Benefits/Drawbacks of Global Business: Unilever PLC Research Proposal

This research proposal investigates the benefits and drawbacks of a global business environment, using Unilever PLC as a case study. The study aims to understand globalization, analyze its impact on Unilever, ascertain factors influencing growth in the global market, and determine the relationship between the global business environment and Unilever's growth. The proposal outlines the research objectives, reasons for choosing the project, and a review of relevant literature, including the concept of globalization and its effects on business. It details the activities, timescales, and a Gantt chart for the research project. The research will employ qualitative and quantitative methods, including primary and secondary data collection, with a focus on ethical considerations and data security. The research utilizes a research onion framework, deductive approach, and thematic analysis. The proposal also includes an ethics approval form, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations and informed consent from participants.

Research Form

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: ______________________________________________
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a
question, objective or hypothesis)
“The benefits and drawbacks of a global business environment.” A case
on Unilever PLC.
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer?
What do you want to learn how to do? What do you want to find
out?):
Research questions
 What are the benefits and drawbacks of a global business environment
on business growth of Unilever PLC?
Research objectives
 To understand the concept of globalisation.
 To analyse benefits and drawbacks of global business environment on Unilever PLC.
 To ascertain factors of global business environment which affects growth of Unilever
in global market.
 To determine the relationship in global business environment and growth of Unilever
PLC.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you

are studying, personal interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you
want to improve, why the topic is important):
Reason behind selecting this topic is: researcher wants to study global environment. As there
are any factors which has positive as well as negative impact on business growth, so
researcher wants to analyse change in these actors and its impact on business organisation
growth and development. Researcher wants to acquire knowledge about changes which are
taking place in external environment and its impact on business environment. Personal reason
for selecting this topic is to enhance literature review, data analysis and collection skills.
Professional reason for choosing this topic is explore positive and negative impact of
globalisation on business growth.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question,
objective or hypothesis:
Concept of globalisation.
Globalisation refers to expanding business operation and integrating with international
market. It encourages free flow of goods and services across the borders without facing
hurdles or difficulties.
Benefits and drawbacks of global business environment on Unilever PLC.
As doing business on large scale makes the company to take advantage of economies of large
scale. It lower down the per unit cost of production of the company which facilitates it to
make higher profits, provide better quality products to their customers at low prices and it also
contributes in increasing the market share of Unilever PLC. It also provides employment to
the people of countries in which it is going to establish their business.
Factors of global business environment which affects growth of Unilever in global market.
These factors include the political environment of the company in which it is dealing such as
the political conditions or policies made by the government of that country can effect the
working of Unilever PLC in both positive or negative way.
Relationship in global business environment and growth of Unilever PLC.
The global business environment is very dynamic and changes rapidly and these changes has
to be accepted by Unilever in accordance with the changing environment so that their good

impact can be taken and bad impacts can be minimised or eradicated.
 https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/explain-concept-golobization-its-advantages-
567033
 https://bizfluent.com/info-8172773-global-business-advantages-disadvantages.html
 https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/major-trends-global-business-
management/
 https://www.toppr.com/guides/commercial-knowledge/business-environment/
relationship-between-an-organization-and-its-environment/
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research
project (e.g research, development and analysis of
ideas, writing, data collection, numerical analysis,
tutor meetings, production of final outcome,
evaluation, writing the report):
Time scale is used in this research which provides
complete information about in process working of
research. Time allotted to different activities and stage of
completion of research.
How long this
will take:
2 days
3 days
12 days
15 days
12 days
18 days

5 days
1 day
Milestone one: _____Research Proposal ____________
Target date (set by tutor): _____32 days _______________
Milestone two: _______Research Project ________________
Target date (set by tutor): _____36 Days_________________
Gantt Chart
Gantt chat refers to the technique which shows research activities with
respect to their time. This is relevant and significant because this helps to
conduct activities within specified time. Hence research is completed
within specified time.

Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely
to use and why? What your areas of research will cover:
Research onion is essential framework which help a researcher to identify
accurate methods and approach for collecting accurate data about the
study. This framework has different layers in which some essential are
determine as under:
Research Approach: In this research, there is use of qualitative data
because this is appropriate to give relevant information about topic. In
this research, deductive approach is used which provides information
about prospective of respondents. Pragmatist approach is used because it
suits with other method.
This research is conducted in ethical and reliable manner because information is collected
from authentic sources. Thematic approach is used which provides in brief information about
questions.
Primary and secondary research: Primary and secondary data is used to collect information
which helps to get in- depth knowledge about research topic because researcher is able to
collect information from one to one interaction and published and advertised sources as well.

Deductive philosophy is used to analyse and collect information.
In this research, data is collected from 100 employees because they have more knowledge
about performance of organisation. Random sampling is used to select candidates from
crowd.
Qualitative and quantitative research: Under qualitative research, information are gather in
quality way. On the other side, under quantitative methods, information are available in form
of numerical, numbers etc.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be
submitted for another qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV
sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date

Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants
or the use of data collected form human participants are required to gain
ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all
relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed
research fully with your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time
before your research project is due to commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
“The benefits and drawbacks of a global business environment.” A case
on Unilever PLC.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your
project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :

Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where
necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
Random sampling is used to collect information from employees.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what
you are doing:
E- mail and business mails are used to deliver information from
participants.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written?
How will it be made clear to participants that they may withdraw
consent to participate at any time?
Consent of participants are collected in the written form which is authentic for research
purpose.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option
of omitting questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical
issues arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be
asked for their informed consent to be observed.
Yes No

Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give
them a brief explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?
(This could be a brief summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in
compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher access and analyse personal data from respondents because they are responsible
to collect data.
During the research:
Researcher
Where will the data be stored?
Data will be stored in computerised form.
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?

Will data be kept for use by other researchers? Yes No
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may
raise ethical concerns? If so, please outline how you will deal with
these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks
that may arise because of your research. Please consider/address all
issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not limited
to the following :
 Informed consent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research
(including transfer, sharing, encryption, protection).
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s
Research and Ethics Policy: Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with
my Unit Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of
the ethical issues that may arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to your supervisor and also
attach to the Research Proposal when submitting to Turnitin.