! BTEC Assignment Brief Qualification Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Business (RQF) Unit Number and Title Unit 6 - Managing a Successful Business Project (Level 4) Unit Code D/508/0491 Learning aim(s) (For NQF only) The aim of this unit is to offer students an opportunity to demonstrate the skills required for planning, managing and implementing a project. They will undertake independent research and investigation for carrying out and executing a business project which meets appropriate business aims and objectives. On successful completion of this unit students will have the confidence to engage in decision-making, problem-solving and research activities using project management skills. They will have the fundamental knowledge and skills to enable them to investigate and examine relevant business concepts within a work-related context, determine appropriate outcomes, decisions or solutions and present evidence to various stakeholders in an acceptable and understandable format. Assignment Title The impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Marketing within Waitrose Word Limit The word limit for this assignment is 3000 words 10% +/- Assessor Richard Ngcobo Issue date 30th January 2017 Hand in deadline 5th May 2017 ! Vocational Scenario or Context As part of the final year of your Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND in Business, you have recently been taken on a Work Experience contract by Waitrose. The company is owned by the John Lewis Partnership, which comprises 88,900 Partners.The founders’ vision was establishing a successful business powered by its people and based on strong business principles which define the unique current company standing. The company has had a successful operation of over 20 years which started with longterm relationships that it created with farmers and suppliers aimed at championing British produce, supporting responsible sourcing, treating people fairly and treading lightly on the environment (which is known as the Waitrose Way). 16 years ago, in 2001, the company introduced a Corporate Social Responsibility Programme which is part of the John Lewis Partnership overall strategy, that has three strands and will be implemented in the next 11 years until the company’s 100th anniversary in 2028. The three strands are “Stronger brands and new growth”, “Better jobs, better performing Partners, better pay” and “Financial sustainability” During the Work Experience period of three months that you will be attached to Waitrose, the Sales Manager has assigned you the task of conducting a small-scale project aimed at assessing the impact of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, particularly from a marketing perspective as it relates to the company’s stakeholders, in particular customers. An important part of your task is, based on your research findings, to advise the senior management on ways and means of relying on the Corporate Social Responsibility Programme to sustain its business operations while at the same time achieving and consistently improving its competitive advantage. Scenario Your supervisor, the Sales Manager has asked you to initiate your research project by developing a ‘Project Management Plan’ by identifying one main aim you want to achieve, accompanied by at least three specific objectives that your project will focus on. Task 1 Establish project aims, objectives and timeframes based on the chosen theme. Checklist of evidence required A project management plan. Criteria covered by this task: P1, P2, P3, M1 & D1 !2 BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0 BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015 Unit/ Criteria reference To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to: P 1 Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario. P 2 Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk and resources in the context of CSR at Waitrose. P 3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt Chart to provide timeframes and stages for completion for the proposed project management plan. M 1 Produce a comprehensive project management plan, milestone schedule and project schedule for monitoring and completing the aims and objectives of the project of CSR at Waitrose. D 1 Critically evaluate the project management process and appropriate research methodologies applied. Scenario Once the aim and the supporting objectives, which set the parameters of your research, are in place, the next step your supervisor wants you to embark on is to conduct a small-scale research aimed at measuring the impact, success or effect of the Waitrose’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programme. Task 2 Conduct small-scale research, information gathering and data collection to generate knowledge to support the project. Checklist of evidence required A report Criteria covered by this task: P4 and M 2 Unit/ Criteria reference To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to: P 4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives. !3 BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0 BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015 M 2 Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of different research methods applied in this research. Scenario Now that you have completed your research, you are now required present your findings and recommendations to the management of Waitrose. Task 3 Present the project and communicate appropriate recommendations based on meaningful conclusions drawn from the evidence findings and/or analysis. Checklist of evidence required - A PowerPoint presentation of your findings, conclusions - Recommendations - Speaker notes Criteria covered by this task: P5, P6 and M3 Unit/ Criteria reference To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to: P 5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques. P 6 Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of research and data analysis to draw valid and meaningful conclusions. M 3 Evaluate the selection of appropriate tools and techniques for accuracy and authenticity to support and justify recommendations given in P6. Scenario At this stage you have completed your project research. All that is left for you to do is to look back and reflect on your experience during and after the project and evaluate your success or lack of it. Reflection also requires you to identify lessons learnt, what went well and what could be improved. Task 4 Reflect on the value gained from conducting the project and its usefulness to support sustainable organisational performance Checklist of evidence required A report !4 BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0 BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015 Criteria covered by this task: P 7, M4 & D2 Unit/ Criteria reference To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to: P 7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning and performance in this research. M 4 Evaluate the value of the project management process and use of quality research to meet stated objectives and support own learning and performance. D2 Critically evaluate and reflect on the project outcomes, the decisionmaking process and changes or developments of the initial project management plan to support justification of recommendations and learning during the project. !5 BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0 BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015 Sources of information to support you with this Assignment RECOMMENDED RESOURCES BOOKS: (1) Costley, C., Elliot, G. and Gibbs, P. (2010) Doing Work Based Research: (2) Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-researchers. London: SAGE. (3) Flick, U. (2011) Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner’s Guide to Doing a Research Project. London: SAGE. (4) Gray, D. (2009) Doing Research in the Real World. 2nd Ed. London: SAGE. (5) Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2012) Research Methods for Business Students. 6th Ed. Harlow: Pearson. JOURNALS: (1) International Journal of Quantitative and Qualitative Research. (2) Qualitative Research Journal. WEBSITES: (1) www.OECD.org (2) www.WBCSD.org (3) www.ethicalcorp.com (4) www.csr-asia.com (5)http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/johnlewis.html (6) http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/ourprinciples.html (7) http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/ waitrose.html LINKS TO OTHER RELEVANT UNITS: This unit links to the following related units: (1) Unit 8: Innovation and Commercialisation (2) Unit 11: Research Project (3) Unit 16: Operations and Project Management Other assessment materials attached to this Assignment Brief Project Logbook Template, Glossary of Terms used for internally-assessed units, Performance Review Form, Letter of Introduction, and Report Format Template !6 BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0 BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015