Strategic Development Research Report: Sainsbury's Performance

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of strategic development, focusing on Sainsbury's as a case study. It begins with an introduction outlining the importance of strategic planning and its impact on achieving long-term goals. Task 1 defines the research area, aims, scope, and objectives, including a specific research proposal and success criteria. It also includes a detailed project plan. Task 2 explores a literature review and the research methodologies used. Task 3 delves into the findings, offering a comprehensive explanation of the factors influencing strategic development and referencing all sources. The report concludes with recommendations and a reflection on the research process in Task 4. The report covers various aspects like communication, innovation, project management and engagement. This report offers valuable insights into strategic development and its application within a real-world business context.

Research For Strategic
Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 A valid area for research to support the strategic development of business.........................1
1.2 Aim, scope and objectives for research.................................................................................1
1.3 Specific research proposal ....................................................................................................2
1.4 Success criteria for the achievement of the research proposal..............................................3
1.5 Project plan that identifies key milestones and critical pathway..........................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Literature review...................................................................................................................4
2.2 Research methodologies........................................................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Comprehensive explanation..................................................................................................6
3.2 Reference all sources ............................................................................................................7
3.3 Conclusion and recommendation..........................................................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Reflection..............................................................................................................................7
4.2 Recommendation...................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
.......................................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Strategic development refer to strategic planning which is important for every
organization for creating as well as running a business in systematic manner.. With the help of
this, company can easily attain long term goals and objectives (Key Factors to Successful
Strategic Planning, 2017). Mainly, main aim of doing strategic development is to enhance
overall performance of firm by formulating strategic planning. This will includes development of
the products and improvement of production to meet end targets of the firm. Present report is
based on Sainsbury; which is second largest chain of supermarket in UK. Company serve various
quality products and services to its customers for attaining their satisfaction level. This project
cover aims, scope and objectives which help in drawing a valid conclusion. Along with this,
literature review, research methodologies, project plan are also discussed in this research.
TASK 1
1.1 A valid area for research to support the strategic development of business
Strategic development is considered as an important aspect for every business area to
enhance and improve overall performance of company. As it also includes the strategic ways
and path through which organization easily implement all the activities in systematic manner. In
addition of this, functional area is considered as an important area in which management of the
company implement the process of strategic development with the purpose of attaining positive
results (Abdallah and Langley, 2014). In context of Sainsbury, functional area refer to
responsibilities which includes interacting with different functions such as marketing, human
resource, production, distribution and many more. All these functions requires implementation of
strategies for maintaining positive performance of company. This will directly contribute in
establishing competitive brand image of the company.
1.2 Aim, scope and objectives for research
This research is based on strategic development through which company implement
effective plan and procedures to achieve set targets in appropriate time frame. In this context, the
main aim of this research is “To determine the factors and process of strategic development. A
case study on Sainsbury.” With the help of this, researcher can easily evaluate the importance of
strategic development within the organization. For attaining desirable results, Sainsbury have to
1

effectively implement all the strategies so that they can easily grab opportunities. It contribute in
enhancing productivity level of the company at market place.
In addition of this, the scope of the research project is to evaluate the factors of strategic
development to in order to set priorities to achieve reliable results in appropriate time frame.
With the help of this, company select important elements which required by firm to achieve its
end goals in systematic way (Broman and Robèrt, 2017). For attaining the same, firm set their
targets for determining that how they can attain positive outcomes from the market. Mainly
strategic development refer to the effective planning which help and guide business organization
to improve their performance level by implementing appropriate strategies.
For carrying out the research, there are some important objectives which support strategic
development to implement within the business activities. All these are as follows:
 To determine the major factors which affect the strategic development process.
 To evaluate the impact of strategic development on functional areas of Sainsbury.
 To identify the importance of implementing strategic development within Sainsbury.
1.3 Specific research proposal
Research proposal is an outline of the project which includes various steps used by the
researcher while implementing the objectives. By using this, manager of company can easily
undertake an effective research project which directly contribute in drawing a valid conclusion.
These are as follows: Determining the research problem: Under this first step, researcher determine the issues.
In this the of research is very clear as it aid in evaluating the overall performance and
outcomes of the project. Understanding the issue: It is important step of research proposal which is evaluated
before starting the study. In this, researcher understand the issues from past detailed study
so that they can easily evaluate reason behind the issues (Bryson, 2018). Along with this,
literature review of different authors, published research, books and many more. Development of research questions: At this stage, researcher clearly determine issues
and problems that occur at the time of conducting research. For this, researcher finds
answers by asking some questions from another people. With the help of this,
investigator can easily evaluate valid answers of questions.
2

 Development of research design: Under this, research design refer to the conceptual
structure which help in undertaking an effective research. Along with, sampling method
also adopted in the research through which investigator can collect valid data and
information. Data collection method: Under this, researcher use both primary and secondary method
of data collection. As the primary data refer to the surveys, observations, experimentation
and many more to collect the data (Hill, Jones and Schilling, 2014). On the other side,
secondary method includes journals, books, articles and many more to collect data in
effective manner. Data analysis and interpretation methods: In this, researcher includes various methods
and techniques with the purpose of analysing data and information. For this, researcher
draws various graphs and themes to present data in a systematic way. With the help of
this investigator find out the valid conclusion.
 Estimates of resources involved: Under this step, researcher use various sources at the
time of carry out the research such as time, cost, manpower and so on. With the help of
this, investigator easily conduct a effective proposal in systematic manner.
1.4 Success criteria for achievement of the research proposal
For attaining appropriate research proposal, research should determine the background
issues and current knowledge in detailed manner before starting research study. Objectives and
scope of the research should be clear so that researcher easily undertake whole research work in
systematic manner. For attaining valid results, research methods and techniques are also
effectively used. One of the important aspect is that researcher needs to analyze data and
information to draw a valid conclusion (Runco, 2014). Testing and finding answers towards the
research question also help investigator to interpretation of the findings in systematic way.
1.5 Project plan that identifies key milestones and critical pathway
Creating project plan is important activity for researcher before undertaking research
activities. In this, key milestones is an effective tool which used by investigator to determine
specific activities along with project timeline. Mainly, it includes planning, building and
completing the stages to measure the effectiveness of the project.
In addition of this, critical pathway is a method to analyse activities of the project which
define distance between the starting and the finishing the project activities (Sakas, Vlachos and
3

Nasiopoulos, 2014). As, it includes all the task and duration to determine the clear picture of the
project. The main term in critical path method is earliest start date.
4

TASK 2
2.1 Literature review
This section includes various literature sources and authors who give their views and
opinion towards the specific area of the project. With the help of this investigator can draw a
valid conclusion in appropriate way.
To determine the major factors which affect the strategic development process
According to Uraev and et. al., (2016), strategic development process is one of the
effective process which define path and guidance to organization to increase overall performance
of the company. By implementing strategic planning, firm can carefully create a clear vision for
their future growth. It directly contribute in enhancing the brand image of the company market
place. As Sainsbury is a largest supermarket in UK. They also provide quality products and
services to its target customers for attaining higher success at market place. For achieving the
same, company needs to implement strategic planning within their business activities to improve
the chances of grabbing customers attention. In this context, there are some factors that directly
affect the entire process of strategic development which are as follows: Communication: For attaining success in strategic development process, it is important
for business organization to use bottom up and top down communication approach. In
this employees give their inputs through survey and feedback towards the specific ideas
and objectives. As it help in improving the overall performance level of company. Innovation: Strategic development process increase the innovation within the
organization as it help in improving the chances of attaining positive outcomes.
Sainsbury can easily produce quality and innovative products and services for its
customers. It contributes in attaining set goals and objectives in effective time frame. Project management: Strategic development and planning is related with the project
management as it evaluate the priorities of project to effectively execute the business
strategy. With the help of this, company can increase the involvement and commitment
of the workers for undertaking project activities in effective manner.
 Engagement: Strategic development is not considered as an event but it is an effective
process which help business organization to increase the engagement of all the staff
members. In this, all workers share their views and opinion at the time of implementing
5

strategic activities. This will improve the relationship with employees and top
management as well.
To evaluate the impact of strategic development on functional areas of Sainsbury
As per Warner and Sullivan, (2017); strategic development play a vital role in managing
future growth of the company because it define the long term goals by which firm improve the
chances of attaining positive outcomes at market place. In this context, functional area includes
marketing, production, human resource, customers services and many more. All these are
important functions for business organization to attain success at market place. Thus company
needs to make and develop better planning process to established clear goals and objectives..
With the help of this, Sainsbury can easily enhance their performance level at market place.
Along with this, manager of company also implement the strategies by analysing requirements of
functional areas within the firm.
For this Sainsbury make clear vision and target to increase the chances of attaining long
term goals and objectives and also ensure their sustainability within the market. In addition of
this, strategic planning is consider as an ongoing process which help in evaluating the overall
productivity of the company by measuring entire activities of the firm at market place. For
attaining the same, Sainsbury implement long term objectives with the purpose of enhancing
overall activities in systematic manner. With the help of this, all the functional areas within the
business easily implement their activities for making overall brand image of the firm at market
place. If company change their strategies and planning process then all the activities of
functional areas are get affected because entire activities are relate with strategic development in
organization. Thus, it is important for Sainsbury to improve their planning process to develop
clear target so that they can easily attain positive results.
To identify the importance of implementing strategic development within the Sainsbury
According to Kyra Sheahan, (2017), implementation of strategic development is one of
the effective activity for business organization to accomplish strategic goals and objectives in
appropriate manner. Mainly, it provide direction and outline to measure entire goals and
objectives. With the help of this, company take day to day decision to move forward with the
purpose of attaining success at market place. For attaining the same, Sainsbury needs to make
clear objectives and target so that they can easily improve their entire activities of functional
areas. One of the main advantage of using strategic development is increase efficiency level of
6

the functional areas of the business. This will contribute in making competitive brand image of
the company. On the other hand, it also increase profitability level of the company by offering
quality products and services to its customers.
2.2 Research methodologies
For conducting whole research in effective manner, it is important for researcher to select
right research method. By using right method, investigator can easily collect relevant data to
analysis entire information of the research work. Mainly there are two type of research method
such as qualitative and quantitative research methods. Both are used for solving the research
problem in effective way (Wei, Yi and Guo, 2014). Qualitative research define the experience,
ideas, beliefs and values to collect data towards the business activities. On the other side,
quantitative research method defines verifying existing theories which help in determining the
valid conclusion. Along with this, primary and secondary method is also important for
conducting research activities in effective manner. Primary method is relate with fresh and new
data which never been use before. It includes questionnaire, survey, interview, observation. With
the help of this, researcher can easily gather relevant information from the respondents. On the
other side, secondary method is also an effective which is used by another researcher. As it
includes books, journals, magazines, articles and many more.
TASK 3
3.1 Comprehensive explanation
The main purpose of undertaking research is to evaluate the importance of strategic
development in improving overall success of the Sainsbury at market place. For this, researcher
is responsible for adopting right method of collecting data and information. Mainly research use
primary and secondary data to collect relevant information towards the strategic development. In
this context, the investigator use both primary and secondary methods to gather relevant
information (Wolf and Floyd, 2017). Along with this, it has been analysed that strategic
development is important for business organization to identify the cause of issues that occur
within the functional areas for the firm. This will help in improving the overall performance of
the company. For attaining the same, Sainsbury should make changes within the strategies to
improve their performance. In this, company needs to make plan and procedures to attain long
7

term goals and objectives in effective manner. This will contribute in making overall brand
image of the company competitive.
3.2 Reference all sources
Key Factors to Successful Strategic Planning. 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://bia.ca/5-key-factors-to-successful-strategic-planning-2/>.
The Importance of Strategic Implementation. 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://bizfluent.com/about-6453292-importance-strategic-implementation.html>.
3.3 Conclusion and recommendation
From the above mentioned research, it has been concluded that strategic development
play vital role in managing entire functional areas of the company. For this, firm use effective
plan and procedures to identify the issues that arise within the functional activities of the
company at the time of implementing strategics planning process. With the help of this
Sainsbury can easily improve their performance level at market place. For improving the overall
performance, manager should make change within their existing strategies as it help in
accomplishing long term goals and objectives and at the same time also enhance profitability
level of the Sainsbury.
TASK 4
4.1 Reflection
Communication skill is important for expressing ideas and opinion in front of others. In
this research, I am having this skill because I easily interact with my team members and share
my views and opinion inform of them. . This will help me in attaining positive outcomes from
the research objectives. Along with this, my team working skill is also effective for me because I
easily established better coordination while implementing strategic development. Through which
I can easily formulate clear goals and objectives which contribute in attaining desirable results.
Along with this, my communication skills help me at the time of making as well as developing
effective strategies as it directly contribute in improving overall performance of the company at
market place. My best team leading skill also assist me at the time of making clear goals and
objectives with the purpose of developing strategies. With the help of this firm may improve
overall productivity level and at the same time also grab market opportunities to attain higher
success.
8

4.2 Recommendation
As per discussed skills, it has been recommended that I need to take feedback from my
team members so as to improve my team working skills. As, some time I fail in managing all the
team members at the time of implementing long term goals and objectives. Thus, I should
manage all the activities with my team partners to attain set goals in appropriate time frame. This
will help me in improving my team working skills.
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report, it can be concluded that strategic development is
consider as an important process through which company can easily enhance their productivity
level. Mainly, strategic development contribute in attaining long term goals and objectives in
stipulate period of time. In this context, the researcher needs to manage entire activities in
systematic way. This will aid in improving the overall performance of the company.
9

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Abdallah, C. and Langley, A., 2014. The double edge of ambiguity in strategic planning. Journal
of Management Studies. 51(2). pp.235-264.
Broman, G. I. and Robèrt, K. H., 2017. A framework for strategic sustainable development.
Journal of Cleaner Production. 140. pp.17-31.
Bryson, J. M., 2018. Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations: A guide to
strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement. John Wiley & Sons.
Hill, C. W., Jones, G. R. and Schilling, M. A., 2014. Strategic management: theory: an
integrated approach. Cengage Learning.
Runco, M. A., 2014. Creativity: Theories and themes: Research, development, and practice.
Elsevier.
Sakas, D., Vlachos, D. and Nasiopoulos, D., 2014. Modelling strategic management for the
development of competitive advantage, based on technology. Journal of Systems and
Information Technology. 16(3). pp.187-209.
Uraev, N. N. and et. al., 2016. Methodological aspects of strategic development of regional
socio-economic system (following the example of radio-electronic industry enterprises
in the Republic of Tatarstan). International Journal of Environmental and Science
Education. 11(12). pp.5094-5108.
Warner, M. and Sullivan, R. eds., 2017. Putting partnerships to work: Strategic alliances for
development between government, the private sector and civil society. Routledge.
Wei, Z., Yi, Y. and Guo, H., 2014. Organizational learning ambidexterity, strategic flexibility,
and new product development. Journal of Product Innovation Management. 31(4).
pp.832-847.
Wolf, C. and Floyd, S. W., 2017. Strategic planning research: Toward a theory-driven agenda.
Journal of Management. 43(6). pp.1754-1788.
10