Comprehensive Study Skills Report for Higher Education Students

This report provides a comprehensive overview of study skills essential for success in higher education. It begins by defining skills and their importance, differentiating between hard and soft skills. The report then delves into literature reviews, explaining their purpose, types, and significance in academic research. The main body focuses on corporate social responsibility (CSR), covering its meaning, different models (Archie Carroll, Quazi and O'Brien), and relevant theories (Stakeholder, Legitimacy). The report explores the link between CSR and competitive advantage, highlighting how companies can benefit from socially responsible practices. Finally, it addresses key issues within CSR, such as equality in the workplace. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the importance of skills and the role of literature reviews and CSR in business and academia.

Study skills for higher education

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Literature review and its purpose.................................................................................................1
Literature review on corporate social responsibility....................................................................2
CSR and competitive advantage..................................................................................................4
Issues under Corporate social responsibility................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Skills is the ability to acquire something new to perform the particular task. It is the
capacity that will be acquired so as to sustain the effort smoothly and creatively to carryout the
different activities. These activities are to be carried out by involving some ideas.
Skills comprises positive attitude, communication, teamwork and self management etc.
that is possessed in an individual to perform the business activities. An individual need a broad
range of skills to contribute in the business. There are mainly two types of skills hard and soft
skills. Skills are categorized based on the level of expertise and motivation.
Report will include the meaning of literature review and its purpose. Further more it will
include the meaning, importance, benefits and issues related to the corporate social
responsibility.
MAIN BODY
Literature review and its purpose
A literature review is the type of article that is written in the context of particular author.
Different authors are having different views on the particular topic. It is the sub field of
publishing the academic paper that includes the current knowledge involving the findings given
by authors. It can be written theoretical as well as methodological format on a particular topic.
These are the secondary sources collected from the research papers or through other documents.
It does not consist of original work. Literature review is associated with the academic journal as
the matter is taken from the journals. Literature reviews are written on the basis of research paper
as the person who are doing PhD has to make a report in that literature review is taken. A narrow
scope literature review is evaluated by the one or more people with the similar competence to
check the work. The reviews are usually given by the different authors that consist of different
sections under the literature review(Shin, Hur and Kang, 2016).
Literature review is also written by the graduate and post graduate student in colleges. As they
are preparing the thesis, dissertation or a journal article. These are common in research projects
that are being done by the students in making thesis. There are three types of literature review
such as evaluative, exploratory and instrumental. Fourth type is the systematic review that is
classified separately. It is focused on the research question, tries to identify the arguments that
are relevant to the question. A meta analysis is a type of systematic review that is used to review
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the statistical methods to combine the data so that a reliable result is to be presented regarding
the study conducted(Damand Scholtens, 2015).
Purpose of literature review
The purpose of literature review is to gain the understanding of the existing research that
is conducted by the researcher on a particular topic or area in which the study is being
conducted .The knowledge is presented in the form of written reports. Literature review helps in
building the knowledge in a particular field. Through this knowledge is gained related to the
Important concepts, research methods and experimental techniques that are used in different
fields by the researcher. The knowledge can be obtain as how researcher apply the concepts in
solving the problem that occur while doing the research.
Another benefit of literature review is that it will provide the clear understanding that how
research findings are presented and discussed in the particular topic. If paying attention that how
to write the literature review will help in achieving a similar style of writing and can become
more successful in writing in the particular discipline. Literature review does not need a structure
and consist of different subheadings and sections(What is corporate social responsibility,2019).t
is written in an essay style. LR is written in making different projects of international clients. It
determines the sources from where the topic is to be taken. It builds the understanding between
the different contributions that are given by the researcher in the study. It explains the research
design that is being followed in the writing the LR and methods used for data analysis.
Literature review on corporate social responsibility
Meaning
According to theHart, C., 2018.Corporate social responsibility is a business approach that is
being used by the different owners of the company for the purpose of doing social welfare for the
country. Institutions that are run under the CSR activities is non-profit organizations. Some
examples of such organizations that are running under the CSR is transparent hands, kick starter,
seedrs, just giving etc. There are four types of social responsibility that include legal,
philanthropic, economic and ethical. This practice is done by the company to improve the social
welfare activities of the country. Mostly large organizations are doing the CSR activities so as to
create the social welfare among the people. Still, most of the companies are not doing this
activity. CSR policies and programs helps the society in growing for the future. Activities that re
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involved under this are removing poverty and measures taken to prevent the health care and
sanitation. It promotes sustainability in the environment.
Models and theories of CSR
The Archie Carroll Model
As per the view of the Lu, H., Zhao, Y. and While, A., 2019. the Carroll's model of
corporate social responsibility is a pyramid that was framed to describe the whole expectations of
the society by fulfilling the business responsibilities and define these responsibilities into
different categories. According to this model social responsibilities are of four types : economic,
legal, ethical and philanthropic. Economic responsibilities means making profit for the business.
Legal means obeying the laws of the society. Its the legal responsibility of the person who is
living in the society to follow the rules and regulations of the society. Ethical responsibilities
means behaving in the ethical manner without breaking the rules of the society. Philanthropic
include that always behave like a good citizen and contributes to the resources of the society.
Quazi and O'Brien's Two dimensional Model
Machi, L.A. and McEvoy, B.T., 2016. stated that this model of corporate social
responsibility consist of two axes. The horizontal axis consist of capturing the various views of
social responsibility from the narrow view. The vertical axis of the model consist of two
responsibilities first in term of perception of the people in taking the social actions of business.
The intersection of the two axes are four quadrants that represent the four views of corporate
social responsibility it consists of classical view, the socioeconomic view, modern view and the
philanthropic view. The classical view focus on the cost and narrow concept of responsibilities.
The socioeconomic view focus on the potential benefits with narrow concept of responsibility.
The modern view focus on benefits and wide concept of responsibilities and lastly the
philanthropic view focus on the alertness to cost and wide concept of responsibilities.
Theories
Stakeholder Theory
Booth, A., Sutton, A. and Papaioannou, D., 2016. argued that this theory of corporate
social responsibility is the well known and accepted by the stakeholder. In this model it is
defined that most of the firms have a large number of stakeholder in the firm. There are two
types of stakeholders first is the primary and the secondary stakeholders. In primary stakeholder
the participation of the corporation cannot survive for the long period of time. Secondary
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stakeholder is defined as those who are affected by the corporation. This theory challenges that
the shareholders are given more importance over the stakeholders of the firm. This theory
provides that the claims of the shareholders and stakeholders should be balanced and after
balancing this the organisation can maintain the equal support from shareholder and the
stakeholder. This is also discussed in the theory that how different stakeholders may work
together to achieve the goal of the business. Now stakeholders are gaining attention from the
managers of the company. Stakeholders are divided into different levels depending on the
number of categories into which they are falling. The main stakeholders of the groups are
shareholders, employees, customers , local community and the environment.
Legitimacy Theory
As per the view of theCrowther, D. and Seifi, S. eds., 2018. this theory reacts to the
environmental factors like economic, social, political etc. and this theory helps in taking the
actions against those factors that affect the environment. It is based upon the notion that business
will operates in society through the specific contract where it agrees to take the social actions for
the purpose of achieving objectives. This theory states that there will be balance between the
social values and social norms in the organisation. It defines that the corporate social
responsibilities react to the environmental factors. Actions are being taken to remove the effect
of the environmental factors. The business is affected by two factors i.e. internal and external
factors. Internal factors can be called the internal environment while external factors are called
external environment. Internal factors are controllable while external factors are uncontrollable.
CSR and competitive advantage
According to the Frynas, J.G. and Yamahaki, C., 2016There is a link between the CSR
and competitive advantage can be achieved when the social needs, environmental limits and the
corporate interest are well coordinated within the business. It provides value to the company and
the society. Social responsibility is proves to be cost effective. CSR and competitiveness are
linked with the three management processes: strategy, stakeholder and the responsibility. If the
CSR strategy is being adopted by the company directly affects the competitiveness of the
business. Vision of the company expands the CSR and improves the relationship between the
main stakeholders of the company. There are many ways to define the relationship between the
CSR and competitiveness. CSR is a form of differentiation that helps in achieving the
competitive advantage. Competitive advantage of the business leads to the sustainability of the
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country. The reputation of the company also affects the competitiveness in the market. It
contributes to the positive market value that can help manager in achieving the competitive
advantage. Due to the dynamic market environment business cannot achieve the long term
competitive advantage. CSR activities affect the major components of the organisational
structure. Company's key business policy helps in achieving the competitive advantage for the
business. It requires more development and capacity building to remove the poverty, pollution
and corruption from the country. Competitiveness is a multinational concept of getting success in
the business. Competitiveness is the ability to produce the goods and services that create the
value for the business. Productivity also leads to the competence in the market.
Issues under Corporate social responsibility
Boccia, F. and Sarnacchiaro, P., 2018.stated that equality in the workplace is the
biggest issue under corporate social responsibility. Equality in the workplace means there will be
fair and equal treatment of employees in the organisation as there will not be equality regarding
the gender, race, disability, religion, nationality or age. Equality means making all the people
equal opportunities and equal pay in the organisation. There is no discrimination between the
people under the organisation. It creates a bad impact in the organisation of inequality in the
company. It is the biggest issue in the corporate social responsibility. Equality should be there in
the workplace so that the work can be done effectively and efficiently. Equality is must in the
workplace. There is equal treatment in the workplace for the employees in the organisation.
Equality is the main factor that affect the working in the organisation.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it can be concluded that skills are necessary for everyone in the
business. Without skills the organisation cannot run effectively and efficiently. Literature review
is the type of article that is written in the context of the particular author. It gives a clear
understanding of the research that is being done by the researcher. Literature review can be in the
form of methodological or theoretical aspect. As in this the work is not originally done by the
author. Corporate social responsibility is the management approach that is being done by the
organisation for social welfare of the people. CSR comprises of legal, philanthropic, economic
and ethical concepts of business. There are various theories and models of corporate social
responsibility such as legitimate theory, social contract and relational theory etc. CSR activities
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also helps in achieving the competitive advantage for the company. Company's vision helps in
achieving the competitive advantage.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Boccia, F. and Sarnacchiaro, P., 2018. The impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer
preference: A structural equation analysis. Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Management.25(2).pp.151-163.
Booth, A., Sutton, A. and Papaioannou, D., 2016. Systematic approaches to a successful
literature review. Sage.
Crane, A., Matten, D. and Spence, L. eds., 2019. Corporate social responsibility: Readings and
cases in a global context. Routledge.
Crowther, D. and Seifi, S. eds., 2018. Redefining Corporate Social Responsibility. Emerald
Group Publishing.
Dam, L. and Scholtens, B., 2015. Toward a theory of responsible investing: On the economic
foundations of corporate social responsibility. Resource and Energy Economics.41.pp.103-
121.
Frynas, J.G. and Yamahaki, C., 2016. Corporate social responsibility: Review and roadmap of
theoretical perspectives. Business Ethics: A European Review.25(3).pp.258-285.
Grayson, D. and Hodges, A., 2017. Corporate social opportunity!: Seven steps to make
corporate social responsibility work for your business. Routledge.
Hart, C., 2018. Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. Sage.
Lu, H., Zhao, Y. and While, A., 2019. Job satisfaction among hospital nurses: a literature
review. International journal of nursing studies.
Machi, L.A. and McEvoy, B.T., 2016. The literature review: Six steps to success. Corwin Press.
Shin, I., Hur, W.M. and Kang, S., 2016. Employees’ perceptions of corporate social
responsibility and job performance: A sequential mediation
model. Sustainability.8(5).p.493.
Online
What is corporate social responsibility.2019.[Online].Available
through<https://www.bigcommerce.com/ecommerce-answers/what-is-corporate-social-
responsibility-csr/>
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