Business Research Project Management Report: Walmart Case Study

This report provides a comprehensive overview of managing a business research project, using Walmart as a case study. It covers essential aspects such as project planning, including aims, objectives, cost, scope, time, and risk management. The report delves into work breakdown structures and Gantt charts for effective project organization. It explores both qualitative and quantitative research methods, with a focus on data analysis techniques and tools. The report also includes a sample questionnaire and data interpretation to assess customer needs and preferences related to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Recommendations are offered, and the value of the research in meeting objectives and enhancing learning is discussed, concluding with an overall assessment of the project's success.

Managing a Business
Research Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Aims and objectives..........................................................................................................3
P2 Cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk and resources of project management plan
................................................................................................................................................4
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt Chart...................................................................6
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................8
P4 Small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods............8
LO 3...............................................................................................................................................13
P5 Analyse research and data with the help of tools and techniques...................................13
P6 Recommendations...........................................................................................................14
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................14
P7 Value of undertaking the research to meet objectives and own learning and performance14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Managing a business research project is essential for the company to meet their desired
goals and objectives. If company wants to manage its projects properly then it is necessary to
properly plan their strategy. Company needs to focus on environment i.e. internal as well as
external. It is also required to fulfil their corporate social responsibilities. They need to maintain
quality of their products and services. Walmart is a retail chain and they provide their products
and services in UK. The main purpose of this report is to maintain the cost, time, and quality etc.
of the project (Ajmal, Helo and Kekäle, 2010). It is also necessary for employer to guide their
employees so that they can work effectively and efficiently. It is also necessary to evaluate
performance of employees.
LO 1
P1 Aims and objectives
When Walmart start new project then it is necessary to decide the aims and objectives so
that employees will help them to achieve it in an effective manner. Also if they set their target
then it will also help them to enhance profits. Manager or employer of Walmart must need to
communicate their aims and objectives to the employees so that they will help them to achieve it.
Walmart need to decide their aim so that they can fulfil the CSR activities. They need to
develop their aim which must be clear to each and every one in the company. If the aims are
clear then employee can achieve it properly. Aims also must be understandable and achievable.
While Walmart decide their aim they keep in mind about the language which they use. Language
of the aim not be so technical. The aim also provide development to the country and also do not
harm the environment. They also keep in their mind about the safety and welfare of the society.
If they fulfil the CSR activities perfectly then they can also compete their competitors.
There are some objectives that must be decided by the Walmart which are given as
below:
 Objectives of the company must be S.M.A.R.T. i.e. specific, measurable, achievable,
realistic and time bound.
 Objectives which are decided by the manger must support their aims.
 If the manger wants to make project plan easier then they can decide only five objectives
for this so that they can achieve it properly.

 Objectives must answer each and every question such as why Walmart proposed a new
plan etc.
P2 Cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk and resources of project management plan
It is necessary for the manager or employer of Walmart to make new project then they
need to decide the cost, scope, quality, time, risk etc. because all these factors can affect their
business research project (den Hertogvan, der Aa and de Jong, 2010). So it is must to consider all
these factors while making the budget for project plan.
Cost management: Whenever manager of the company propose new business project
then it is necessary to maintain the cost. They can use various tools and techniques for this
purpose. If the size of the project is more then cost will be also high.
Scope management: In scope management manager describes rules, responsibilities,
techniques, control etc. to each and every employee. It also decided that how manager manage
work and how he control over the activities. It is also essential to decide the risk which is
associated with the business project.
Time management: Time must be decided by the manager or employer of the company
so that they can achieve desired goals and objectives within a given time.It also helps in reducing
wastage of available resources.
Quality management: It is also necessary to manage quality of the project so that it will
help to enhance reputation of the company in the market place. It will also assist in increasing
profits of the company. If employer or manager wants to improve the quality of the work of their
employees, then they can also provide them with training (Eckerson, 2010). If company want to
maintain their price of the products and services then they also need to maintain quality of it.
Communication management: It is also necessary to maintain communication within
the company so that employee or worker can easily communicate their issue with their employer.
If there is an open communication in the company then employee will never hesitate to share any
information with their employer.
Risk and resource management: It is also essential to maintain risk which is associated
with the business project. If manager take decisions properly then they can reduce the risk of
project.

P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart
Work breakdown is essential for the company to easily distribute work among employees
according to their capabilities. It will help to eliminate or reduce complexity of work. With the
help of break down structure, employee can easily get to know that to whom they have to report
their work. There are also various benefits which are discussed as below:
 It will help to improve productivity of products and services of Walmart.
 It also helps to provide flexibility in work (Freeman, 2010).
 Cost of the project can also be maintained by using work breakdown structure.
 Employer or manager can easily guide their employees regarding their work.
Company can also use Gantt chart because it is like a graphical representation which will
help to make understand employees easily. With the help of this, employer can easily identify

that how much time an activity can take to complete it. There are also some benefits regarding
this which are described as below:
 It helps to provide motivation to employees.
 With the help of this, the employer can easily manage time and also they can complete
their work within a given time.
 It is flexible and easily understandable (Gareis, 2010).
There are certain steps that Walmart can follow while they construct Gantt chart, which
are as follow:
 While making the Gantt chart, it is necessary to determine the task so that employer or
manager can easily find out the related information.
 It is the second step to determine the task relationship. It means some of the task can not
start until the prior activities are not done.
 Then employer can input the activities which are related to the project in the software or
template.
 After completion of each and every step the last step is the chart progress.

LO 2
P4 Small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
Walmart conduct research for their customers so that they can easily get to know about
their needs and wants. It will also help them to fulfil it so that they can provide them satisfaction.
For this they prepare questionnaire:
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Email:
Q. 1 Do you think that activities of corporate social responsibilities are mandatory for the
development of Walmart .
A) Yes
B) No
Q. 2 Do you think that there is any kind of relationship between Corporate social responsibility
and competitive advantage.
A) Yes
B) No
Q. 3 Is it the main responsibility of Walmart to consider the CSR activities on the prior basis.
A) Agreed
B) Disagree
C) Moderate
D) No comments
Q. 4 What do you think that which type of problem is faced by Walmart.
A) Child labour
B) Employee satisfaction
C) Customer values and satisfaction

D) Rights of their employees
Q. 5 According to you which kind of CSR activities need to apply in Walmart for their
business.
A) Women empowerment
B) Safety of environment
C) Programmes related to health and safety
D) Protection of Child
INTERPRETATION
Theme 1: it is mandatory for Walmart to carry out CSR for development.
Q. 1 Do you think that activities of corporate social responsibilities are mandatory and it also
can applied on Walmart for the development of business activities.
Response
A) Yes 15
B) No 5
Interpretation
15
5
Yes
No

According to the above discussion, it has been concluded that 15 respondents out of 20
are in favour that activities related to CSR is necessary for the Walmart because it will help them
in their development and growth but 5 respondents do not favour this statement.
Theme 2: It is necessary to maintain the relationship between CSR and competitive
advantages.
Q. 2 Do you think that there is any kind of relationship between Corporate social responsibility
and competitive advantage.
Response
A) Yes 12
B) No 8
Interpretation
As per the above discussion, it has been concluded that 12 respondents out of 20 thinks
that it is necessary to maintain relationship between CSR and competitive advantage but 8
respondents are not favour the above discussion.
Theme 3: CSR is a priority for the Walmart.
Q. 3 Is it the main responsibility of Walmart to consider the CSR activities on the prior basis.
Response
12
8
Yes
No

A) Agreed 10
B) Disagree 4
C) Moderate 6
D) No comments -
Interpretation
As per the above discussion it has been concluded that 10 respondents out of 20 said that
Walmart need to consider the CSR activities on a priority basis, but 4 respondents are not agree
on the above discussion. 6 respondents think that they will take it as priority basis or not.
Theme 4: Walmart also face various types of problems.
Q. 4 What do you think that which type of problem is faced by Walmart.
Response
A) Child labour 4
B) Employee satisfaction 4
C) Customer values and satisfaction 5
D) Rights of their employees 7
10
4
6
Agreed
Disagree
Moderate

Interpretation
As per the above discussion, it has been concluded that 4 respondents out of 20 thinks
that Walmart face problem which is related to child labour but 4 respondents think that they do
not provide proper satisfaction to their employees. 5 respondents think that they need to focus on
the customer value and their satisfaction and remaining respondents believes that if they focus on
employees rights then they can attain maximum profits.
Theme 5: Walmart also need to apply CSR activities for their business.
Q. 5 Do you think that Walmart need to apply CSR activities for their business.
Response
A) Women empowerment 5
B) Safety of environment 5
4
4
5
7
Child labour
Employee satisfaction
Customer values and satisfac-
tion
Rights of their employees