Research Methods for Business: CSR Analysis of Waitrose (UCBL6004)

This report presents a reflective research analysis of corporate social responsibility (CSR), focusing on Waitrose, a British supermarket. The research explores the significance of CSR in global business management, emphasizing ethical and sustainable practices that positively impact social and environmental aspects. The study aims to determine the importance of CSR for business, evaluate global issues, and highlight how CSR can improve organizational activities. The research methodology includes both primary and secondary research, with a Gibbs reflective cycle used to analyze the research process, challenges faced, and outcomes. The research also examines the relationship between CSR and global business management, including the use of Gantt charts for effective time management. The findings emphasize the importance of CSR for attracting skilled workers, ensuring long-term sustainability, and building strong stakeholder relationships. The study concludes with a reflection on the research experience and its contribution to understanding CSR's role in business.

UCBL6004 Research Methods
for Business
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INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Excepted outcomes from the proposed research....................................................................4
Contribution highlighting the significance of this study........................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
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INTRODUCTION
Present reflective research analysis is being conducted on the study as well as evaluation of
the elements associated to corporate social responsibility. For this research Waitrose is selected
which is operating its business functioning as British supermarket in the provinces of United
Kingdom, England (Karnieli-Miller, 2020). The background of research mainly emphasise upon
corporate social responsibility significance for global business management.
According to the viewpoint of social corporate responsibility it is defined as a practice in
which business organisation conduct their activities in ethical and sustainable way while
emphasizing positively with social as well as environmental aspects. In this process company
mainly focus upon community, human rights, society, stakeholders and employees need and
issues. Further it has been evaluated that corporate social responsibility play vital role for an
organisation that allows them to have a positive brand image through which they can attract large
number of customers in local, national and international market place. With the help of
emphasizing upon CSR activities organisation can have strong corporate public relationship and
can further improve their organisational sustainability.
Present research aim at investigating the emergence of social corporate responsibility along
with its significance for global business management by taken account the case study evaluation
of Waitrose. Main objective within this study is to determine significance of social corporate
responsibility for business. Along with this study involves evaluation of the issues at global level
of organisation. In addition to this study emphasise upon importance of corporate social
responsibility through which business can improve their organisational activities at global level.
The study rational emphasise upon evaluation of issues at global level for a company along
with the importance of CSR in improving business management at global scale. The study also
involves the significance of corporate social responsibilities in order to manage business
operations of respective company in addition to the strategies through which business operations
can be effectively manage at international level. In addition to this study also involves
relationship between CSR and global business management for which primary and secondary
research methodology is being undertaken.
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Excepted outcomes from the proposed research
Reflection is defined as an ability through which individual can reflects upon the actions of
the experience that has been experienced by them (Gratton and Gratton, 2020). It helps in
increasing self awareness and effectively develops creative thinking. Reflective study of
experience that has been gained by me in assignment 1 emphasises upon investigation of
emergence of corporate responsibilities and its significance for global business management is
being done. For this get reflective cycle is being undertaken that involves different types of
stages through which proper demonstration can be underline.
First stage of gibbs reflective is known as description that reflects upon the understanding
of the research study of the activities that has been undertaken. With the help of this important
facts as well as the areas can be identified. In context to the reflection of the past assessment it
has been identified by me that I have emphasized upon different types of resources in order to
evaluate the data and information in order to understand the concept of corporate social
responsibility along with its influence upon business operations. In addition to this I also
developed research questions, aims objectives. In this process I faced certain challenges as I felt
quite nervous as well as excited to conduct this research evaluation as corporate social
responsibility have significant importance. In addition to this research objectives, aim and
question has been developed by me in effective manner.
In terms with second stage of this gibbs cycle, the research analysis are effectively
managed by me by gathering and allocating accurate and effective data while evaluating
different type of sources (Uhlig and et. al., 2020). For this I have taken use of primary as well as
secondary research in order to determine efficient and accurate information as well as data. In
order to conduct research analysis I felt that during the process of evaluating information I felt
little bit frustrated as I have to determine different types of sources in order to use accurate
information in research analysis. In addition to this it had been felt by me that literature review
was done with the help of effective secondary data in a systematic manner, for which I have
collected different type of information from various sources on the importance and significance
of corporate social responsibility to manage business operations at global scale.
According to the third stage of gibbs reflective cycle it has been identified by me that
during the process of allocating information from 30 employees of Waitrose in which I have
taken use of probability sampling method. In this number of challenges has been faced by me as
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employees did not coordinate well that that further lead me to waste my time. It has been
identified by me that in the process of asking question 30 respondents there was disinterest
shown in employees behaviour that lead me to invest my more time in determining data through
primary data collection method.
The next stage of get effective cycle in which I mainly concerned of focus on the
importance of corporate social responsibility for business management in global scale. For this
all the information that has been collected by me is significantly used in order to accomplish
research in effective manner. In this process I evaluated my strength as well as weakness in order
accomplishes research with successful outcomes. I also undertake advantage of technology and
my communication skill to accomplish research with more effectiveness. However it has been
identified by me that due to my lack of time management skill research objectives get affected.
It is the fifth stage of gibbs reflective outcome which is also known as conclusion. it
mainly emphasise upon research concluding part in which I sorted the overall information that
has been gathered by me with the use of primary as well as secondary research and undertaker
advantage of research methodology in order to accomplish research.
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It is the final stage of gibbs reflective cycle in which I develop research schedule with the
help of Gantt chart in order to accomplish research activities according to proper time. With the
help of this effectively manage to accomplish research activities in an effective manner. It has
been identified by me that it is essential for me to overcome my time management skills
thickness in order accomplish schedule task in proper frame work of time.
Contribution highlighting the significance of this study
The research idea or aim that has been taken to conduct first assignment is significant as it
effectively emphasize upon the most important aspect corporate social responsibility along with
its importance for an organisation in global scale. With the help of this organisation can not only
assure long-term sustainability but can also build strong relationship with its stakeholders
namely consumers, employees, government, community, society and more. This research is
being conducted by emphasising upon the case study of Waitrose which is operating its business
functioning in supermarket industry. Present research is being conducted with the effective
contribution of primary and secondary data collection method in which I have evaluated different
sources in order to accomplish research with more effectiveness. By conducting research number
of challenges in positive as well as negative manner has been experienced by me it that enhanced
my knowledge, on the respective concept of corporate social responsibilities and its importance
upon organisation. During this research it has been identified by me that corporate responsibility
play major role for an organisation that allows them to effectively attract talented and skilled
workers and also help them to ensure long-term sustainability and respective industrial segment.
Overall significant experience has been acquired by me that enhanced my overall level of
knowledge on respective topic through which I can have future opportunity to conduct research
analysis in effective manner. Thus it has been identified by me that the experience that has been
acquired by me by conducting this research effectively enhances my ability to collect data from
different data collection method such as primary and secondary through which I can accomplish
future research analysis with more effectiveness. It significantly facilitate me to gather
information from different sources like journal, articles, books and questionnaire that enhance
my communication and critical thinking ability in a well define and effective manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Karnieli-Miller, O., 2020. Reflective practice in the teaching of communication skills. Patient
education and counseling, 103(10), pp.2166-2172.
Aliakbari, M., Khany, R. and Adibpour, M., 2020. EFL teachers’ reflective practice, job
satisfaction, and school context variables: Exploring possible relationships. TESOL
Journal. 11(1). p.e00461.
Gratton, P. and Gratton, G., 2020. Reflection. In Achieving Success with the Engineering
Dissertation (pp. 177-184). Springer, Cham.
Advantage, C., 2020. Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR and Socially Responsible Investing
Strategies in Transitioning and Emerging Economies, p.65.
Uhlig, M.R.H and et. al., 2020. Corporate social responsibility and consumer's relationship
intention. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 27(1).
pp.313-324.
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