Analysis Portfolio Assessment Sample

 INTRODUCTION

This study has investigated the UK grocery retailer organizational sustainability strategies (UK-GROSS). In this way, corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies of the recognized retailers in the UK have been identified and explored. Those retail organizations have included ASDA, Co-Op, Morrison, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose. The key purpose or aim of this research study is to examine organizational corporate sustainability tactics from both public-facing and internal perspectives at the same time. Moreover, it has also been explored that both quantitative data as survey responses and qualitative data via thematic analysis-based CSR reports of these organizations have been discussed and explained with key findings and outcomes.

PART 1: QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS (SURVEY)

Participant Demographics

Grocery Retailer

As observed from that upper graphical representation, the companies where the selected respondents in the survey work can be identified. In this way, it has also been identified that in the UK, recognized grocery retailers have been identified as six (6) in total including Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Tesco, Co-Op, Morrison’s, and Waitrose thereafter. Moreover, it can also be said that amongst the total 50 selected respondents, a majority worth 30% of selected employees have worked for Sainsbury’s, followed by 20% who have worked for ASDA at the same time. In addition to this, it has also been identified that only 18%, 12%, 12%, and 8% of selected respondents have worked for Co-Op, Waitrose, Tesco, and Morrison’s respectively. Therefore, it is important to say that from this representation of nominal data, it can also be stated that from the workers of Sainsbury’s, major information related to the CSR impact and initiatives on behalf of this retail business organization has also been identified in the same context (van den Bent, 2022). However, other companies’ information has also played major role to derive desired outcomes and benefits from this survey at the same position with positive insights and valuable information.

Job Title

As observed from that upper bar representation, they have mainly been identified in terms of the job roles or titles, who have been attended in the survey for conducting this research seamlessly. In this way, it has also been identified that in this specific survey, a total of 26 different kinds of people connected to the job position of CSR across those six (6) retail companies have been joined. In detail, it has also been explored that a majority of 16% of selected respondents among those 50 selected respondents are being categorized under the job position of ‘Manager’, followed by 10% of selected people as ‘Sustainability Manager’ across those companies. However, it has also been seen that other job position holders such as project assistant, sustainability head, deputy head, and others have also joined in the survey. All of these people have contributed equally to ensure desired outcomes from this research.

Years in Role

In this case, only the ratio data has been calculated in the field of Years in Role. That specifically means, those respondents, who have joined this survey, their total working years in those 6 UK retail organizations have been determined. Moreover, it has also been identified that only their mean or average, as well as standard deviation values, have been calculated in this stance at the same time.

In detail, in terms of the value related to Mean or Average, the value has been calculated as 3.46. That specifically means, the average working years of those selected 50 total respondents are approximately 3.46 years per person.

On the other hand, in the case of the value connected to Standard Deviation, the value has been denoted at 2.21. In addition to this, the value has mainly measured how dispersed the information or data has been connected to the mean.

CSR Reporting

From this specific tabular and column-based graphical representation, the major aspects related to the latest CSR report of those selected 6 UK retail organizations have been defined. In addition to this, it has also been understood that from this ordinal calculation and graph, the commitment of those same retail companies in the field of business sustainability has also been presented from those selected total of 50 respondents of the survey via Likert scale measurement. In detail, it has also been found that a majority of 29 people have strongly agreed along with 14 people agreed that their companies have maintained sustainable business practices as well as positive means of CSR initiatives in the community extensively. However, it has also been observed that only 7 employees of those retail companies have claimed that they are not sure whether their companies are dedicated and committed in the field of business sustainability and CSR or not.

In this case, the values regarding Range and Median have been determined as 14 and 22 respectively.  Amongst them, the value of Median has mainly been calculated as the middle number in a sorted list of numbers or ranges. Therefore, as the median value is 14 in the case, it has delivered an idea term that the central value is significant in the whole survey dataset. Apart from that; the value of Range has mainly been calculated by subtracting the lowest number from the higher one. Hence, it can also be said that this value has measured the difference between values in a dataset. As this value is 22 for this dataset, it can be said that a good indicator of variability has been developed.

Implementation of Sustainability Practices

This final question of the research survey has mainly been denoted in terms of how those six (6) chosen retail companies of the UK have implemented the core business sustainability practices. In this way, from the above graphical representation, it has been found that amongst the total 50 employees of those companies, majorities worth 20 and 16 people have strongly agreed and agreed in favor of the statement. However, only 14 workers of those corporations are not sure about this matter thereafter. The values related to median and ranges have also been identified as 16 and 6 with significant values and good indicators in the research.

PART 2: QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS (THEMATIC – CSR REPORTS)

In this case, for analyzing qualitative data regarding the key impact of CSR and business sustainability across the UK’s recognized retail organizations, the thematic analysis approach has been used. In this way, Braun and Clarke’s (2006) reflexive thematic analysis aspect has mainly been applied throughout this whole context (Braun and Clarke, 2006). As per aligning this method, for developing following themes the Six (6) Steps have mainly been followed as –

1. Familiarizing with Data
2. Generation of Initial Codes
3. Themes’ Searching
4. Review of Themes
5. Defining and Naming Themes, and
6. Report Production.

In this way, from those CSR reports of those UK’s retail organizations, some keywords or codes have been identified, based on which themes have been developed (Miles et. al. 2018). Those codes have included environment, responsibility, product, employee health and safety, sustainability, productivity, economics, and others.

Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability

In the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), environmental responsibilities have been highlighted the most (Mihas and Odum Institute, 2019). It has been said that all companies must follow some specific rules and guidelines for reducing negative impact on the environment. As a most common form, it has been seen that most companies have followed ‘Environmental Stewardship’ principles and measures for embracing high rates of environmental sustainability across key business operations or functions at the same time (Kim and Kim, 2021).

For instance, in the sense of ASDA UK, its organizational ESG program has tended to be Creating Change for Better (CCFB), which has also been considered a kind of holistic environmental strategy. In detail, as per this business strategy, the company has targeted to reduce carbon emission rates by 31% since 2015 to 50% reduction by 2025 (Asda.com, 2021). Besides, in the case of Co-Op, it has been explored that the company has supported WWF in reducing the rate of negative impact on the core business environment of the UK shopping baskets by 2030. Within head targets, this company has published that “We’re a signatory to the UN Global Compact, we’ve signed up to the British Retail Consortium’s Better Retail, Better World as well as WWF’s basket to halve the environmental impact of UK shopping baskets by 2030 and we support the International Cooperative Alliance’s Co-ops for 2030.” (Co-operative.coop, 2021). Apart from that in the context of Morrison’s Plc, UK, it has been emphasized that across the business segments of environment and community, as positive CSR initiatives, the organization has targeted to invest in the field of energy-efficient solutions for decreasing the level of environmental impact, whereas it has also been seen that Morrison’s community champions have also aimed to support the whole community they serve at the same time (Morrisons-corporate.com, 2021).

On the other hand, it has also been investigated that within Sainsbury’s, the key business administrators have eyed to reduce negative impact on the surroundings of business embodied with a successful contribution in the area of a healthier and more inclusive business community at a time (Sainsburys.co.uk, 2021). Tesco Plc in the UK retail market has also been on the way to halving the environmental impact by 11% of the average UK shopping basket in the same financial year (Tescoplc.com, 2021). Furthermore, in the context of Waitrose UK also, it has been found that it has reduced the rate of carbon footprint from the community by sourcing raw materials responsible for the successful creation of a healthy working environment for all of its workers thereafter (Johnlewispartnership.co.uk, 2021).

Ethical Responsibility safeguarding Employees’ Health and Safety

In this case, it has been embraced that under the field of CSR of key business functional measures, it has mainly concerned with successful development of a company embodied with fair and ethical business practices (Pinto et. al. 2019). For instance, to build an ethical or legal environment with fair business practice, some unusual circumstances or stances such as child labor, discrimination, harassment, product standards, and others should be maintained with appropriate business guidelines, principles, and measures at the same time (Sharabati, 2018).

Regarding this aspect, in the sense of ASDA UK, it has been seen that the retail organization across the whole UK market segment has mainly implemented some ethical standards in business, which must be supported to procure and maintain a legal code of conduct (Asda.com, 2021). However, in the context of Co-Op, it has also been identified that the company has maintained ethical business governance, whereas the UK business council’s ethical and sustainable leadership principles have been highlighted the most. Apart from that; in the field of Tesco’s major business operations, it has been observed that its internationally recognized Ethical Trade Initiative Base Code has maintained fair and transparent labeling and packaging of its food materials expecting desired outcomes and benefits (Tescoplc.com, 2021).

On the other hand, within major business operations of Sainsbury’s, it has been claimed that “We continue to play an active role in our communities, and we have high ethical standards that we and our suppliers adhere to.” (Sainsburys.co.uk, 2021). Besides that, it has also been explored that in the specific business context of Morrison’s, UK also, most of its key business administrators have preferred to buy raw materials and products from sustainable, ethical, as well as resilient supply chain networks in the country. In this way, it has become able to maintain its Ethical Trading Policy and Code, which has also developed actual needs of suppliers without any errors and risks in business at the same time (Morrisons-corporate.com, 2021).

Finally, in the business case of Waitrose UK, it has also been investigated that the retail company has induced a comprehensive review of its ethics and sustainable business strategy. It has also brought in a holistic business approach to become more sustainable in the whole UK’s retail industry with enhanced levels of sustainable competitive edge or advantage (SCA) in the whole market segment thereafter (Johnlewispartnership.co.uk, 2021).

Economic Responsibility ensuring Organizational Productivity and Profitability

In the field of CSR aspect of modern-day business organizations, this specific kind of responsibility has been defined as a kind of practice, through which a company can back all of its financial decisions and strategies with enhanced levels of dedication and commitment (Lu et. al. 2019). Moreover, the key goal of this responsibility in business is to maximize the levels of revenue earnings, net income, and profits (Yang et. al. 2019).

On the other hand, it has also been identified that in the business context of ASDA UK, it has been observed that it has commanded an equivalent shelf space or marketing cost estimation, which has highly supported though the company might face some economic constraints, it can generate a lot more efficiencies of scale in business at the same time (Asda.com, 2021). Besides, in the field of Sainsbury’s UK, it has been seen that apart from environmental and ethical responsibilities, under its CSR initiatives, the company has also eyed community investment, which has also helped a lot to make positive economic business contributions through their responsible approach towards tax with proper means of resilience (Sainsburys.co.uk, 2021). Moreover, in the business field and operations of Tesco Plc, UK, it has been observed that though this company has faced issues and challenges related to deforestation and struggle in business, better practices of business engagement and policies have been highlighted the most.

From another point of view, in the specific business context of Waitrose UK, it has claimed that by “Working with WRAP, the circular economy and resource efficiency experts, as part of its Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, Waitrose was one of the early retailers to implement a Whole Chain Food Waste Reduction Plan within one of our supply Chains.” (Johnlewispartnership.co.uk, 2021). Henceforth, it is important to say that such a proactive circular economy approach has induced a positive impact on business with enhanced levels of business commitment and signatories. Apart from that; in the specific business context of Co-Op, within its end-of-project business evaluation, the company has become more engaged across numerous economic operations such as through farming, trading, and others. Moreover, it has also been identified that this retail company has also shared economic opportunities and benefits of size and scale through other large UK co-operatives entities such as FRTS, and others thereafter (Co-operative.coop, 2021).

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

Findings

It can be found that in the area of retail organizational context, the aspect of positive CSR initiatives and high rates of business sustainability strategies have played major roles in expected means of desired outcomes and benefits altogether (Stojanovic et. al. 2020). A diverse range of positive values and business insights have also been highlighted, whereas community development programs, and other kinds of positive business campaigns have also been highlighted in the same business context. Most companies have targeted achieving ethical responsibilities with prominent leadership, supplier relationships, and customer management (Adu-Gyamfi et. al. 2021). Concerning this fact, it has also been found that across major retail organizations in the UK such as Waitrose, Tesco Plc, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s, Co-Op, and ASDA, such positive CSR initiatives have been highly prioritized, which have triggered organizational productivity and profitability with a diverse range of positive outcomes and benefits altogether (Naidoo and Gasparatos, 2018). In addition to this, it has also been realized that through successful implementation of proper means of positive impact on the whole business environment including people, society, and others at the same time (Seyfang and Gilbert-Squires, 2019).

Conclusion

From an in-detailed perspective, it has also been understood that in the field of high rates of business sustainability and CSR, some key pillars or dimensions such as environmental, economic, and ethical or legal aspects have also been highly justified as well as equally prioritized in the same field or context. Some direct means of business obligations including employee health and safety, organizational productivity, and profitability, as well as the most important one, business sustainability measures and practices, have also been highly considered in the same field thereafter. In conclusion, the major aspect of business success, growth, and development has been ensured with the support derived from positive CSR initiatives, business sustainability practices, and strategies, rich organizational culture, and collaboration, along with other kinds of valued aspects with positive insights and benefits.

REFERENCES

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