Globalization and UK Retail: Tesco's Trade and Profitability Analysis

This research proposal examines the influence of globalization on cross-border trade and organizational profitability, specifically focusing on Tesco within the UK retail sector. The study aims to assess the trend of globalization, evaluate its contribution to Tesco's trade practices, and investigate its impact on Tesco's growth and profitability. The research employs a qualitative methodology, including a literature review, inductive research approach, and interpretivism philosophy. Data will be collected from primary and secondary sources, with a survey of Tesco managers. The research will use thematic analysis for data analysis and presents a timeline for the research activities. The proposal concludes with ethical considerations, research limitations, and a comprehensive list of references.

Research Proposal

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background of the study..............................................................................................................3
Research aim and objectives........................................................................................................3
Research questions.......................................................................................................................3
Literature review..........................................................................................................................4
Research methodology.................................................................................................................5
Timeline.......................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Research topic: To investigate the influence of globalization on trade across borders and
organizational profitability in the context of UK retail sector: A study on Tesco
Background of the study
Globalization implies for the process of both interaction and integration among several
authorities such as people, companies, government etc. Gradually, with the advancement on both
transportation and communication globalized trade practices has grown significantly. Hence,
globalization mainly involves sharing of goods, services, technology, data and resources at
global level. In addition to this, removal of trade barrier also facilitated global market formation
more feasible (Beck, 2018). In the current times, UK retail sector is filled up with stiff or high
competition. In this, globalization creates opportunity for firm, operating in UK retail sector, to
carry out business operations at overseas level and thereby maximizes both productivity as well
as profitability. The present research is based on Tesco, a leading multinational UK retailer,
which offers wide range of products and services to the customers at affordable prices. In this,
study will highlight the benefits associated with globalized business practices. Besides this, it
also presents research methods and techniques which assist in deriving suitable solution of the
concerned issue.
Research aim and objectives
Aim
The aim behind initiating current study is to assess the impact of globalization on trade
across borders and Tesco’s profitability.
Objectives: Referring the above aim following objectives have been drafted:
 To assess the trend of globalization and associated benefits.
 To evaluate the contribution of globalization with respect to Tesco’s cross border trade
practices.
 To investigate the impact of globalization on Tesco’s growth and profitability.
 To recommend effectual strategies to Tesco in relation globalized business practices.
Research questions
For conducting study in an appropriate manner research questions have been formulated
such as:

Q.1 Does globalization facilitate trade across borderers in the context of Tesco?
Q.2 How globalization contributes in organizational growth, success and profitability?
Literature review
Theme1: Globalization and its benefits
According to Hirst, Thompson and Bromley (2015), globalization may be served as a
spread of product, information technology and job across borders. It emphasizes on nation’s
interdependence which in turn facilitated through global free trade practices. Steger (2017)
assessed in their study that globalization provides high level of benefit to individual economic in
terms of high economic growth. In addition to this, globalization helps firm in creating brand
image and increasing market share at overseas level. Baylis, Smith and Owens (2017) mentioned
that by operating at global level company can widen business risk and take benefits of other
supportive economies.
Theme 2: Trend of increasing cross border practices after globalization and its association
with organization’s profitability
Papastergiadis (2018) assessed in their study that overseas business practices increased
significantly after the introduction of globalization. Moreover, trade barrier removal facilitated
effectual movement of goods or services at global level. Meanwhile, for getting high benefits
business units started to explore business operations globally. For instance: In UK retail market
there are several leading companies which involved in offering similar kind of products or
services at discounted prices namely ASDA, Morrison’s, Sainsbury etc. In this, companies of
retail sector have opportunity to attain high profit by serving customers reside at global level.
Crane and Matten (2016) argued that sometimes globalization place negative impact on
company’s profitability. Moreover, changes which take place in political, economic and other
factors place direct impact on companies overall strategic framework and thereby profit margin.
Vries (2018) found in their study that free trade practices enable firms to enter in
emerging economies and thereby get the desired level of outcome or success. In other words,
under saturated market such as retail business units have no significant opportunities in relation
to grow as well as being highly profitable for long duration. In this, by focusing on new market
and providing customers with innovative products or services company can attain success. On

the critical note, Varian (2018) said that trade practices at global level negatively impacts
domestic brands. Hence, highly innovative and advanced technology usage by global brands
impose threat in front of domestic units. Tian and et.al., (2018) presented in their study that after
globalization business units are encouraged to trade at overseas level with the motive to take
benefits of skilled labour and other competent resources available. In addition to this, increasing
overseas business practices also make remarkable contribution in the living standards of people.
Moreover, increasing overseas practices may result into emergence of innovative brands (Carter
and Kelly, 2018). This in turn enables people to make use of innovative products and thereby
raise living standard. Referring all the above aspects, it can be presented that globalization
enhances overseas trade, organizational market share, growth, customer base, productivity and
profitability level.
Research gap
In the past studies, researchers emphasize on only emergence of globalization, its benefits
and challenges. However, no study was conducted by the researcher with regards to UK retail
sector, specifically on Tesco. Referring such gap study is initiated with the motive to assess the
extent to which globalization contributed in cross border business practices. Further, this study
will also provide effectual framework to Tesco and other retail organizations in relation to how
globalization aid in organization growth and profitability.
Research methodology
 Research type: According to the views of Kumar (2019), types of research are mainly
two qualitative and quantitative which researcher can undertake. Under qualitative
research, underlying facts, motives and opinions are evaluated by the researcher. On the
contrary to this, in quantitative research, numeric facts and figures are evaluated for
resolving issue. In this, to evaluate the aspects of globalized trade practices qualitative
research will be conducted by the scholar. Accordingly, by evaluating qualitative benefits
and issue solution of the issue will be presented.
 Research approach: In the field of research, there are mainly two approaches such as
inductive and deductive. Ledford and Gast (2018) stated in the study that selection of
research approach is highly influenced from the type of investigation initiated. Deductive
approach of research highly suits to quantitative investigation type in which study ends

with the confirmation of hypothesis referring existing theoretical framework. On the
other side, inductive approach is considered for qualitative investigation. In the current
study, to assess the impact of globalization on business practices inductive approach will
be used by the scholar. Accordingly, new theoretical framework will be developed by
making evaluation of specific pattern or observation and tentative hypothesis.
 Research philosophy: Interpretisvism and positivism are the main two philosophies
which in turn associated with the field of research. Likewise, approaches, philosophies
are also highly influenced from study type (Quinlan and et.al., 2019). Thus, for attaining
research aim and objectives interpretivism philosophy will be undertaken by the
researcher. The rationale behind the selection of such philosophy is that it assists in
deriving suitable solution by laying emphasis on interpreting qualitative facts or aspects
related to globalization.
 Data collection: Primary and secondary are the main two sources which scholar
undertakes for the purpose of data collection. With respect to the current study data will
be gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Hence, for primary data gathering
survey will be conducted on 20 managers of Tesco pertaining to globalization and its
benefits. Besides this, for developing better understanding about topic books, journals
and scholarly articles will also be evaluated.
 Sampling: Due to the availability of limited time frame and resources it is not possible
for the researcher to conduct study on concerned population. Thus, by considering either
probabilistic or non-probabilistic technique researcher can select suitable sample for
investigation purpose (Alavi and et.al., 2018). In accordance with this, 15 managers of
Tesco will be selected by the researcher using simple random sampling technique.
 Data analysis: In research, effectualness of the study is highly depend on the technique
of data analysis selected. In quantitative study, SPSS is applied for deriving suitable
solution from issue or hypothesis testing. On the other side, thematic perception test
technique assists in evaluating qualitative aspects effectually. In the current study,
thematic analysis will be done for evaluating practices and benefits linked with
globalization. Further, quantitative tables (respondent’s views) and graphical presentation
will also be undertaken for presenting outcome effectually.

 Ethical considerations: In order to comply with ethical aspects prior consent will be
taken by the researcher from respondents selected. This in turn shows that participants
willingly participated in the survey conducted.
 Research limitations: In this, qualitative tools will be used for analysis rather than SPSS.
Further, survey will be done on only 20 managers in against to large sample. Usually,
large sample and quantitative tools present suitable view of study. For avoiding such
limitation simile random sampling will be used which not include biasness.
Timeline
Activities /
weeks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1
5
16
Research topic
selection
Developing
brief research
proposal
Drafting
research aim
and objectives
Developing
brief thesis by
doing LR
(evaluation of
books, journals
and scholarly
articles related
to topic)
Identification
of research
tools and
techniques

Framing
questionnaire
by including
both open and
close ended
questions
Primary data
gathering by
sending
questionnaire
to respondents
via survey
Arranging and
analysing
gathered data
set
Concluding
findings
Recommending
solutions for
future growth
Doing
formatting
Taking
feedback from
tutor
Final
submission

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alavi, M. and et.al., 2018. Aligning theory and methodology in mixed methods research: before
design theoretical placement. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 21(5).
pp.527-540.
Baylis, J., Smith, S. and Owens, P. eds., 2017. The globalization of world politics: An
introduction to international relations. Oxford University Press.
Beck, U., 2018. What is globalization?. John Wiley & Sons.
Carter, D. and Kelly, M., 2018. The book trade and the arts ecology: transnationalism and
digitization in the Australian literary field. In Making Culture (pp. 27-39). Routledge.
Crane, A. and Matten, D., 2016. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
Hirst, P., Thompson, G. and Bromley, S., 2015. Globalization in question. John Wiley & Sons.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Ledford, J. R. and Gast, D. L., 2018. Single case research methodology: Applications in special
education and behavioral sciences. Routledge.
Papastergiadis, N., 2018. The turbulence of migration: Globalization, deterritorialization and
hybridity. John Wiley & Sons.
Quinlan, C. and et.al., 2019. Business research methods. South Western Cengage.
Steger, M. B., 2017. Globalization: A very short introduction(Vol. 86). Oxford University Press.
Tian, W. and et.al., 2018. China's Free Trade Ports: Effective Action Against the Threat of De‐
globalization. China & World Economy. 26(4). pp.62-81.
Varian, B. D., 2018. Anglo‐American trade costs during the first era of globalization: the
contribution of a bilateral tariff series. The Economic History Review. 71(1). pp.190-212.

Vries, P., 2018. A very brief history of economic globalization since Columbus. In Handbook on
the Geographies of Globalization. Edward Elgar Publishing.