F37P64 Modern Corporate Social Responsibility Assignment Sample

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION F37P64 modern corporate social responsibility assignment

Background of the study

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to the self-regulating model which guides company to initiate activities that will be beneficial for the stakeholders, general public and society. Sustainable development practices involve undertaking activities that will help in fulfilling the needs of present generation while managing the resources and ability to fulfil the needs of future generations (Baraibar-Diez and D. Odriozola, 2019). These activities are very crucial for the organization as it indicates the firm’s responsibility and accountability towards the society and the environment. Sustainable Development practices in a firm helps increasing the overall reputation and goodwill of the organisation, which in return, aids in enhancing both sales and profitability of the business entity. Adopting CSR activities help business enterprise in undertaking all their operation in an environmentally friendly manner which helps in reducing cost and wastages. SD practices and CSR policies help in many benefits. Nowadays, governments and authorities are establishing policies and practices to help entities to develop conscious operations.

Say goodbye to academic pressure! New Assignment Help is your go-to partner for expert-level Assignment Help in the UK.

Furthermore, CSR activities are very crucial for the business entity as it enhances the customer’s loyalty which helps in maintaining stability within the industry. The Retail Industry in the UK is involved in offering wide range of consumer grocery products to the costumers. The retail industry is contributing highly towards the economic development and growth of the country, accounting 112.8 billion pounds for 2023. The industry is contributing 4.9% towards the country’s economic, making it 2.4% greater than year 2022. There are 314,040 retail businesses in UK which provided over 2.7 million job opportunity in year 2023 (UK’s retail industry, 2024). This dissertation will discuss on the influences of the CSR practices and sustainable development activities in gaining competitive edge within the retail industry of the UK. For this purpose, various methodologies will be discussed that will help in gaining better insight of the research issue.

Research aim and objectives

Aim

The aim behind this study is to determine the impact that CSR and SD practices have in creating a competitive edge with a specific focus on the Retail sector of the UK. This research is aiming at evaluating the various type of models and theories of CSR implemented within the retail industry. This research evaluates the tangible and intangible benefits that are generated through CSR and SD practices. To achieve the goal, the research will be conducted around the following objectives:

Objectives

• To develop understanding about the models and theories of CSR and Sustainable Development.
• To assess tangible and intangible advantages that modern corporate entities gain by implementing CSR and Sustainable Development practices.
• To investigate the role of CSR and Sustainable Development (SD) practices in gaining competitive advantages.
• To recommend competent CSR strategies to the retail sector firms which improves market positioning.

Research questions

Q.1 What tangible and intangible advantages do companies gain by engaging with CSR and Sustainable Development practices?

Q.2 What are the roles that CSR and Sustainable Development practices play in enhancing a company´s competitive advantage and market positioning?

Rationale

The current study is based on determining the role of CSR activities in enhancing market position and creating competitive edge within the retail industry. This is the crucial research topic as with the increase in the number of organisations, the negative impact on the society nd environment has enhanced which is reducing the efficiency of the business entity. Currently, the preferences of customers have changed, and individuals are focusing on companies that are more accountable and responsible towards their social goals. Customers are giving preference to organisations that are undertaking ethical practices and focusing on overall betterment of the society (Van der Byl, Slawinski and Hahn, 2020). This shift in customer’s preferences has created urgency for the business entity to implement CSR and SD practices so that the customer’s needs and demands could be fulfilled.

In addition, investors and shareholders prefer investing in business entities with concerns towards the society as it will help generating effective return. Also, there is an increase in government regulations and legislation for safeguarding the country’s population from the unethical activities which require business entity to initiate implementing CSR activities and avoid legal issues. Moreover, there are large number of the competitors in the industry which creates necessity for the firm to adopt practices and activities through which competitive edge could be created and customer could be attracted within the industry. CSR and sustainable activity is one such method through which market position could be improved. Descriptive analysis will be used to shed light on the influence of the CSR and SD practices in gaining competitive edge within the UK’s retail industry.

Significance 

The present study conducted on the CSR initiative and SD practices will help in creating awareness regarding the importance of such practices for the firm’s growth. This study will also depict the negative impact which company faces due to not implementing these practices. Organisations will be able to identify the role of SD practices in creating competitive edge and enhancing the overall profitability position. This study will suggest business entities to undertake effective actions so that negative impacts could be reduced through CSR and SD practices (Van Wynsberghe, 2021). Other organisation working in the retail industry will also be able to determine the significance of CSR practices and identify all the challenges that act as a barrier in the effective implementation of such practices.

Structure 

The dissertation is divided into five crucial parts that include introduction, literature review, research methodology, findings and conclusion.

The first chapter of the dissertation includes the introduction which will discuss on the background of the research, and the aims, objectives, and research questions of the research. This session clarifies the focus of the study and focus on specifying the values of the research.

The second chapter of the dissertation includes the literature review which describes the general trends and approach that support the research topic. This section includes the critical analysis of the topic that aids in understanding both positive and negative impact of the topic.

Third chapter will include all the methodologies that help in gaining all the relevant and reliable information regarding the topic (Yadav et al, 2020). It will describe the selected method and the justification for the choosing method.

The findings chapter of the dissertation includes summarizing and the results of the study by describing statistics, graphs and figures. This section includes presentation, analysing and interpretation of the results.

The last chapter discuss on the new knowledge that has gained from the research and emphasis on the strengths and weakness of the current study.

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Theories and concept of corporate social responsibility

According to the viewpoint of Abdelhalim and Eldin (2019) CSR refers to the business model that integrates environment and social concern in the business operations. CSR focuses on enhancing social impact on the society and reduces the concern towards financial and economic benefits. These activities support in creating a positive image within the industry and aids in enhancing overall economic position of the firm. Nguyen et al, (2021) stated that there are various theories and models that help ineffective implementation of the CSR strategies within the business entity. Environmental corporate responsibility is one the most effective CSR model that includes undertaking activities with the aim of safeguarding natural resources of the country. Environment model focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emission, carbon footprints, decreasing use of plastics that result in protecting the environment.

Moreover, Rodriguez-Gomez et al, (2020) explained that ethical social responsibility is another model that indicates the firm’s commitment towards fairly and ethically carrying out of activities. This model includes the compliance of business operations with all the legal rules and regulations. Ethical social responsibility includes fostering equality within the business operations and avoiding child labour, and discrimination within the business entity. Based on the viewpoint of Kim (2019) it has depicted that corporate responsibility help in successful implementation of CSR policies. Under this model, business entities are focusing on providing effective return to the shareholders and investors. In this model, managers are also involved to managing over cost of the operation so that customer could easily get access to large number of services. For example: Aldi is involved towards stocking optimum amount of stock that helps in reducing overhead and holding cost for the company. This help in decreasing overall cost of the product that lead to attracting large number of customer within organization.

Jouber (2021) exposed that each organisation should follow the stakeholder theory which helps in enhancing overall reputation and goodwill within the industry. Stakeholder theory of CSR includes integration of business strategies and activities through which needs and demands of the entire stakeholder could be effectively fulfilled. This model includes analysing the requirements of each stakeholder and initiate strategies so that the satisfaction of stakeholder could be enhanced. For example: customers in Tesco care about cost and quality effective products, government required legal compliance, social groups require environmentally friendly activities. For fulfilling the needs of diverse stakeholders Tesco has initiated AI in operations, which help in reducing wastage and enhancing quality. Technology also ensures the legal compliances and involve in suggesting sustainable method (Elmaghrabi, 2021)

Moreover, Fukuda and Ouchida (2020) asserted that a philanthropic corporate responsibility method should be initiated within the enterprise for maintaining social awareness within the industry. This responsibility refers to inclusion of the social aims and objectives within the company’s operation that help in betterment and welfare of the society. For example, Morrison has created Morrison Foundation by investing over 34.1 million in 2023 as to tackle social deprivation and poverty. The firm is also donating for enhancing wellbeing and improving health condition of individuals. On the other hand, Bian et al, (2021) explicated that a moral minimum theory of CSR should be initiated within the operations of any entity. This theory indicates that CSR does not means only focuses on social activities rather this model depict that firm should increase profit without harming others. The moral minimum ethics are not provided by government, rather each company should set its own values and ethics so that firm’s operations do not create any negative impact on the society.

According to Diaz‐Carrion, López‐Fernández and Romero‐Fernandez (2019) it is imperative to perform CSR practices, making it is more practical and effective for the organisation. Under this theory, CSR model has been used as a tool and method that will help in increasing overall profits and financial position of the business entity. This theory indicates that there is major responsibility of the businessman towards the society, and it goes beyond than only increasing shareholders’ funds and provides the maximum return on their investment. In the support of above statement, Barnett, Henriques and Husted (2020) stated that instrumental theory has evolved over time and currently there are three crucial groups of the theory. The first group indicate the economic objective which includes maximum return to shareholder. Second group depict on using CSR strategies for creating competitive edge and the third group of the model emphasis over using cause- related marketing for creating awareness regarding CSR strategies.

Carlini and Grace (2021) claimed that the triple bottom line theory should be initiated for creating positive image within the mindset of customer. This theory indicates that the three P’s that are profits, plant and people that are crucial for the effective working of the business entity.

Tangible and intangible advantages of introducing CSR and sustainable measures within the operations of a business entity

According to Adloff and Neckel (2019) there are various tangible and intangible advantages of CSR and sustainable activities on the overall working and performance of the business entity. This activities help in boosting reputation and goodwill of the organization that result in attracting large number of customer. By initiating CSR activities, organization is able to demonstrate their responsibility towards the natural resources and environment that help in creating positive impact on the perception of customer. For example: Aldi is targeting towards working with large number of community and organization for the betterment and welfare of the community. That helps in creating positive image and enhancing overall reputation of the business entity. On the other hand, Alharahsheh and Pius (2020) explicated that Green washing CSR activities are generally adopted within the firm which result in creating negative image of the business entity. Business entities are involved in making faulty claim regarding their ethical and sustainable activities for gaining effective reputation. But this type of activities rather results in losing trust and confidence of the individual which eventfully leads to negatively impacting on the overall goodwill. For example;

Based on the view point of Alsayegh, Abdul Rahman and Homayoun (2020) it has depicted that CSR and sustainable activities help in enhancing overall profitability and financial position of the organization. These activities aids in influencing customer’s perception by showcasing the environment protection measures that has adopted by the firm which result in attaining economies of scale. This help firm in reducing overall cost of production which results in enhancing overall profitability and sales of the business entity. Customer generally ready to pay high price to such firm as they are using their profit for benefit of the society which eventually result in enhancing overall sales.

However, Bhardwaj (2019) stated that firm need to incur high cost towards CSR initiative and sustainable activities which eventually result in reducing overall profitability of firm. It has been identified that sustainable material for packaging is 3% expensive than other material which increases the overall cost for the customer. This increase in cost results in reducing customer’s motivation towards the product and leads to decreasing overall sales and demand of the company’s product. Braun and Clarke (2019) asserted that CSR activities aids in brand recognition which result in creating competitive edge within the industry. This activities help in differentiating company’s operation with its competitors which result in attracting large number of customer. Firm are involving towards creating awareness regarding all the sustainable activities through Media which aids in differentiating themselves form other’s firm.

On the contrary point of view, Buallay (2019) explicated that initiating sustainable activities leads to competitive disadvantages. Firm that is not opting for CSR activities provide their goods at lower prices than other which result in attracting large number of customer. Individual generally compares prices of goods and services before making decision and introducing CSR activities results in increasing overall product prices leading to negatively impacting on firm’s profits. Chams and García-Blandón (2019) claimed that CSR measures and sustainable activities of the organization support in attracting new and skilled human resources which result in improving overall efficiency of organization operations. Employees are attracted towards the firm that are initiating sustainable activities which denotes firm’s responsibility towards society which results in gaining talented employees. Initiating CSR activities indicate that firm will use all the ethical and fair measures while treating their staff and employees which help in improving overall employee’s morale and satisfaction. This increase in employee’s satisfaction aids in reducing employees turnover and improving overall operational efficiency of the business entity. For example; it has identified that employee’s retention in Aldi is 85% which indicate firm’s efficiency in effectively fulfilling needs and demand of the employees. This assist in increasing customer satisfaction by providing effective services and results in improving firm’s financial position.

On the other hand, Esty and Karpilow (2019) stated that company that are more focusing on CSR activities paid less emphasis over employees which reduces their overall satisfaction and increase turnover rate within the business entity. According to the view point of Fernando, Popadiuk and Santos (2019) it has depicted that organization that has adopted the CSR activities and sustainable measures as able to gain support of local and central government which aids in enhancing overall brand positioning, government in UK has established various policies and subsidies for the organization that has adapted sustainable measures in their organization which firm in reducing their cots. Firm gaining local and central government support are able to foster effective image in front of customer which eventually result in gaining attention of large number of customer.

On the critical point of view, Fransen Schalk and Auld (2020) professed that firm that are gaining government support are required to follow additional guidelines and regulation in their operations which distract organization form its crucial objective of attaining profits. Moreover, this type grants and supports are provided for limited time period for which firm needs to follow such measures for long time period as to stabilizing and managing its reputation. Based on the view point of Furstenau et al, (2020), it has claimed that CSR initiative help in fulfilling stakeholder’s expectation which eventually results in avoiding any type of conflicts or satisfaction within the stakeholders. For Initiating CSR measures, firm usually follow ESG policy which helps in improving overall motivation and satisfaction of stakeholder. This strategies help in fulfilling the needs of customer by providing environment friendly measures, support supplier by following ethical measures and reduce negative environmental impact which support in fulfilling society’s needs and wants. Achieve stakeholder’s needs and wants help in creating effective brand image result in enhancing firm’s profitability.

However, Gatto (2020) stated that more focus on CSR activities result in reducing emphasis over firm’s actual goal which leads to negatively impacting on the stakeholder’s expectation and satisfaction. Additionally, it is very challenging for the manager to initiate CSR activities which could fulfil the needs and demand of diverse stakeholder result in creating dissatisfaction in stakeholders. In the accordance with author, Hall (2021) contended that sustainable activities help in attracting investors and financier within firm that support in overcoming issues of fund shortage by the firm. Company involve in CSR activity are able to attract socially accountable investors that help in easy access to required funds and support in effectively undertaking expansion and growth of the business entity.

On the other hand, Han (2021) stated declared that investors are generally attracted and happy with the high profit margin. CSR activities results in increasing cost and reducing the profit margin which results in reducing investor’s motivation which result in creating issues in fulfilling the capital requirement of the firm. Based on the view point of Hörisch, Schaltegger and Freeman (2020) it has determined that CSR activities help in mitigating risk for the business entity that aids in easy flow of company’s operations. CSR initiative aims at following all the ethical, legal and environmental policies so that organization working did not create negative impact on any individual. Effectively compiling with legal, ethical and environment regulation help organization in mitigating any type of legal obligation and improve overall reputation of business entity.

Role of CSR and sustainable activities in gaining competitive advantages within industry

According to the view point of Miller and Wyborn (2020) it has depicted that CSR and sustainable activities help in creating competitive edge in the industry by describing the uniqueness of their organization. Alignment of CSR activities with the brand value, vision and mission, firm could communicate their goals and objectives. This uniqueness helps in attracting environment conscious individual which support in enhancing overall profitability of the business entity. For example: the CSR initiate of Aldi include effective care towards the community, individual, society and environment. This initiative indicates the positive objective of the company that help in influencing large number of customer. On the contrary point of view, Naciti (2019) professed that customer are generally attracted by the uniqueness of product and services and does not impacted by mission and vision of the business entity. CSR activities only emphasis over betterment of society but did not bring any positive change in quality of product. This results in reducing the attractiveness of the individual which negatively impact on the sales and overall profitability of the business entity.

Moreover, Narayanan and Das (2022) stated that CSR activities help in increasing market opportunity which helps in attracting new customer segment leading to increasing overall profitability and sales of the business entity. Sustainable activities help in increasing accessibility of organization to reach new target market, customer and segment that are focusing on the social goals which help firm in creating competitive edge within in the industry. For example; the goal of the Morrison is to benefit the British framer by integrating their supply chain which will help in enhancing their profits, betterment of farmer and providing effective product to the customer. This help firm in increasing its market reach which results in enhancing demand in the market and improving overall profitability of the business entity. On the critical point of view, Okoro and France (2019) asserted that organization involves in CSR activities are not able to attract the cost conscious customer which reduces the market reach of business entity. Individual generally believes that firm involved more in social activities and welfare are charging high prices to cover their cost which reduces the number of customer within the organization. It has depicted that most of the retail customer are emphasis over cost then quality and attract to company that are offering cost effective product and services. This misconception of individual reduces the demand for the product and reduces the market opportunity for the business entity.

Purvis, Mao and Robinson (2019) explicated that CSR activities help in enhancing reputation and goodwill of the organization which results in gaining competitive advancement in the industry. CSR activities help in gaining better support for the stakeholder such as consumer, employees, Policy maker, investors which enhance goodwill of the business entity. High satisfaction of stakeholder result in depicting positive impact in the industry results in gaining competitive edge over other and also support in better market positioning. This help in gaining attention of large number of customer and enhancing overall sales of the organization. However, author explicate that case of Green washing has increased in the current time and the firm involve in such activates generally lose the trust and confidence of the business entity. This type of activity demonstrates fraud and negative image of the company which result in reducing overall demand for company’s services and reduces the market position of the business entity. For example; Tesco claimed that Brazilian meat will not be sold due to increasing deforestation in the country but the claimed was faulty as still company is selling such meat. This results in losing trust of the customer and reduces overall sales and profitability of the Tesco.

Rees (2021) claimed that corporate social responsibility or the sustainable development help in improving firm’s visibility which is the positive indicator for effective marketing and leads to enhancing overall competitive edge. CSR activities help in enhancing traffic on company’s website by attracting large number of customer that aids in improving overall market position. This activity also helps in undertaking a press advertisement which helps in enhancing and improving firm’s visibility. This initiative provides an opportunity for the SEO by creating engaging content which result in enhancing overall sales of the business entity. On the other hand, Ruggerio (2021) stated that CSR activity may provide negative impact if the strategies are not displaced in the accurate manner. The inefficiency of the marketing content and strategy may create negative image of the business entity which results in reducing purchasing intention and behaviour of the customer. Organisation should involve towards providing fair and accurate information regarding the activities that will help in managing the trust and confidences of the customer and assist in enhancing overall profitability of business entity.

 Based on the view point of Salas‐Zapata and Ortiz‐Muñoz (2019) it is depicted that CSR activities help in mitigating risk and liability on the organization and support in fulfilling government and legal regulation that results in creating competitive edge within industry. From the past research, it has identified that 54% of the customer did not prefer to purchase form the company that are involved in any unethical case or activities. CSR initiative support firm in effectively analysing the impact of their practices on the business entity and support in taking effective actions through which negative impact could be reduced. This active responsibility and accounting towards environment and fulfilling the legal and environment regulation which help firm in creating positive images that leads to influencing large number of customer towards the business entity. For example: Aldi is involve towards conducting the policy analysing on the regular basis which help in identifying changes in the company’s policy and assist in taking effective actions as to mitigate and reduce risk for the business entity.

 On the other hand, Schaltegger, Hörisch and Freeman (2019) believed that inefficiency CSR activities results in damaging firm’s reputation, Creating legal liability, depleting resources or stakeholder dissatisfaction which eventually results in reducing market position. This increase in the liability and stakeholder satisfaction result in depicting negative image in the industry leading to creating difficulty in gaining competitive edge.

Siebrecht (2020) also indicated that firm focusing on CSR activities and sustainable initiate are emphasis over undertaking activities for the betterment and welfare of the employees. Providing effective services to the employees and working towards their growth help firm in enhancing employee’s satisfaction which eventually results in creating competitive edge in the industry. It has identified that efficiency of the customer service is highly interlinked with the satisfaction of the employees. Highly motivated employees and workers are emphasis over effective working that result in providing optimum experiences to customer and aids in improving firm’s profits. For example: Morrison is involve towards providing effective compensation and rewards to the employees and initiate various training and development sessions which will result in the improving overall employee’s satisfaction results in providing better services to the customer.

On the critical point of view, Siltaloppi and Jähi (2021) asserted that due to organization initiative, employees need to undertake activities which they are not liked to results in reducing employee’s satisfaction. Many time, company asked employees to showcase fault image of the company while marketing which requires employees to undertaken unethical activities that reduces employee’s moral while undertaking such activities. This results in creating negative impact of worker’s mindset and leads to decreasing market position of the firm. According to the view point of Singu (2022) it has determined that CSR initiative help in reducing overall price of the good and services that eventually results in gaining competitive advantage and leads to increasing overall profitability and financial position of the business entity. This CSR initiate support in influencing perception of customer and leads to attracting large number of customer that leads to attaining economies of scale. This helps business entity in reducing overall operational cost and supports in providing goods at competitive prices.

However, Stratton (2021) depicted that firm need to indulge high cost for undertakings CSR and sustainable activities which create negative impact on the overall budget and financial position of the enterprise. Organisation needs to increases the price if their product and services with the aim of meeting additional cost which leads to losing cost conscious customer and creating obstacle in attaining competitive advantages within the industry.

Literature gap

Earlier study has been conducted on determining the importance of CSR activity and sustainable development for the company’s profitability. But focus has not been paid on identifying the role and influence of such activity in gaining competitive advancement within the industry (Streimikiene et al, 2021). Research has not focus on the identifying the influences of such strategies in enhancing market position. This study will discuss on the role of CSR activities in creating competitive edge and enhancing market position of the business entity. Further, it will also help firm in determining challenges that could causes barrier in effective SD practices and help in taking effective actions to overcome all such challenges.

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research type

Research type refers to plan and procedure that includes identifying key words, analysing concept and collecting information for resolving the research issue (Ahmad et al, 2019). The two most common type of research includes the qualitative research and quantitative research. Under qualitative type refers to naturalistic inquiry that aims at gaining in-depth information regarding the social phenomena. Quantitative type includes gaining information based on logics, numbers and objective stance. In the present study, for determining the impact of CSR and Sustainability practices, qualitative research type has been adopted by the researcher. This research type has been selected as it addresses the entire relevant question regarding the issues and support in developing deeper understanding regarding context and phenomena. Qualitative type provides flexibility to gain larger amount of information as it promotes flexibility that help in better understand human experiences. Moreover, the emotional aspect of respondent could not be recorded in the quantitative research that requires researcher to opt for qualitative research type. This research type supports in gaining versatile and targeted information which results in deeper understanding of the research issue.

Research approach

Research approach refers to the systematic procedure through which specific conclusion are formed after analysing broad assumptions (Alharahsheh and Pius, 2020). The crucial type of research approach includes the inductive research and deductive approach. Inductive approach includes development of new theories after analysing the collected data. Deductive approach refers to testing exciting theories based on the gathered data. In the present study for identifying the role of CSR in developing competitive edge, inductive research approach has been selected by the researcher. This approach has been selected as it helps in forming large number of assumption and support in capturing new ideas and beliefs. Inductive approach helps in estimating the cause behind certain outcomes and help in determining new probability in the collected data. This research approach follows the holistic viewpoint that includes avoiding already collected data and focus on determining new theories.

Research philosophy

Research philosophy refers to wide range of assumption that is made while collecting, analysing and interpreting the data (Bauer et al, 2021). The most common type of research philosophy includes the Interpretivism Philosophy and Positivism Philosophy. Interpretivism philosophy is related to grouping diverse approach that helps in better understanding social situation. Positivism philosophy is based on the belief that only the measurable elements are crucial in a study. For identifying the impact of implementing CSR and SD roles in fostering competitive edge, Interpretivism philosophy has been used by the researcher. This philosophy has been selected as it is help in determining the motivation, mindset and social situation of the respondent. This method has been selected as it is based on the idealism approach that supports in providing real life data regarding the issue. Interpretivism philosophy has been selected as covers social construction such as languages, shared meaning and instruments. Further, qualitative has been collected by using inductive approach that is accurately accompanied by the Interpretivism philosophy.

Data collection

The data collection process includes process of accumulating data so that in-depth information could be gained regarding the research issue. The two most common methods for accumulating data are primary research method and secondary research method. Primary research includes collecting data that has not collected prior and study has been conducted for the first time (Bloomfield and Fisher, 2019). Secondary research method includes gathering information from the already conducted research. For identifying the impact of CSR strategies, secondary data collection method has been utilised by the researcher. This data collection method has been used as it aids in gaining diverse information in the limited time span and support in collecting large amount of data. Furthermore, this data collection method helps in understanding the viewpoint of diverse author that help in the carry out in-depth research. This method has been selected as researcher needs not to conduct study form scrap that result in saving cost and time. In this regard, goggle scholar has been used by the researcher as to collect information regarding past research in time and cost effective manner. Further various articles, journals and books of diverse author have been evaluated as to gain large amount of information regarding the implementation of CSR and SD practices.

Data analysis

Data analysis refers to the process of applying logical technique and statistical tool on the gathered data for effectively carrying out the research. The three crucial type of data analysis method includes the content analysing, SPSS and descriptive data analysis method (Chandra et al, 2019). SPSS refers to the Statistical package for the social sciences which includes applying tools on numerical data for gaining better understanding. Descriptive analysis refers to the method of analysing qualitative data and support in gaining accurate information from the collected data. In the context of determining impact of CSR in creating competitive edge, descriptive data analysis method has been used. This method has been selected as qualitative data could not be analysed through this method. Descriptive method supports in exploring new patterns and theme within the data that aids in gaining optimum information from the collected data. Descriptive data analysis has been selected as it simplifies the process of interpretation by representing information in the form of pie charts and graphs.

Ethical consideration

Ethical consideration refers to the various ethical, values and principle theta had been followed while collecting, analysing and interpreting data (Duckett, 2021). In the course of carrying out research, focus has been paid on promoting confidentiality and anonymity within the research. While conducting research, university guidelines and regulation has been accurately followed as to avoid any unethical practices. Accurate and appropriate citation has been provided on the secondary data which provide appreciation to original researcher for their work. Further a references list will also be attached in the appendices as to ensure accuracy by providing information regarding books and journals.

Reliability and validity

Reliability refer to the ensuring the accuracy of the data whereas validity include assuring the applicability and usefulness of the data (Fischer, Boone and Neumann, 2023). In the context of present sudsy, all the secondary information will be analysed on the basis of the current objectives so that required information is collected. For searching for data keywords such as CSR policy, retail sector of UK and CSR impact has been used for gaining related information. Further data has been evaluated on the basis of the market situation and the time during the study.

Research limitation

Research limitation refers to uncertainties and shortcoming that are impacting on the accuracy of the study (Hodge, 2020). There is lack of time and budget that is major issues in effectively carrying out the research. To overcome time and cost constraint, secondary research has been carried out by the researcher. This method help in gaining access to large information that aids in gaining more accurate and reliable detail regarding the research topic. Further due to lack of budget, researcher is not able to use various software and technology for analysing the data. To overcome this issue, descriptive data analyse method been selected that could be effectively applied without software and support in easily and effectively analysing the collected information.

CHAPTER 4: DATA FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS

Theories and concept of CSR within the Retail sectors

From the secondary data, it has identified that stakeholder theory is the most effective and appropriate strategy that should be used within the retail sector of UK. Under this theory organizations are focussing on undertaking action that does not create negative impact on the any of its stakeholder and support in fulfilling the demand and needs of all the stakeholder of the business entity. For example: Tesco is involved towards using this theory that help firm in adopting effective measures through which negative impact on all the stakeholders could be mitigates (Stakeholder theory in Tesco, 2024). Tesco has focusing on adopting effective prices’ and focuses on reducing cost of the customers that help in enhancing their satisfaction.

Moreover, company is involved in adopting sustainable activities that help in fulfilling the government and legal obligations of the company. However, it has depicted Tesco only focus on the stakeholder theory has results in not covering various other crucial aspects that results in negatively impacting on overall performance of the business entity. Tesco has been claimed for including in horse meat scandal that indicate that firm is not able to effectively following all the ethics (Tesco’s unethical activities, 2022). It has been determined that retail organization follows philanthropic responsibility that helps in effectively fulfilling the need of society while managing operations of the business entity. For instance, Aldi is involve in donating over 7% of total profit for the welfare of the malnutrition’s students and also involve in donating the product to the needy one (Aldi’s investment towards charity, 2023). According the Bauer et al, (2021) this CSR model helps firm in creating a positive image in front of the customer and support in enhancing overall sales and profitability of the business entity. This theory indicates the company’s concern towards the welfare and development of the society that aids in forming positive image of the business entity.

However, it has identified that in year 2023, Aldi has increased the prices of goods and services by 6% as compared to previous year (Increase in price of Aldi’s goods, 2024). It has depicted that due to philanthropic theory company has increased the cost as to cover the additional expenses of the firm. Buallay (2019) stated that this theory has result in increasing the cost of the firm that leads to reducing overall sales and profitability of the business entity. It has determined that stakeholder theory has been used by the retail organization as to fulfil the needs and demand of large number of customer within the industry. Based on the view point of Lee and Riffe (2019) it has explicated that Morrison has used stakeholder theory with the aim of identifying the interest of the entire stakeholder and focuses on providing maximum satisfaction to them. This theory helps in creating effective reputation of the company that result in improving overall profitability of the business entity. On the critical point of view, it has determined that manager in Morrison face issue in prioritizing the need of stakeholder as fulfilling one’ need may result in creating dissatisfaction within other individual that result in negatively impacting on firm’s objective.

Further organization face issue in treating all the stakeholder fairly result in reducing goodwill of the Morrison that impact on company’s economic position. From the secondary data it has identified that retail organization are involved towards adopting instrumental theory in their operation as to enhance economic benefit by using cause related marketing and creature competitive edge within the industry. For instance, Nisa retail store has focused over using the instrument theory so that awareness could be created related to firm’s CSR policy that help in gaining economic benefit. This help in creating competitive edge within industry that eventually result in gaining economic befit for the company and aids in providing effective return to stakeholders.

Tangible and Intangible benefits arises due to CSR strategies

It has determined that there are various benefits that have been provided by the CSR strategies to the business entity. Based on the view point of author it has identified that CSR activities help in enhancing overall reputation of the business entity that has resulted in increasing the sales and profitability of the organization. Tesco has claimed that there is 5% increases in the website traffic on the Tesco sites that indicate the positive impact of CSR activity in influencing customer’s perception. However Rowe, Karg and Sherry (2019) stated that green washing in CSR activity result in creating negative impact on firm’s overall reputation. Tesco has been claimed for involved in horse meat scandal that has reduces the trust and confidence of custom towards the firm and results in negatively impacting on overall profitability of the organization.

Further it has been identified that retail organization is using CSR activities are adopted by the firm with the aim of increasing profitability and financial position of the organization. For instances, Aldi’s CSR activity involve creating positive image of firm that help in attaining economic of scale which results in reducing overall cost of production and enhancing firm’s profitability position (Aldi’s CSR activities, 2024). On the other hand, Bilińska-Reformat et al, (2019) stated that CSR activity requires high expenses by the firm that has negatively impacting on firm’s profitability. For instance, it has identified that Aldi expenses has increased by 4% due to excessive investment towards welfare and donation that is reducing the profitability and natively impacting on budgets of the rogation. Firm has also increased the prices of goods and services that lead to reducing number of customers. It has been analysed form the finding that CSR activities help in creating competitive edge within the industry by differentiating its operation form others that help in maintaining stability within the industry.

For instance, Morrison is involved in donating for the education of children that has help in determining the effective use of firm’ s profitability that result in gaining attention of large number of customer. On the contrary point of view, Tourky et al, (2020) explicated that prices goods and services of firm that are not involved in CSR activity are cheaper that result in gaining economies of scale by influencing cost conscious customer. This results in gaining customer’s attention by creating competitive edge within the industry. Moreover, it has determined that organizations are using CSR activity with the aim of attracting skilled and competent employees within the organizations. This help in increasing the efficiency and productivity of organizations result in improving overall profitability of firm. For instance, Aldi has used CSR techniques so that employees are attracted to firm as company is contributing towards social welfare.

This helps in increasing customer’s satisfaction by providing effective services which eventually result in enhancing overall productivity and profitability of firm. On the critical point of view, Edinger-Schons et al, (2019) stated that business entity that are involved towards CSR activity by less focus towards employee’s point of view that result in creating dissatisfaction among workers. In support of this it has determined that Aldi’s workers are dissatisfied due to inadequate compensation and the time constraint. Employees have claimed that company is not providing adequate amount of wages and salary that is resulting in increasing dissatisfaction within workers. It has determined that Aldi is investing over 4% of total profit towards welfare that reduces firm’s profitability that result in decreasing additional benefits to the workers. Further, it has determined that government provide additional support to organization that is focusing towards CSR activities. This motivates business entity to undertake such activities that help in gaining various monetary benefits from the government.

Based on the section 135, firm that are involve towards donating more than 2% of total profit towards the welfare are provided with some extent of tax exemptions and support in R&D session. Tesco has focuses over becoming carbon neutral in their operations at the end of 2035. UK government has provided various monetary and non monetary supports to Tesco so that company’s goal could be effectively achieved and negative impact on society could be mitigate. However, Cai et al, (2019) explicated that such policies has shifted organization’s focuses on such policies that is result in reducing emphasis over organization’s original goal. Tesco has been adopted unfair measure to get the subsidies and tax exemptions that indicate firm’s unethical approach towards CSR resulting in negatively impacting on overall reputation of business entity.

Role of CSR strategies in creating competitive edge within the retail sector of UK

Based on the finding, it has depicted that organization are able to create competitive edge in industry by involving towards CSR activity. This activity help organization in communicating their welfare goals and objective to customer that helps in creating effective image within the industry. For example: Tesco has aligned its mission and vision with the goal of reducing carbon emission to net zero at the end of 2035 which indicate the positive motive of the company. This indicates company’s awareness and responsibility towards the environment that result in attracting large number of customer.

Steen and Nauta (2020) stated that this alignment of firm’s vision with welfare objective help in representing positive image of the firm that helps in creating competitive edge within the industry. On the other hand, Tsalis et al, (2020) asserted that customer’s preference towards the firm is influenced by the uniqueness and quality of product and services that are offered by the organization. It has identified that CSR activities help in enhancing and broadening the market opportunity resulting in reaching out to the target customer. For example: Morrison is involve towards undertaking contract with British farmers as to increase profits which result in gaining competitive edge within industry and leads to improving overall profitability. This contract has resulted in displaying firm’s responsibility towards the growth of the framers that result in creating competitive edge within industry.

Bergman et al, (2019) explicated that CSR activity create competitive disadvantages to the firm as it unable to attract the cost conscious individual towards the business entity. For instance, the price of goods and services of Morrison has increased by 2% in the month of June due to high expenditure towards welfare activities (Increase in price of Morrison goods and services, 2024). This result in losing conservative or cost conscious customer that is negatively impacting on firm’s competitive edge. After analysing secondary data, it has determined that CSR activities play a crucial role in enhancing firm’s reputation that result in gaining competitive advantages within the industry. For example; Aldi’s product and services are labelled with the food safety and quality standard mark which indicate firm’s responsibility towards the providing high quality goods and services. Further, Aldi has concentrated over providing funding for educating individual towards the harm of alcohol consumption that helps in creating positive image in the industry.

Harrison and Huang (2022) professed that CSR activities indicate the firm has successfully fulfilled its liability towards customer, society and environment that result in fostering positive image. On the other hand, Mokadem and Muwafak (2021) stated that there is increase in green washing case in the retail industry which reduces the confidence and trust of customer towards the firm result in negatively impacting on goodwill and reputation of business entity. For example: Aldi has been claimed that labels on seafood are misleading and products are not qualifying the sustainable criteria which develop issues in creating competitive edge.

It has been found out that CSR activities assists in enhancing visibility of the firm that eventually result in developing competitive edge within the industry. For example; Tesco is involved towards supporting the cancer patient and undertaking charity activities that act as PR event of the company. This helps in increasing visibility and attracting large number of customer’ stewards the firm. However, Olanipekun, Omotayo and Saka (2021) defined that due to increase in the faulty claims by the business entity, custom lack trust in company’s activities that result in negatively impacting on overall visibility. Customer did not believe that firm are seriously investing towards betterment of society which creates restriction in creating competitive edge within the industry.

DISCUSSION

Based on the finding of the study, it has analysed that all the objective of the research has been successfully attained. It has identified from the finding that stakeholder’s theory, ethical social responsibility model, philanthropic model and moral minimum ethic model are various model that should be used within the organization for effectively implementing CSR activities. Among the other entire model, It has depicted that minimum moral model is most accurate and imperative model among other as this model help in fulfilling Ethical responsibility while maintaining overall profitability and financial position of the business entity (Nyame-Asiamah and Ghulam, 2020). This model should be used by the organization as it is most practical CSR model which includes undertaking welfare of society without negatively impacting on firm’s profitability.

The other entire CSR model primarily focuses on society welfare on the cost of company’s profitability which creates issue in maintaining stability of firm in long term. This minimum moral model will help in increasing firm’s reputation and goodwill that will eventually result in improving budgets and economic position of the business entity. It has depicted that this model will help in overcoming the issue of lack of capital as firm will able to fulfil capital requirement while fulfilling ethical responsibility. Minimum moral model in retail sector does not create negative impact on the prices of goods and services that result in maintaining loyalty of customers. Minimum moral model ignore the scope of green washing as firm only undertake activities that are practically possible and did not involve in any false claim. This help in increase in overall reputation of the business entity and support in creating a competitive edge within the industry. However, it has depicted that moral minimum model is not able to gain to the attention of customer towards the firm (Dal Mas et al, 2022). This model only initiates activities while focusing on firm’s profitability that reduces trust and motivation of the customer towards the firm.

Further, it has depicted that there are various tangible benefits that are offered to company by involving CSR initiate in its operations. It has determined that CSR activities help in increasing overall goodwill of firm by depicting organization’s responsibility towards protecting environment and society. These activities also help in increasing overall financial position of the company as organization is able to attract large number of customer by focusing on welfare of the society (Lee and Riffe, 2019). This help firm in attaining economies of scale which result in reducing overall cost of production that leads to enhancing profitability of the business entity. It has been analysed that CSR activities and practices help in brand recognition that aids in creating competitive edge within industry. Firm involve towards CSR activities are able to attract customer by demonstrating positive activities that result in increasing overall brand recognition. Organization also initiates CSR activities with the motive of acquiring and retaining employees within the firm that results in effective working of the business entity.

Companies that have adopted CSR activities denote that firm are actively working for the benefit of others that increase workers’ motivation towards the business entity. CSR activities represent that firm is promoting equality and fairness in their operation that result promoting loyalty within employees. Workers has developed confidence that organization is not involving in an unethical activities that result in increasing overall reputation of firm leading to enhancing overall retention of workers within the company. Further, it has depicted from the finding that CSR activities help in gaining government support that assists organization in attracting large number of customers (Maali, Rakia and Khaireddine, 2021). Government provide large amount of subsidies and tax exemption to the organization that are involved in the CSR activities which result in creating competitive edge within the industry. However, after analysing finding, it has depicted that CSR activities are increasing cost for the business entity that negatively impact on the overall portability and financial position of the retail stores. Firm need to donate some of percentage of total profit that is decreasing firm’s profits and increasing cost of goods and services. This has results in reducing motivation of customer to purchase form particular company and negatively impact on sales and profitability of the enterprises.

Based on the analysis of the finding, it has depicted that CSR activities has huge impact and role in creating competitive edge within the industry. It has explicated that firm involve towards CSR activities are able to distinguish services form other on the bias of welfare and betterment of society that result in attracting large number of customers. Social and ethical practices denotes that firm are not only focusing over increasing their profitability rather they are also focusing over welfare and benefit of the society that is creating positive impact on the mindset of customers (Godefroit-Winkel, Schill and Diop-Sall, 2022). It has further identified that CSR activities support in developing loyalty among employees that result in creating competitive edge within the industry. Ethical and social activities help in providing equitable and effective facilities to workers that result in increasing overall productivity of the employees. Motivated employees involve towards providing adequate services to customer that has resulted in enhancing customer’s loyalty and improving overall financial position.

Additionally from the analyses of finding it has been depicted that CSR activities support in reducing legal liabilities and risk of the organization that has resulted in increasing overall reputation of the business entity. It has determined that UK government has formulated various regulations for protecting interest of the customer. Involvement towards the CSR activities indicates firms are effectively fulfilling all such legislation that result in creating competitive edge within the industry (Louis, Lombart and Durif, 2019). On the critical point of view, it has determined that ethical activities is increasing the cost of goods and services that has resulted in losing most of customer and negatively impacting on the overall profitability of the business entity. Further it has explicated that CSR activities are generally undertaken as PR tactics that decreases confidence of customer towards such activities and result in creating restrictions in developing competitive edge. Additionally firm are involved towards green washing case such as Tesco involved in horse meat scandal and Brazilian meat scandal that result in negatively impacting on overall profitability and competitive edge within the industry.

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusion

By summing up the report, it has been determined that CSR activities plays a crucial role in creating competitive edge within industry and play a huge role in creating a competitive edge in the industry. Form the literature review it has identified that there are large number of models such as philanthropic model, minimum moral model, ethical responsibility model and stakeholder model that help in successful initiation of CSR activities within the industry. Stakeholder model of CSR indicate that activities should be undertaken that will help in fulfilling the needs and want of all the stakeholders and creating a competitive edge within the industry. It has identified that CSR activities help in increasing overall reputation and goodwill of the firm, support in increasing employee’s engagement, develop customer’s loyalty that leads to enhancing overall profitability and financial position of the business entity. It has identified that Aldi’s retention rate is high due to ethical activities that has created positive impact on the mindset of the individual.

Further, author stated that ethical activities are creating competitive edge in industry as this activities help in creating brand recognition and assist in developing awareness regarding firm’s offering. On the other hand, it has identified that CSR activities increase financial burden on the company that results in decreasing overall profitability of the business entity. For gaining better insight of the research, qualitative research has been conducted that help in determining firm’s perception and opinion regarding the CSR activities. For successfully undertaking the qualitative research, secondary data has been collected by the research. This method has been selected as to overcome the constraint of time and money. Secondary data support in gaining large amount of information regarding various author perception that leads to gaining better insight of the business entity. Inductive research and Interpretivism philosophy has been adopted by the researcher that help in uncovering new ideas and opinion by evaluating new forming new theories based on the collected data. Further, descriptivedata analysis method has been opted by the research which helps in ease the process of interpretation by displacing the result in the form of pie charts and graphs. The researcher has successfully analysed the situation and time duration before using the secondary data that helps in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of all the information. 

Researcher has also aligning all activities and actions with the university guidelines that has result in maintaining ethnicity of collected data. Further all the information before year 2020 has been ignored so that reliability and accuracy of data could be maintained. From the secondary data has been identified that stakeholder theory has been applied by the Tesco has focused on setting up effective prices of the goods and services that help in fulfilling the need of customer for cost effective and high quality profit. This also help in managing shareholder’s need of regular and effective return along with stabilizing profitability and economic position of the business entity. Further it has determined that philanthropic models had been used by the firm that includes donating an effective amount of profit towards society betterment that helps in demonstrating positive image within the industry. On the contrary, it has depicted that this model is increasing expense of the business entity that has resulted in reducing overall economic position of the firm.

It has identified that among the entire model of CSR minimum moral model has been determined as the most optimum method as it focuses on managing a balance in company’s profits and social welfare. This model emphasis that firm should undertake activities that did not impact on firm’s profitability and also create a effective impact on society. In this instance, Aldi has initiated effective CSR policy so that company’s profitability did not get reduces and the minimum moral are also attained. Further, it has identified that CSR activities help in gaining large number of customer by depicting company’s positive action that result in increasing overall profitability of firm. However, CSR activities increase the cost of production for the company leading to increasing prices of firm’s offering that ultimately result in losing some of loyal customer. It has also identified form the research that ethical activities help in increasing company’s reputation and support in gaining subsidies from the authority that result in increasing access to effective capital. It has also identified that employees are willing to work in organization that are undertaking ethical activities as it help in developing sense of belongingness within the workers. However, it has also identified that business entities in retail sector is able to create awareness regarding firm’s offering by involving in social activities that result in enhancing firm’s sales.

On the critical point of view, it has been determined that many retail firms are involving towards Green washing case that creates trust issues within the customers. It has also identified that competitive edge has been created by adopting CSR activities within the operations of business entity. Ethical activities help in demonstrating positive image of business entity by depicting firm’s responsibility towards natural resources, government and society. Further, it has determined that CSR activities gas resulted in increasing visibility of the firm which support in enhancing overall profitability and financial position of company. This activities act as a source of advertisement that help in differentiating company from other competitors that helps in gaining competitive advantages. It has also identified that social ethical activities help in reducing legal risk on the firm. 

On the critical point of view, inefficiency and inadequate CSR activities has resulted in enhancing legal liability, depleting natural resources and creating dissatisfaction among stakeholder that creates issue in developing effective competitive position within the industry. Moreover, this study will help other researcher in future to identify most effective CSR strategy through which negative impact on the retail organization could be reduced and positive impact on environment could be enhanced. Further this study will act as a basis on which future research could be carried out which will help in gaining better insight of the research problem.

Recommendation

After analysing the finding it has determined that retail organization are facing various issues due to CSR activities. Following are various measures that should be adopted by the company for enhancing efficiency of CSR activities:

• Retail organization should avoid any type of green washing advertisement as it is reducing confidence and creating trust issue within customer. Firm should provide adequate and accurate information regarding the ethical practices that promotes ethnicity and support in enhancing company’s reputation.
• Organization should undertake activities after evaluating firm’s profitability position so that sustainable activities does not create negative impact on company’s financial position (Rahdari et al, 2020).
• Further firm should focus on effectively evaluating needs of the entire stakeholder and analyse ESG policy of country so that needs and preference of the stakeholder could be effectively fulfilled.
• Company should undertake R&D session that will help in determining most effective measures so that welfare could be effectively carry out without hampering firm’s economic position.

REFERENCES

Books and Journals

• Abdelhalim, K. and Eldin, A.G., 2019. Can CSR help achieve sustainable development? Applying a new assessment model to CSR cases from Egypt. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 39(9/10), pp.773-795.
• Adloff, F. and Neckel, S., 2019. Futures of sustainability as modernization, transformation, and control: a conceptual framework. Sustainability Science, 14, pp.1015-1025.
• Ahmad, S., Wasim, S., Irfan, S., Gogoi, S., Srivastava, A. and Farheen, Z., 2019. Qualitative v/s. quantitative research-a summarized review. population, 1(2), pp.2828-2832.
• Alharahsheh, H.H. and Pius, A., 2020. A review of key paradigms: Positivism VS interpretivism. Global Academic Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(3), pp.39-43.
• Alharahsheh, H.H. and Pius, A., 2020. A review of key paradigms: Positivism VS interpretivism. Global Academic Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(3), pp.39-43.
• Alsayegh, M.F., Abdul Rahman, R. and Homayoun, S., 2020. Corporate economic, environmental, and social sustainability performance transformation through ESG disclosure. Sustainability, 12(9), p.3910.
• Baraibar-Diez, E. and D. Odriozola, M., 2019. CSR committees and their effect on ESG performance in UK, France, Germany, and Spain. Sustainability, 11(18), p.5077.
• Barnett, M.L., Henriques, I. and Husted, B.W., 2020. Beyond good intentions: Designing CSR initiatives for greater social impact. Journal of Management, 46(6), pp.937-964.
• Bauer, G.R., Churchill, S.M., Mahendran, M., Walwyn, C., Lizotte, D. and Villa-Rueda, A.A., 2021. Intersectionality in quantitative research: A systematic review of its emergence and applications of theory and methods. SSM-population health, 14, p.100798.
• Bergman, M.M., Bergman, Z., Teschemacher, Y., Arora, B., Jyoti, D. and Sengupta, R., 2019. Corporate responsibility in India: Academic perspectives on the Companies Act 2013. Sustainability, 11(21), p.5939.
• Bhardwaj, P., 2019. Types of sampling in research. Journal of Primary Care Specialties, 5(3), pp.157-163.
• Bian, J., Liao, Y., Wang, Y.Y. and Tao, F., 2021. Analysis of firm CSR strategies. European journal of operational research, 290(3), pp.914-926.
• Bilińska-Reformat, K., Kucharska, B., Twardzik, M. and Dolega, L., 2019. Sustainable development concept and creation of innovative business models by retail chains. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 47(1), pp.2-18.
• Bloomfield, J. and Fisher, M.J., 2019. Quantitative research design. Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 22(2), pp.27-30.
• Braun, V. and Clarke, V., 2019. Reflecting on reflexive descriptiveanalysis. Qualitative research in sport, exercise and health, 11(4), pp.589-597.
• Buallay, A., 2019. Is sustainability reporting (ESG) associated with performance? Evidence from the European banking sector. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 30(1), pp.98-115.
• Cai, W., Lee, E., Xu, A.L. and Zeng, C.C., 2019. Does corporate social responsibility disclosure reduce the information disadvantage of foreign investors?. Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, 34, pp.12-29.
• Carlini, J. and Grace, D., 2021. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) internal branding model: Aligning employees’ CSR awareness, knowledge, and experience to deliver positive employee performance outcomes. Journal of Marketing Management, 37(7-8), pp.732-760.
• Chams, N. and García-Blandón, J., 2019. On the importance of sustainable human resource management for the adoption of sustainable development goals. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 141, pp.109-122.
• Chandra, Y., Shang, L., Chandra, Y. and Shang, L., 2019. Inductive coding. Qualitative research using R: A systematic approach, pp.91-106.
• Dal Mas, F., Tucker, W., Massaro, M. and Bagnoli, C., 2022. Corporate social responsibility in the retail business: A case study. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 29(1), pp.223-232.
• Diaz‐Carrion, R., López‐Fernández, M. and Romero‐Fernandez, P.M., 2019. Evidence of different models of socially responsible HRM in Europe. Business Ethics: A European Review, 28(1), pp.1-18.
• Duckett, L.J., 2021. Quantitative research excellence: Study design and reliable and valid measurement of variables. Journal of Human Lactation, 37(3), pp.456-463.
• Edinger-Schons, L.M., Lengler-Graiff, L., Scheidler, S. and Wieseke, J., 2019. Frontline employees as corporate social responsibility (CSR) ambassadors: A quasi-field experiment. Journal of Business Ethics, 157, pp.359-373.
• Elmaghrabi, M.E., 2021. CSR committee attributes and CSR performance: UK evidence. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 21(5), pp.892-919.
• Esty, D.C. and Karpilow, Q., 2019. Harnessing investor interest in sustainability: The next frontier in environmental information regulation. Yale J. on Reg., 36, p.625.
• Fernando, J.T., Popadiuk, S. and Santos, N.M.B.F., 2019. Knowledge management at Unilever South America–enabling conditions and their interaction with the SECI model. Revista de Negócios, 24(2), pp.7-26.
• Fischer, H.E., Boone, W.J. and Neumann, K., 2023. Quantitative research designs and approaches. In Handbook of research on science education (pp. 28-59). Routledge.
• Fransen, L., Schalk, J. and Auld, G., 2020. Community structure and the behavior of transnational sustainability governors: Toward a multi‐relational approach. Regulation & Governance, 14(1), pp.3-25.
• Fukuda, K. and Ouchida, Y., 2020. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the environment: Does CSR increase emissions?. Energy Economics, 92, p.104933.
• Furstenau, L.B., Sott, M.K., Kipper, L.M., Machado, E.L., Lopez-Robles, J.R., Dohan, M.S., Cobo, M.J., Zahid, A., Abbasi, Q.H. and Imran, M.A., 2020. Link between sustainability and industry 4.0: trends, challenges and new perspectives. Ieee Access, 8, pp.140079-140096.
• Gatto, A., 2020. A pluralistic approach to economic and business sustainability: A critical meta‐synthesis of foundations, metrics, and evidence of human and local development. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(4), pp.1525-1539.
• Godefroit-Winkel, D., Schill, M. and Diop-Sall, F., 2022. Does environmental corporate social responsibility increase consumer loyalty?. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 50(4), pp.417-436.
• Hall, C.M., 2021. Constructing sustainable tourism development: The 2030 agenda and the managerial ecology of sustainable tourism. In Activating Critical Thinking to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals in Tourism Systems (pp. 198-214). Routledge.
• Han, H., 2021. Consumer behavior and environmental sustainability in tourism and hospitality: A review of theories, concepts, and latest research. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(7), pp.1021-1042.
• Harrison, K. and Huang, L., 2022. Not all corporate social responsibility (CSR) is created equal: A study of consumer perceptions of CSR on firms post fraud. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 30(4), pp.494-511.
• Hodge, S.R., 2020. Quantitative research. In Routledge Handbook of Adapted Physical Education (pp. 147-162). Routledge.
• Hörisch, J., Schaltegger, S. and Freeman, R.E., 2020. Integrating stakeholder theory and sustainability accounting: A conceptual synthesis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 275, p.124097.
• Jouber, H., 2021. Is the effect of board diversity on CSR diverse? New insights from one-tier vs two-tier corporate board models. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 21(1), pp.23-61.
• Kim, S., 2019. The process model of corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication: CSR communication and its relationship with consumers’ CSR knowledge, trust, and corporate reputation perception. Journal of business ethics, 154(4), pp.1143-1159.
• Lee, T.H. and Riffe, D., 2019. Business news framing of corporate social responsibility in the United States and the United Kingdom: Insights from the implicit and explicit CSR framework. Business & Society, 58(4), pp.683-711.
• Louis, D., Lombart, C. and Durif, F., 2019. Impact of a retailer’s CSR activities on consumers’ loyalty. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 47(8), pp.793-816.
• Maali, K., Rakia, R. and Khaireddine, M., 2021. How corporate social responsibility mediates the relationship between corporate governance and sustainability performance in UK: a multiple mediator analysis. Society and Business Review, 16(2), pp.201-217.
• Mehrad, A. and Zangeneh, M.H.T., 2019. Comparison between qualitative and quantitative research approaches: Social sciences. International Journal For Research In Educational Studies, Iran, 5(7), pp.1-7.
• Miller, C.A. and Wyborn, C., 2020. Co-production in global sustainability: Histories and theories. Environmental Science & Policy, 113, pp.88-95.
• Mokadem, W. and Muwafak, B.M., 2021. The difference of the theoretical approach of corporate social responsibility between the European Union and United States of America. International Journal of Business Ethics and Governance, pp.124-136.
• Naciti, V., 2019. Corporate governance and board of directors: The effect of a board composition on firm sustainability performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 237, p.117727.
• Narayanan, S. and Das, J.R., 2022. Can the marketing innovation of purpose branding make brands meaningful and relevant?. International Journal of Innovation Science, 14(3/4), pp.519-536.
• Nguyen, H.T., Le, D.M.D., Ho, T.T.M. and Nguyen, P.M., 2021. Enhancing sustainability in the contemporary model of CSR: a case of fast fashion industry in developing countries. Social responsibility journal, 17(4), pp.578-591.
• Nyame-Asiamah, F. and Ghulam, S., 2020. The relationship between CSR activity and sales growth in the UK retailing sector. Social Responsibility Journal, 16(3), pp.387-401.
• Okoro, O. and France, A., 2019. Can Stakeholder Mapping and Attributes be Exploited to the Advantage of Sustainability?. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, 12(10), pp.11-20.
• Olanipekun, A.O., Omotayo, T. and Saka, N., 2021. Review of the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) tools. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, pp.425-435.
• Purvis, B., Mao, Y. and Robinson, D., 2019. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins. Sustainability science, 14, pp.681-695.
• Rahdari, A., Sheehy, B., Khan, H.Z., Braendle, U., Rexhepi, G. and Sepasi, S., 2020. Exploring global retailers' corporate social responsibility performance. Heliyon, 6(8).
• Rees, W.E., 2021. Achieving sustainability: reform or transformation?. In The Earthscan reader in sustainable cities (pp. 22-52). Routledge.
• Rodriguez-Gomez, S., Arco-Castro, M.L., Lopez-Perez, M.V. and Rodríguez-Ariza, L., 2020. Where does CSR come from and where does it go? A review of the state of the art. Administrative Sciences, 10(3), p.60.
• Roller, M.R., 2019, September. A quality approach to qualitative content analysis: Similarities and differences compared to other qualitative methods. In Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research (Vol. 20, No. 3).
• Rowe, K., Karg, A. and Sherry, E., 2019. Community-oriented practice: Examining corporate social responsibility and development activities in professional sport. Sport Management Review, 22(3), pp.363-378.
• Ruggerio, C.A., 2021. Sustainability and sustainable development: A review of principles and definitions. Science of the Total Environment, 786, p.147481.
• Salas‐Zapata, W.A. and Ortiz‐Muñoz, S.M., 2019. Analysis of meanings of the concept of sustainability. Sustainable Development, 27(1), pp.153-161.
• Schaltegger, S., Hörisch, J. and Freeman, R.E., 2019. Business cases for sustainability: A stakeholder theory perspective. Organization & Environment, 32(3), pp.191-212.
• Siebrecht, N., 2020. Sustainable agriculture and its implementation gap—Overcoming obstacles to implementation. Sustainability, 12(9), p.3853.
• Siltaloppi, J. and Jähi, M., 2021. Toward a sustainable plastics value chain: Core conundrums and emerging solution mechanisms for a systemic transition. Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, p.128113.
• Singu, S., 2022. Developing Leadership Skills for Sustainable Development: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach. International Journal of Sustainable Development Through AI, ML and IoT, 1(2), pp.1-11.
• Steen, M. and Nauta, J., 2020. Advantages and disadvantages of societal engagement: a case study in a research and technology organization. Journal of Responsible Innovation, 7(3), pp.598-619.
• Stratton, S.J., 2021. Population research: convenience sampling strategies. Prehospital and disaster Medicine, 36(4), pp.373-374.
• Streimikiene, D., Svagzdiene, B., Jasinskas, E. and Simanavicius, A., 2021. Sustainable tourism development and competitiveness: The systematic literature review. Sustainable development, 29(1), pp.259-271.
• Sürücü, L. and Maslakci, A., 2020. Validity and reliability in quantitative research. Business & Management Studies: An International Journal, 8(3), pp.2694-2726.
• Tourky, M., Alwi, S.F.S., Kitchen, P., Melewar, T.C. and Shaalan, A., 2020. New conceptualization and measurement of corporate identity: Evidence from UK food and beverage industry. Journal of Business Research, 109, pp.595-606.
• Tsalis, T.A., Nikolaou, I.E., Konstantakopoulou, F., Zhang, Y. and Evangelinos, K.I., 2020. Evaluating the corporate environmental profile by analyzing corporate social responsibility reports. Economic Analysis and Policy, 66, pp.63-75.
• Van der Byl, C., Slawinski, N. and Hahn, T., 2020. Responsible management of sustainability tensions: A paradoxical approach to grand challenges. Research handbook of responsible management, pp.438-452.
• Van Wynsberghe, A., 2021. Sustainable AI: AI for sustainability and the sustainability of AI. AI and Ethics, 1(3), pp.213-218.
• Yadav, A., Pal, N., Patra, J. and Yadav, M., 2020. Strategic planning and challenges to the deployment of renewable energy technologies in the world scenario: its impact on global sustainable development. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 22, pp.297-315.
• Online
• Aldi’s CSR activities. 2024. Online Available through;< https://www.aldi.co.uk/corporate/corporate-responsibility>
• Aldi’s investment towards charity. 2023. Online Available through;<>
  Stakeholder theory in Tesco. 2024. Online Available through;< https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2024/06/25/aldi-spent-e41-5-million-with-mayo-food-and-drink-producers-in-2023/#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20donating%20to,Mayo%20to%20date.>
• Increase in price of Morrison goods and services. 2023. Online Available through;< https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2023/01/morrisons-prices/>
• Tesco’s unethical activities. 2022. Online Available through;< https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/insights/news-analysis/tesco-faces-modern-slavery-lawsuit/#:~:text=Being%20subject%20to%20verbal%20abuse,asleep%20at%20their%20sewing%20machines.>
• UK’s retail industry. 2024. Online available through: < https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06186/SN06186.pdf>
• Increase in price of Aldi’s goods. 2024. Online available through: < https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennmcmillen/2024/04/11/the-price-of-aldis-expansion-it-could-be-cheaper-groceries/>

Author Bio

Jamie Morghan   4 Years | D,Sc. in egineering

I have always liked doing research and writing a thesis for engineering subjects. In my graduation years also, I was able to score the highest marks in all my submissions. Am a very determined writer who can write efficiently even for short periods. I have a lot of experience in designing assignments according to student's requirements.