Highlights
Task
Business Research Project - Alternative Project on International Business Topic
Critically evaluate the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and organisational competitiveness.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been an important issue in business management since decades. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been touted as an effective management tool to strengthen the organisations’ performance through a better image in stakeholder's mind and because of their responsible behaviour toward society and environment.
Intense competition has in many markets decreased the prospects for differentiation in terms of technology and product/service quality. For this reason, CSR becomes an important attribute that can enhance a company's image. Business organisations face the constant struggle for market differentiation and increased profitability, as well as in attracting both consumers and the necessary top talent for employment. A central element on those efforts comes from corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes that attempt to align the business elements of the organization with social and environmental aspects of significance for its customers and stakeholders.
Tasks
The following tasks should be determined:
1.To identify the significance of CSR practices within International businesses and critically examine the theoretical frameworks in relation to CSR.
2. To highlight the relationship between CSR practices and organisational competitiveness and to identify the major challenges in implementing CSR practices
3. To analyse one of the CSR report provided to you and identify the key approaches John Lewis Partnership in managing its key stakeholders ultimately leading to organisational competitiveness.
The Key Research Parameters to consider are:
Provide clear understanding of the term corporate social responsibility (CSR), its growing significance within International Business
Provide theoretical frameworks in relation to CSR (for example stakeholder theory of CSR, Triple Bottom line etc).
How organisations within international business have adopted CSR led practices (you may choose any international business of your choice).
Explain what organisational competitiveness and any specific concepts in relation to that is.
Identify and establish if they are any links between CSR practices and organisational competitiveness (support your analysis using relevant articles)
Barriers in implementing CSR practices
futuristic role of CSR in managing organisational competitiveness.
Analysis:
As part of the data analysis, I have provided with two CSR reports from one of the leading UK Business; John Lewis Partnership (JLP) , you are expected to go through one of the CSR report and provide the following below,
who are the key stakeholders?
Identify and evaluate the three approaches (mentioned under separate Sub--headings) in managing stakeholder expectations.
Analysis of the data can be both quantitative and qualitive no regression lines are needed nor T-tests. Descriptive statistics (for example, bar charts pie charts) can be used to analyse the data. Analysis of the descriptive data should be along- side with the analysis of the qualitative data.
Please note that student should clearly indicate the CSR report they have chosen in the data analysis section
Recommendation should be based on the analysis section:
The assignment will produce key findings that are applicable to John Lewis partnership in relation their current CSR practices and in improving their organisational competitiveness.
Limitations
The report should include a discussion on the limitations of the data provided
Links to access the data:
Please find the two attachments
Selection of references to start with:
Carroll, A.B. and Shabana, K.M. (2010), “The business case for corporate social responsibility: a review of concepts, research and practice”, International Journal of Management Reviews, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 85-105.
Yu, Hui-Cheng; Kuo, Lopin; Kao, Mao-Feng. (2017) “The relationship between CSR disclosure and competitive advantage” Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Vol. 8, Iss. 5, (2017): 547-570.
Vilanova, M., Lozano, J M., and Arenas, D.(2009), “ Exploring the Nature of the Relationship Between CSR and Competitiveness”, Journal of Business Ethics 87 (S1):57-69
Marking Criteria Guide for the Alternative Final Business Research Project
INTRODUCTIONWEIGHTING 10/100
PRIVATE MARKING CRITERIA
Is there a clear introduction that discusses the topic of research and rationale (what you are doing and why)?
Are appropriate background information has been provided including all special terms and definitions?
Do aims, objectives etc go beyond mere description i.e. do they involve explanation, comparison, criticism or evaluation?
Does the introduction indicate the content of the other chapters?
LITERATURE REVIEW WEIGHTING 20/100
PRIVATE MARKING CRITERIA
Has a comprehensive range of relevant literature, pertinent to the aim and RQs of the dissertation or is the impression given that almost everything read on or around the problem has been included?
Are the key themes and issues surrounding the research questions clearly drawn from the literature?
Does it attempt to compare and contrast a number of relevant concepts, models or theories in a critical manner or is it merely descriptive?
Are these used in an effective manner?
Are the sources used up to date, where appropriate and do they have sufficient academic weight?
Have sources been acknowledged and referenced fairly and properly?
Is the bibliography at the end of the dissertation complete and in the appropriate version of the Harvard System?
METHODOLOGYWEIGHTING 15/100
PRIVATE MARKING CRITERIA
Is there a clear rationale for methodology i.e. is student aware of nature and types of research e.g. are distinctions between qualitative and quantitative, positivist and interpretative methods addressed?
Is the methodology described appropriate for the data required?
Is the research methodology described fully so that it could be replicated? I.e.
Are data analysis methods discussed?
Are reliability and validity issues addressed?
Has the methodology been evaluated in retrospect with suggestions for improvement if the research were to be undertaken again?
Research & findings WEIGHTING 30/100
PRIVATE MARKING CRITERIA
Is the data presented relevant to aims and objectives?
Does any statistical presentation make the most of the data collected?
Are the findings presented clearly and interestingly for the reader to follow? i.e. is diagrammatic representation of data e.g. tables, charts etc embedded in the text?
Is the most relevant data clearly summarised, discussed and evaluated?
Have patterns in the data been identified and/or key variables compared and relationships highlighted?
Are all statements discussed in context and supported by the data?
Have the findings of the research been compared and contrasted with findings, theories, models or concepts derived from the literature review?
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSeachWEIGHTING 15/100
PRIVATE MARKING CRITERIA
Do the conclusions and recommendations follow on from the findings? Are the conclusions well-grounded in the evidence and arguments presented?
Have the aim, objectives and research questions been clearly reviewed and addressed?
Are the conclusions discussed in context and are they applicable to a wider scenario?
Are recommendations given and are they consistent with the findings and conclusion?
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