HR6005T Project Proposal Your first thoughts

Dissertation Action Plan:

Introduction: 500 words
Set up at least three objectives mainly aiming on
i) To find out the impact of the cost optimization techniques that are adopted by
these companies to improve profitability.
ii) To identify the marketing and promotional techniques adopted by these companies in
the retail industry to improve the operating performance of the respective companies after
the economic downturn of 2008
iii) To evaluate the risk management techniques undertaken by the companies so as to
mitigate the future level of risk that may arise.
Research questions should be focusing on the following area:
1. Study of pre recession performance of Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Morrison (5
years data)
2. Study of post recession performance of Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Morrison (5
years data)
3. Analyse and compare these two data using econometric model and hypothesis
and interpret finding
4. Recommend on improvement on profitability and risk mitigation might be
useful in the future.
The main objective of this research is to examine the impact of recession on the UK
super
Literature review: 1250 words
(Identify at least two major journal or academic articles or more on financial crisis
and impact on retail industry and its profitability. Use these journals to identify
theories and find a gap what you exactly like to find)
Use of Meston ratio models for retail is a must for such kind of performance
analysis

Research method: 750 words

Give two academic references for your research methods
A quantitative and qualitative research method will be used to analyze the main objectives
of the research.
It is for conducting the research through the quantitative methodology, secondary data
would be collected through company financial reports and information systems disclosures
and literature reviews from other researcher work carried out in the same field.
It is absolutely essential to mention that statistical tools and technique will be used using
analytical softwares like IBMs SPSS or advance Excel so as to make a comprehensive
analysis on this particular research topic. Tools and applications like multiple regression
modelling, ANOVA, T-test and other hypothesis testing will be done so as to make a
analysis of the research data obtained through various methods.
Findings: 1000 words
Use meston model to calculate ratios and create graphs.
Show your finding using graphs and charts
You can use mainly two graphs
1. Performance ratios from 2003 to 2013 for all the four major retails Considering median as the year 2008 (Event year)
or
you can create 4 graphs for each company using same techniques above from
2003 to 2013 using median as the year 2008 (Event year)
2. Regression table using ROE as the Dependent variable and all other as the
independent variables.
In order to analyze the regression line, ROE is consider as the dependent variable
and all other ratios such as GM, OM, NM, ATO, TOTGEAR, LNTA and LNS are
consider as the independent variable..
Hence, the regression line will be
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ROE= a + GM*b + OM*c + NM*d + ATO*e + TOTGEAR*f + LNTA*g +

LNS*h
a is the intercepts.

Analysis of findings: 1000 words

Interpret your finding using the above data
Discuss about R2 value from the regression model as well
Conclusion: 500 words
Give a conclusion and recommendation here

Project Approval Form

Student ID Number: u1210363
1. Which subject area do you want to study in your project? e.g., (This should be within your field
of study. For example, if you are completing BA (Hons.) in Marketing then your project area of
study should be something within the marketing subject).
Accounting
Business Management - International Business
- Marketing
Finance
Economics
Human Resource Management
THEM - Events Management
- Hospitality Management
-Tourism
- Music Industry Management

[ ] Please Tick one of the following:

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2. List your: Title, Aim and Research Questions or Objectives (below). Research objectives need to
be SMART and states actions such as: examine, investigate, or identify.
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Project Title:
How major UK supermarkets responded to the economic downturn since 2008? -An analysis and
review of post recession performance of UK supermarket.
Project Aim:
The main aim of the project is to find out the different possible steps that are adopted by the major
retail companies in United Kingdom like TESCO, ASDA, Sainsbury and Morrison to increase the
performance of the company in terms of profitability.
Questions / Objectives (No more than 3):

The objective of research for which the research will be conducted is depicted below:
i) To find out the impact of the cost optimization techniques that are adopted by these
companies to improve profitability.
ii) To identify the marketing and promotional techniques adopted by these companies in the retail
industry to improve the operating performance of the respective companies after the economic
downturn of 2008.
iii) To evaluate the risk management techniques undertaken by the companies so as to mitigate the
future level of risk that may arise.
3. Have you identified a gap or an under-researched area in the literature? Please State what the
gap is and what is it you will be researching.
The main gap which can be pointed out from the literature is that the specific risk mitigational
techniques that must be adopted to protect the retail companies from any future economic global
downturn are not adequately mentioned.
4. Which Research Methods are you going to use to answer the Research Questions / Objectives?
Justify your chosen method/s with at least two academic references.
A quantitative and qualitative research method will be used to analyze the main objectives of the
research.
It is for conducting the research through the quantitative methodology, secondary data would be
collected through company financial reports and information systems disclosures and literature
reviews from other researcher work carried out in the same field.
Deductive and exploratory research can be carried out to validate finding using semi structured
interview with respective company managers too.

5. How might you go about Analysing your Research Data

It is absolutely essential to mention that statistical tools and technique will be used using analytical
softwares like IBMs SPSS or advance Excel so as to make a comprehensive analysis on this
particular research topic. Tools and applications like multiple regression modelling, ANOVA, T-test
and other hypothesis testing will be done so as to make a analysis of the research data obtained
through various methods.
6. What do you hope to find? (The purpose of the Project)
The main reasons which have effective contributed toward the risk mitigation of the retail
companies in the UK can be essentially done after conducting this particular research.
7. Why is it worth knowing what you have found?
It is essential to know the specific outcome of the research project as it will help the retail
companies to equip them with the risk mitigation strategy for any risk arising out of any situation.
Moreover the strategies that were undertaken by the major retail companies for turning around
themselves from the effect of the global economic recession of 2008.
8. List the Limitations of your research.
The following limitations which may be faced for entire conduct of the research are
listed below:
i) It is due to confidentiality that are maintained by the companies , the strategies
undertaken by the companies for improving the performance are not explicitly described
by the management and the employees of the companies.
ii) There is a significant time constraint as the entire research project is to be completed
in stipulated time frame.
iii) There are certain limitations in relation to the authenticity and applicability of the
secondary data which will be used in the research project as absolute and exact data
which is essential for conducting the research may not be available.
9. How are you going to deal with the Limitations which you have identified?
It is for overcoming the above limitations a project scheduling will be done so that specific time
activity can be done for each and every portion of the research analysis. Moreover for knowing the
strategies that are adopted by these companies, employees will be asked with semi structured
form of interview so that actual answers can be obtained. Moreover reliable sources of procuring
data from like company financial reports, university data base and other information from
competent authority will be done so that reliability of the data could be obtained.
10. List 10 Academic sources that you identified for your literature review (e.g. Specialised books
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and Academic journals Please do not lists any websites)

Anagboso M (2009) Retail sales in the downturn Understanding patterns and
trends, Economic & Labour Market Review 3(x), pp 17 23
Dale S (2009) Tough times, unconventional measures, Remarks at the
Association of British Insurers Economics and Research Conference, London, 27
March 2009
Dolling M, Herbert R and Skipper H (2005) Early estimates of Consumer
Spending .
Dynarski M, and Sheffrin S (1987) Consumption and Unemployment The
Quarterly Journal of Economics 102(2), pp. 411-428.
McCrae R, McLaren C H, Wood J and Youll R (2008) Decomposing the Retail
Sales Index implied price defl ator and the CPI, Economic & Labour Market
Review 2(5), pp 35 39
McLaren C H (2009) Changes to the Retail Sales methodology, Economic and
Labour Market Review, Volume 3, No. 6, June, Offi ce for National Statistics
Joseph Fried, Who Really Drove the Economy into the Ditch? (New York, NY:
Algora Publishing, 2012), 85.
Wallison, Peter J. (December 9, 2008). "What Got Us Here?, December 2008".

Aei.org. Retrieved May 1, 2010.

Lowth G, Prowle M, Zhang M (2010) The impact of economic recession on
business strategy planning in UK companies, Vol 6, Issue 9.

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