Managing Successful Business Report

This report analyzes the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in Sainsbury's, a major UK supermarket chain, focusing on sustainability and competitive advantage. It details a project management plan, including cost, scope, time, and quality aspects, utilizing a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart. The report employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods, analyzing data through thematic analysis and presenting findings via frequency tables and graphs. Recommendations for Sainsbury's CSR implementation are provided, along with reflections on the research process and personal learning. The report concludes that effective project management and strategic CSR initiatives are crucial for long-term business success.

Managing Successful Business

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................4
P1 Project aims............................................................................................................................4
P2 Producing a project management plan that covers cost, scope, time and quality etc.............5
P3 Producing a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to provide time-frame and stages
for completing reference to selected project................................................................................7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................9
P4 Carrying out small scale research by applying quality and quantitative research methods to
meet aim and objectives of the project........................................................................................9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................12
P5 Analysing the research and data using appropriate tools and techniques.............................12
P6 Communicating appropriate recommendation as a result of research and data analysis to
draw valid and meaning conclusion...........................................................................................18
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................19
P7 Reflecting on the value of the undertaking the research to meet the stated objectives and
own learning as well as performance.........................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21

INTRODUCTION
Management of business activities plays important role through which all related
activities are integrated in order to produce the valid outcome. It enables firm to support other
operation aspects and ensure the meet the expectations of customers in an effectual manner. The
present report is based on Sainsbury; a largest chain of supermarket based in United Kingdom. It
deals in varied kind products and services are offered to customers (J Sainsbury plc, 2017). The
report under investigation focuses on implementing CSR activities in a company so as to
integrate all related resources and produce valid outcome out of the same. In addition to this, aim
and objective of project as well as plan of the project has been explained clearly. Moreover,
collected data are analyzed by using the most suitable technique. Apart from this, appropriate
suggestions are also provided for the business to implement the CSR activities and assess its
potential impact on its growth.
TASK 1
P1 Project aims
To analyse the role of CSR activities in maintaining sustainability and attaining
competitive advantage within organisation: A study on Sainsbury.
Objectives
The objectives has been segregated in accordance with aim through which it becomes
easy to complete the project in accordance with stated methodologies.
 To understand the concept and importance of CSR activities
 To assess the link between CSR activities and competitive edge of Sainsbury
 To attain competitive advantage through CSR by the end of 2017. To recommend different ways for implementing CSR activities in Sainsbury and
achieving sustainability.
Research questions
 What is the concept and importance of CSR activities?
 What is the link between CSR activities and competitive edge of Sainsbury?
 What are different ways for implementing CSR activities in Sainsbury and achieving
sustainable objectives?

The current project is analysing the role of CSR activities in maintaining sustainability
and attaining competitive advantage within organisation under which Sainsbury make the team
of expert and skilled personnel who can effectively contribute towards success of the business in
the market. It is very important to implement the project on right time whereby all expectations
of related stakeholders can be met effectively and business can put efforts to deliver good quality
of services to large number of buyers (Turner, 2014). This proves to be effective for support
corporation in deriving the valid outcome in accordance with set aim and objectives. It proves to
be effective for increasing overall rate of return of the business.
P2 Producing a project management plan that covers cost, scope, time and quality etc.
The project management is considered as the important aspect for working on specific
project related to business (Kerzner, 2013). For this purpose, different approaches such as PERT
and CPM are used in order to complete all the activities as per the schedule. The below
mentioned table is reflecting activities which will be covered under the corporate social
responsibility project of Sainsbury.
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Defining research
project 116 days Mon
10/12/09 Mon 3/22/10
Planning 29 days Mon
10/12/09 Thu 11/19/09
Conducting market
research 10 days Mon
10/12/09 Fri 10/23/09
Identifying problem 6 days Mon
10/26/09 Mon 11/2/09 3
Arranging for
resources 8 days Tue 11/3/09 Thu 11/12/09 3,4
Allocation of financial
resources 5 days Fri 11/13/09 Thu 11/19/09 5
Preparing outline of
project 10 days Tue 11/3/09 Mon
11/16/09 4
Implementation of the
plan 72 days Tue 11/17/09 Wed 2/24/10 5
Assigning the
resources 16 days Tue 11/17/09 Tue 12/8/09 7
Stating the research
methodology 18 days Wed 12/9/09 Fri 1/1/10 9
Cost assignment 7 days Mon 1/4/10 Tue 1/12/10 9,10

Data Analysis 20 days Wed 1/13/10 Tue 2/9/10 11
Evaluating results and
finding 11 days Wed 2/10/10 Wed 2/24/10 12
Project closer 18 days Thu 2/25/10 Mon 3/22/10 12,13
Writing the
conclusion and
recommendation
9 days Thu 2/25/10 Tue 3/9/10 13
Drafting the result 7 days Wed 3/10/10 Thu 3/18/10 15
Submitting the final
report. 2 days Fri 3/19/10 Mon 3/22/10 16

This would be more effective in completing all project related activities and supporting
corporation to segregate all related activities in an effectual manner. Scope of the project-The current project has huge scope as it would be effective for
corporation to implement the corporate social responsibility and enable them to ensure
success of the business in the marketplace. This proves to be effective to for
accomplishing the long as well as short Cost and time of the project-According to the table it has been found that total 118 days
will be needed to plan and implement the proposed project effectively. Furthermore, total
cost incurred for the project will be 427 GBP. Quality required-The project will be completed with the association of highly skilled
personnel and increasing their attention towards the aim and objectives of the firm.
However, quality standards are taken into account so as to determine the success of the
project and implement the same effectively (Burke, 2013). Communication-The importance of communication is greater in implementing the
current project under Sainsbury. This would be effective to communicate the goals and
objectives of the project effectively and ensure that team members understand the same
effectively and implement it for accomplish the respective objectives.
 Resources-The project management in the current business will be completed with the
help of association of physical, human and financial resources. This aids to implement all
project related activities and support corporation to determine its success.

P3 Producing a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to provide time-frame and stages for
completing reference to selected project
The work breakdown structure of the current project has been mentioned as follows. This
would be effective for corporation in the successful completion of the project and ensure
optimum utilization of limited resources in a most effective manner (Christenson and Walker,
2004). This would be effective for Sainsbury to follow the structured procedure in order to
achieve the specific aim and objectives of the project.

The critical path of the proposed project reflects to covers the activities such as
1+3+4+7+9+10+11+12+13+15+16+17. This aids to complete all the mentioned activities at the
same time so as to reduce overall time taken for the completion of the corporate social
responsibility project.

TASK 2
P4 Carrying out small scale research by applying quality and quantitative research methods to
meet aim and objectives of the project
Research methodology is very important for the completion of the investigation due to
association of several kind of method applied for the collection of information and analysis of
the same in an effectual manner (White and Fortune, 2002). The below mentioned
methodologies are applied in the selected sustainability project- Type of investigation-There are are two types of investigation such as qualitative and
quantitative. The study under consideration will be based on qualitative type of
investigation so as to conduct the in-depth analysis. It aids scholar to present the findings
with the help of detail analysis in the direction of aim and objectives. Research philosophy-The philosophy used under the research reflects views, perception
and assumption as well as values of scholar related to topic (Kothari, 2004). There are
basic two types of research philosophy such as positivism and interpretivism. The use of
positivism philosophy enable researcher to draw the analysis on the basis of available
figures or facts. Furthermore, interpretivism research philosophy is based on existing
information to scholar and application of the same in the field of research. Owing to this,
CSR implementation project is based on interpretivism research philosophy. Research design-There are three types of research design such as descriptive, exploratory
and explanatory. The application of the research design is decided in accordance with the
basis purpose of the research. The current project is based on descriptive research design
due to involvement of human participation in the study (Vaioleti, 2016). Research approach-The approach of research reflects that pattern of data collection that
which one is most suitable for the collection of data and application of the same for
producing valid outcome. Inductive and deductive are two types of research approach
where the previous one aims to start from the specific issue and the next reflects that
initiation from general theory. This would be effective in meeting the research aim and
objectives effectively and draw valid outcome accordingly.

 Data collection methods-There are two types of data collection methods such as primary
and secondary sources. The study under consideration is based on both primary and
secondary both in order to gather valid information and apply the same for the purpose of
producing appropriate outcome. For this purpose, primary data are collected with the help
of questionnaire method whereas available data such as journals, books and online
articles are referred for the collection of secondary data. This aid to meet the objectives of
research in an effectual manner (Panneerselvam, 2014). Sampling-Sampling refers to individual unit of population which aids to gather primary
data effectively and supporting in deriving the valid results. The sampling technique
applied for the current investigation is simple random through which respondents are
selected to reach the valid outcome (Reynolds and et. al., 2014). The sample size selected
for collection of the data are 20. It represents the entire population for the project in a
right manner.
 Data analysis-The procedure of data analysis plays important role whereby collected data
are analysed in the direction of aim and objectives. The method used for data analysis is
qualitative. Here, thematic analysis has been applied which is supported through it
becomes easy to derive valid outcome. However, the data collection portion is presented
with the help of frequency table and graphical representation. The chapter of data
analysis is done with in-depth analysis by focusing upon primary and secondary data.
Questionnaire
Name___________________________
Age
 18-30 Years
 31-40 Years
 41-50 Years
 51 and above
Gender
 Male
 Female
Q1. Do you know that Corporate Social Responsibility is essential for the business?

 Yes
 No
 Can't say
Q2. Do you think that implementing the CSR leads to decrease the profitability initially?
 Yes
 No
 Can't say
Q3. Do you agree that corporate social responsibility facilitate to achieve sustainable
objectives?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Neutral
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Q4. What aspect you must focus to implement CSR activities in Sainsbury?
 Ethical and legal practices
 Stakeholder’s interest
 Environmental protection
 All the above
Q5. Which of the below mentioned points will be considered to implement CSR activities
successfully?
 Environmental support
 Proper engagement of stakeholders
 Employment opportunities
 All the above
Q6. Do you think that CSR activities help in determining long run growth of the business?
 Yes
 No
 Can't say

TASK 3
P5 Analysing the research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
This is the most important section of the report under which collected data are analysed
in the light of stated aim and objectives. It would be effective to get the findings effectively in
the direction of aim and objectives so as to propose valid suggestions effectively.
Theme 1: Corporate Social Responsibility is essential for the business
Yes 85.00%
No 10.00%
Can't say 5.00%
The aforementioned graph reflects that 85% participants are in favour that corporation
social responsibility is helpful for the purpose of achieving the long as well as short term
objectives of the business. It is because with the help of such kind of activities business can
effectively contribute towards the well being of society and integrate all related activities in an
effectual manner. On the other hand, 10% respondents do not agree with the same stated with
corporate social responsibility is just the reason behind higher cost of the production. In addition
to this, 5% participants did not say anything about the same. This shows that firm need to focus
on corporation social responsibility so as to assess its positive impact on the overall performance
(Crawford, 2005).
Theme 2: Implementing the CSR leads to decrease the profitability initially
85.00%
10.00%
5.00%
Yes
No
Can't say