An analysis of CSR in UK Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 15000 words

An analysis of CSR in UK - Dissertation Example ata 38 3.5.1Data Collection Methods and Instruments 38 3.5.2Data Analysis Aspects 39 3.5.3Data Presentation 39 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND FINDINGS 41 4.0Introduction 41 4.1Answers to the Research Questions 41 4.1.1Research Question One 42 4.1.2Research Question Two 44 4.1.3Research Question Three 45 4.2Results from the Firms under study 45 4.3CSR, Competitive Advantage, and Economic Value 48 4.3.1Results and Findings from Interviews 48 4.3.2Hypothesis Testing 49 4.4Conclusion 51 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 52 5.0Introduction 52 5.1Discussions and Analysing the Organization 52 5.2Discussions and Analysis from the Interviews/Questionnaires 54 5.3Overall Discussions 55 5.4Conclusion 60 CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 61 6.0Conclusion 61 6.1Practical Recommendations 62 6.2Limitations 63 6.3Reflections and Areas of Further Research 64 REFERENCES 65 APPENDICES 69 Appendix 1: Questionnaire for the Interview 69 Appendix 2: Timeline for the Study 72 Appendix 3: GRI Guidel ines 73 GRI Performance Indicators 73 Appendix 4: ASDA 5-Yr Financial Summary 74 Appendix 5: Centrica 5-Yr Financial Summary 76 Appendix 6: Barclays Bank 5-Yr Financial Summary 78 Appendix 7: Sainsbury 5-Yr Financial Summary 80 Appendix 8: Tesco 5-Yr Financial Summary 82 Appendix 9: Vodafone 5-Yr Financial Summary 84 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Stakeholder Theory of CSR (Polonsky, 1995) 24 Figure 2: Social Contract Theory (Bamberg and Moser, 2007) 27 Figure 3: Aspects of CSR Policy in an Organization (The Economist, 2008) 32 Figure 4: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow & Herzberg, 1954) 43 Figure 5: CSR policies as per the GRI Guidelines 47 Figure 6: Comparing EPS and CSR 48 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Summary of the Sample UK Firms under study 17 Table 2: Summary of the Factors Identified for CSR Success 44 Table 3: CSR Policies under the GRI Guidelines 46 Table 4: Comparing Financial Information and CSR, EPS and CSR 47 Table 5: Comparing Financial Information and CSR, Profitability and CSR 48 Table 6: Descriptive Statistics of the Responses 49 ABSTRACT Contemporary businesses continue to suffer from the dynamisms and turbulences within the environment as a result of increased competition. Consequently, several strategic options have been identified to assist in achieving competitive advantage, which assists in increasing the profitability and sustainable business success. One such strategic option has been the use of corporate social responsibility. The majority of contemporary corporations believes in the economic value of CSR unlike their classical counterparts that perceive CSR as an economic burden. In a bid to judge whether CSR is an economic