Business Strategy and Management Assignment Sample

Enhancing Sustainable Business Strategies and Communication Skills (Assignment Sample)

Part 1 -  Introduction and Sustainable Business Strategies

Summary of the Assignment Task

This task will explain different kinds of sustainable approaches to business strategy and management in this contemporary era. The examples of different ethical and sustainable business strategies adopted by modern organisations have been discussed in this particular assignment. Most importantly, it can be identified that different kinds of small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale organisations adopt different kinds of CSR strategies. These also have been analysed and evaluated in this part of the assignment. The measurement of the success of the adoption of different kinds of CSR approaches also has been discussed in this class.

Explanation of a Sustainable Approach to Business Strategy and Management

An organisation can adopt or implement different kinds of sustainable approaches in business operation management and strategy development processes. An organisation either can adopt a social sustainability approach economic sustainability approach or environmental sustainability approach in business to take care of the needs and satisfaction level of the important external and internal stakeholders (Chandiok and Sharma 2017).

Different organisations generally adopt different kinds of sustainability approaches in the business operation process. In order to evaluate the characteristics of the sustainable approaches, the triple bottom-line approach can be applied in this particular section. The Triple bottom-line approach explains that organisations need to maintain social sustainability, economic sustainability, and environmental sustainability.

The example of PepsiCo can be considered here. The operation management professionals of PepsiCo always focus on the development and implementation of zero solid waste and water recycling activities in the manufacturing and other operation management activities, which help the company to reduce the carbon emission and possibility of pollution in the business operation process (Tooke-Marchant 2015).

The examples of UNESCO and WHO can be considered in this part of the assignment as both the organisations always focus on activities to maintain social sustainability in the lives of human beings. These companies always focus on the adoption of different kinds of awareness strategies and organisation of the programmes in order to ensure healthy, peaceful, and sustainable lifestyles of human beings (Tarrant 2018). Apart from the awareness programmes, different types of health-related vaccination programmes or blood donation programmes are also being considered by the management of the organisations, which ensure social sustainability of the firms.

In terms of economic sustainability, the examples of such organisations can be discussed here, which are implementing the pricing strategies of the products depending upon the economic environment of a country to back the purchasing power of the target customers. The recent financial crisis of the European countries and global economic recession have somehow affected the purchasing power of the target customers (Panchal 2016). The example of Tesco Plc. also can be applied in this assignment, which has applied the economic sustainability in business by adopting a cost leadership strategy to offer differentiated goods at economic price level in order to back the purchasing power of the target customers. This is considered to be major reason through which Tesco Plc. helped the common people of the UK to meet the social demands. On the other hand, such approaches also helped the management of Tesco Plc. to improve profitability despite the ongoing effects of the global recessions (Harman and Dilek 2017).

Hence, it can be stated that the above-mentioned organisations are highly responsible for maintaining either social sustainability or economic sustainability or environmental sustainability in business through ethical and sustainable activities. The examples of PepsiCo, Tesco Plc, and WHO significantly indicate that there are various sustainable approaches, which can be applied by organisations in the business operation process through the ethical way (Bowie et al., 2016).

Evaluation and Analysis of Different Approaches to CSR of Micro, SME, and Corporate Business

 Corporate social responsibility can be considered as a specific business operation term or approach, which generally allows the organisations to take care of the social, environmental, and economic welfare needs of important stakeholders against the earned profit. The CSR concept is nothing but the returning of something sustainable to the society against the earned profit (Shavekina et al., 2015).

There are generally four types of CSR approaches, such as obstructive, defensive accommodating, and proactive (Fallon 2016). All of these approaches will be evident and analysed in the section considering the examples of Micro, SME, and Corporate Business.

The micro organisations generally focus on the adoption of the obstructive approaches to CSR in business as the brand images of these types of companies are not strong enough among the stakeholders (Haynes and Egan 2017). Hence, such organisations only go for aggressive price competitive approaches to maximise profitability without considering other aspects of CSR.

The SMEs generally adopt and implement defensive approaches to CSR considering the future probability of business expansion and more customer loyalty (El Haddad et al., 2015). These companies generally use competitive approaches in business and also maintain socio-economic as well as environmental sustainability of business by removing the negative consequences of the aggressive approaches in order to avoid the possibilities of legal challenges.

The corporate businesses generally focus on the adoption of the accommodating and proactive approaches to VCSR in order to promote the CSR activities among public and gain huge support from the important stakeholders in business.

Similarities and Differences

In terms of similarities and differences, there is only one similarity among these four approaches of CSR as these approaches always ensure socio-economic as well as environmental sustainability of business. In terms of differences, the obstructive and defensive approaches are nothing but such approaches, which forcefully make companies to maintain sustainability. On the other hand, the accommodating and proactive approaches to CSR are believed to be competitive approaches according to the thought process of the company managements as they implement the approaches intentionally to ensure business growth in an ethical and sustainable way.

Measurement of Success

The measurement of the success of the CSR approaches can be done through the measurement of improved revenue generation and improved profitability. Moreover, the improvement in the stakeholder support and development of a strong customer base as well as customer loyalty also indicate that the CSR approaches are becoming highly successful for the organisations.

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Part 2 - Communication Skills

Introduction

I have used my both verbal as well as written communication skills in the classroom to become successful in classroom. In terms of verbal communication approaches, I have specifically focused on four types of verbal communication skills, such as interpersonal communication skills, intrapersonal communication skills, small group communication skills, and public communication skills. First of all, I have used intrapersonal communication skills with my teachers to gain knowledge privately. Secondly, I have used interpersonal verbal communication skills in classrooms to enhance knowledge sharing and knowledge management process. Most importantly, this interpersonal skill is applied to communicate with one or two individuals in class room. Thirdly, small group communication skill has been applied during group presentation in class or group assignment in class. Lastly, I have used public communication skills in seminar while giving seminars on any class or course topic.

In terms of writing communication skills, I always follow eight important aspects to strengthen my writing communication skills. These are reading, utilisation of simple words while writing, strong preparation through practice, honesty in writing, showing the level of understanding of contents through logical writing, clear perspective of written content, and developing effective written content communication skills. For example, I always take down the teachings of my professors in class room. It improves my written communication efficiency skills in terms of speed. In addition, it also helps me to understand the content effectively. Following is the SMART action plan, which will help me to become a successful communicator in near future.

SMART Action Plan

SMART	Objectives	Actions	Timeline
Specific	Becoming a Good Listener	Effective Interaction with class friends, senior students, parents, and teachers	Within next 12 months
Measurable	Practicing on Communication Skills	Constant reading and writing	Within next 2 months
Attainable	Positive Body Language	Strengthening public communication skills	Within next 4 months
Realistic	Try to become Assertive	Avoiding aggression while practicing skill development processes	Within next 1 month
Timely	Starting of Acknowledging Positive Criticism by Next Year	Receiving coaching and suggestions of parents and teachers	Within next 6 months

Numeracy

I think that Numeracy skills are skills beyond the concepts of application of mathematical skills in the activities. I always believe in the use of numeracy skills in my communication process while giving speeches. I generally use several step-by-step processes to adopt and implement numeracy skills. First of all, I always gather data and information related to the seminar topic. For example, I use primary and secondary data analytical process to collect important information related to the seminar topic. Academic books, journals, and websites are considered to be the secondary data sources. I also collect numerous data from my colleagues, teachers, senior students, and junior students to collect numeric data. It is my first procedure to apply numeric skills in seminars. Secondly, I generally use different modes to calculate the received primary as well as secondary numeric data. Calculators, different mathematical calculation techniques, and different statistical calculation techniques are used to develop speech. For example, I use calculators to calculate the findings and use excel to interpret the data through different tables, graphs, and charts. Lastly, I source the interpreted data and include them into my final speech to complete a successful seminar. Following is the SMART action plan, which will help me to become a successful professional with positive numeracy skills.

SMART Action Plan

SMART	Objectives	Actions	Timeline
Specific	Becoming a Good Interpreter of Data	Constant involvement in data management and analysis activities	Within next 36 months
Measurable	Practicing on Use of Decimal and Percentage based activities	Regular attendance of classes	Within next 3 months
Attainable	Effective user of Arithmetic Skills	Regular attendance of classes	Within next 2 months
Realistic	Improvement of Statistical skills to become a good interpreter	Joining professional statistical course	Within next 12 month
Timely	I also need to strengthen my fraction and negative number calculation skills by next year	Joining professional cpourses	Within next 12 months

ICT

I am tech-savvy student and I always believe that effective information communication technology skills can help us to become a good student and secure a good grade to become a successful professional in the near future. I can use different kinds of basic information communication technological skills, which are highly important for any student. I have expertise in different kinds of ICT skills, which are highly important for the communication process. These are e-mail management skills, spread sheet development skills, electronic presentation skills, and World Wide Web navigation skills. These are important to become a successful communicator and a successful professional in the real life. Following is the SMART action plan, which will help me to become a successful use of information communication technological applications in business.

SMART Action Plan

SMART	Objectives	Actions	Timeline
Specific	Becoming a Good Database Manager	Getting tuitions from telecommunication and technology teachers	Within next 24 months
Measurable	A successful software installer on computer and mobile devices	Coaching from teacher and senior students	Within next 3 months
Attainable	A successful video conference manager	Coaching from teacher and senior students	Within next 2 months
Realistic	A successful deep web knowledgeable individual	Getting tuitions from telecommunication and technology teachers	Within next 24 month
Timely	Become a successful website designed by next 5 years	Getting tuitions from telecommunication and technology teachers	Within next 12 months

Problem-Solving

In terms of problem solving approach, I have a behavioural trait that I am not a good listener although I want to interact with the majority of the individuals in surroundings. However, I am not a good listener, when someone is criticising me. This is an important aspect to state that I cannot receive the criticism as I cannot digest the criticism of others as it affects my self-confidence and motivation level. Therefore, it will be important for me to improve the degree of patience within me and develop active listening skills as it will definitely help me to grow in individual life as well as future professional life. Following is the SMART action plan, which will help me to become a successful problem solver.

SMART Action Plan

SMART	Objectives	Actions	Timeline
Specific	Becoming a Good Listener	Effective Interaction with class friends, senior students, parents, and teachers	Within next 12 months
Measurable	Improving Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Communication Skills	Constant reading and writing	Within next 6 months
Attainable	Becoming more Extravert	Strengthening public communication skills	Within next 4 months
Realistic	Become an Assertive Team Player	Avoiding aggression while practicing skill development processes	Within next 3 month
Timely	Starting of Acknowledging Positive Criticism by Next Year	Receiving coaching and suggestions of parents and teachers	Within next 12 months

Working with Others

I love to interact with others in classroom as well as in my real life. I always want to become a successful professional in near future by prioritising the strong team game. I think that collaboration with others in workplaces, such as class rooms, indoor game platforms, and seminar rooms will definitely help me to improve my interpersonal skills. Overall, it will definitely help me to become a successful professional in the near future.

In terms of example, my professors of classroom always engage us in the team games, team assignments, class room games, outdoor games, and indoor games. The major reason behind these interaction processes is to improve the interpersonal skill development processes and team spirits among us. The innovative class room games and other types of games as well as interaction processes have significantly helped me to improve the assertive and extravert behavioural traits in classroom. This will help me in becoming a successful professional and team player in the future organisations. Following is the SMART action plan, which will help me to become a successful team player.

SMART Action Plan

SMART	Objectives	Actions	Timeline
Specific	Becoming a Good Team Player	Effective Interaction with class friends, senior students, parents, and teachers	Within next 12 months
Measurable	Improving Interpersonal and Public Communication Skills	Constant reading and writing	Within next 6 months
Attainable	Becoming Open-Mined Individual	Strengthening public communication skills	Within next 3 months
Realistic	Become an Positive Team Player	Avoiding aggression while practicing skill development processes	Within next 6 month
Timely	Acknowledging Positive Criticism to Become a Skilled Team Player	Receiving coaching and suggestions of parents and teachers	Within next 8 months

References

Bowie, D., Buttle, F., Brookes, M. and Mariussen, A., 2016. Hospitality marketing. Routledge.

Chandiok, S. and Sharma, P., 2017. Hospitality Marketing: Strategic Issues. In Strategic Marketing Management and Tactics in the Service Industry (pp. 213-242). IGI Global.

El Haddad, R., Hallak, R. and Assaker, G., 2015. Price fairness perceptions and hotel customers' behavioral intentions. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 21(3), pp.262-276.

Fallon, P., 2016. 10 Crisis Management and the Future of the Travel Industry. Operations Management in the Travel Industry, p.272.

Harman, S. and Dilek, S.E., 2017. Hospitality marketing: A historical perspective. In Routledge Handbook of Hospitality Marketing (pp. 9-20). Routledge.

Haynes, N. and Egan, D., 2017. Revisiting the relevance of economic theory to hotel revenue management education and practice in the era of Big Data. Research in Hospitality Management, 7(1), pp.65-73.

Panchal, R., 2016. Private Equity Secondary Buyouts. Ct. Uncourt, 3, p.8.

Shayekina, Z.M., Mamrayeva, D.G. and Tashenova, L.V., 2015. The theoretical aspects of using the basic elements of marketing communications in tourism. ????????? ???????, p.105.

Tarrant, C., 2018. Never mind the love, smell the money: What is the 'value-add'of a brand?. Journal of Brand Strategy, 7(1), pp.54-68.

Tooke-Marchant, R., 2015. Online travel agents (OTAs) and their dominance of search engine results: Can independent hotels compete?. Journal of direct, data and digital Marketing Practice, 16(3), pp.154-156.