and investigation can be completed successfully. The different types of philosophies
which are utilised in the research study are pragmatism research philosophy, realism philosophy,
interpretivism research philosophy and positivism philosophy. The realism research philosophy
is based on such method that suits the subject matter the most and can be used in qualitative and
quantitative study (Goldstein, 2022). Whereas, the pragmatism philosophy of research is based
on collection of mixed data (i.e., both primary and secondary) and can also be used in qualitative
and quantitative methods. On the other hand, the interpretevism research philosophy is related to
data collection with small samples and is used in the qualitative nature of study. Whereas, the
positivism research philosophy is relying on highly structured methodology to gather the data
and information and is use in quantitative nature of research. Out of theses four main set of the
research philisophy, the making use and application of the positivism philosophy is seemed most
suitable and appropriate to effectively determine about the contemporary difficulties in retail
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work from the supply chain management. The selection of the positivistic philosophy is
rationale and justifiable for current project as it supports and brings out a practical way of
investigation and also lead systematic study to effective achieve the set objective.
Research approach- this section of methodology is tend to associated with the leading
out a plan which supports better and more effective way of data collection along with proper
analysis and systematic interpretation of data. There are two common set and form of the
research approach that tend to comprises of the inductive set and deductive set of research
approach. It has been seen that the inductive set of research approach is the one that is related
and associated with the surprising of the facts by the way of leading out explanation of very
aspect to have better generalization as well as creation of new theories. Thus, use of the inductive
approach is not within current project as it tends to be more complex and time consuming in
nature. On the other hand, the making use of the deductive set of the approach are significant and
justifiable as it supports better validity of assumption based on effective testing and scanning of
collected fact. Along with this, the use of the deductive approach is more suitable and justifiable
as it tends to be well coordinated and in line with the positivisms philosophy (Ungunmerr-
Baumann and et. al., 2022).
Research strategy- this section of the research method provided and leads with a
sequential plan that offer and create better direction for the view point and thoughts of research
to support systematic way of data collection and analysis. Action research, experimental, survey,
interview, literature review, observation, etc. are the main set and types of the research strategy.
Out of these type of research strategy the application and making use of the survey strategy is
seemed most appropriate and suitable for current project. The reason and justification for making
application of survey strategy is based on the fact that it comprises of the implication of
questionnaire as the research instrument that supports and brings out most effective way of data
collection from a larger set of population to effectively meet and achieve the set objectives
(Allen, Rivkin and Trimble, 2022).
Choice of method- This part of research methodology is tending to be associated and
related with the selection of the research method that would applied for effective analysis and
data collection through leading a better base and farmworker. Qualitative and quantitative are
two main types or forms of research choices out of which selection of one or mixed method is
made by researcher to carry out an investigation. It has been seen that the qualitative method of
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choice is tend to be descriptive in nature that comprise of the collection of non-numerical and
theoretical set pf data. Therefore, use of the qualitative nature of research is not made in current
study as it involves subjective study that is complex as well as more time consuming in nature.
On the other hand, the choice of the quantitative nature of the research method tend to includes
and based on gathering of the numeric set of data that is much easier and time efficient in nature.
Therefore, selection of the quantitative nature of research method has been made for current
project that tend to be justifiable as it supports easy collection of data along with leading
improved presentation and analysis of facts through making use of statistical charts that supports
measurable and authentic set of research results (Garrison, 2022).
Data Collection and Analysis
There are two main sources from where data is being collected by a researcher that
comprises of the primary and secondary sources of data collection. It has been seen that the
primary sources of the data collection tend to comprises and provide the collection of first hand
data through making and having the own efforts of the research. Thus, making use of the primary
source of data is relevant and effective for a research as it provide most authentic set of data that
is directly collected from the participants through own efforts of investigator. On the other side,
the making use of the secondary source of data collection tend to includes and comprises of the
analysis and review of the pre-existing set of data that tend to provide and supports a base for
further study (González-Díaz, 2022). Thus, review of data from secondary source has been also
appropriate and justifiable as it is more easy and simple in nature and less time consuming which
set out and provide a framework for further investigation. In accordance to current project use of
the both primary as well as the secondary sources of the data collection has been which is
appropriate and justifiable to have sufficient amount of information and ample data to meet the
set objective.
The collection of the primary source of the data would be made with the help of
questionnaire that is written document comprises of a set of collection of questions based on the
selected topic which provide access to larger number of participants for easy data collection.
Selection of a sample size of 40 employees has been made from the retail organisation of UK for
collection of primary data with help of random method of sampling. Further, the review of
secondary source of data would be made with the help of the online set of the journals, books,
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article and literature available through e-library. Beside this, the analysis of primary data would
be made with the help of making use of pie charts and frequency table that supports better
interpretation and presentation of the quantitative set of data. Further, analysis of the secondary
source of information would be made through making use of systematic nature of literature
review (Wang 2022).
Research project outcome
The outcome of current project is tend to comprises of the having better underdoing about
the topic of the contemporary difficulties in retail work from the supply chain management
viewpoint. Beside this, the key outcome and finding of current project would also tend to
comprises and include of the identify the possible supply chain management difficulties that
retail-oriented firms may face in the United Kingdom together with the look at the problems and
show how big they are in terms of operational efficiency. Along with this, the current study is
also vital and rationale to provide and support a better view point about the particular mixtures to
minimize the risks involved with detecting the problems that would be significant and vital to
ensure having better supply chain management within retail sector of UK.
References
Books and Journals
Allen, J., Rivkin, I.D. and Trimble, J.E., 2022. Relational methodology. Cultural methods in
psychology: Describing and transforming cultures, pp.174-207.
Casadei, P. and Iammarino, S., 2021. Trade policy shocks in the UK textile and apparel value
chain: Firm perceptions of Brexit uncertainty. Journal of International Business
Policy, 4(2), pp.262-285.
Garrison, M., 2022. Critical Research Methodology: A Realist Approach. In Handbook of
Critical Approaches to Politics and Policy of Education (pp. 53-64). Routledge.
Goldstein, S.B., 2022. A systematic review of short-term study abroad research methodology and
intercultural competence outcomes. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 87,
pp.26-36.
González-Díaz, R.R., 2022. Qualitative Research Methodology Applied to Studies in
Administrative Sciences. In Perspectives and Trends in Education and Technology (pp.
1-16). Springer, Singapore.
Remko, V.H., 2020. Research opportunities for a more resilient post-COVID-19 supply chain–
closing the gap between research findings and industry practice. International Journal of
Operations & Production Management, 40(4), pp.341-355.
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Roscoe, S., Skipworth, H., Aktas, E. and Habib, F., 2020. Managing supply chain uncertainty
arising from geopolitical disruptions: evidence from the pharmaceutical industry and
brexit. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.
Schleper, M.C., Gold, S., Trautrims, A. and Baldock, D., 2021. Pandemic-induced knowledge
gaps in operations and supply chain management: COVID-19’s impacts on
retailing. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.
Sharma, M., Luthra, S., Joshi, S. and Kumar, A., 2020. Developing a framework for enhancing
survivability of sustainable supply chains during and post-COVID-19
pandemic. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, pp.1-21.
Ungunmerr-Baumann and et. al., 2022. Dadirri: an Indigenous place-based research
methodology. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples,
p.11771801221085353.
Wang, X., 2022. Research Framework and Research Methodology. In Destigmatisation of
People Living with HIV/AIDS in China (pp. 39-44). Springer, Singapore.
Xu, Z., Elomri, A., Kerbache, L. and El Omri, A., 2020. Impacts of COVID-19 on global supply
chains: facts and perspectives. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 48(3), pp.153-
166.
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