Section 0 Research Proposal Form

Student Name: Cristian-Marius Ciubotariu

Student number: He06382

Centre Name: Wembley Campus, Madison House,
24-28 London Road, Wembley Middlesex HA9 7EX

Tutor: Mr David Hilton Date: 06th June 2019

Unit 11: Research proposal

Proposed title: “The benefits and risks of offshoring and outsourcing"
A CASE STUDY ON M&S

Section 1: Title, objective, responsibilities

Title:“To Investigate the benefits and risks of offshoring and outsourcing on business operation of multinational company. A study on Marks and Spencer."

1.1 Research Question:

1.What are the concept of offshoring and outsourcing business of a company?
2.What are the benefits and risks availed by M&S by offshoring and outsourcing its business

at international market?
3.What are the ways through which company can easily enhance their business success at global level?

1.2 Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to learn
how to do? What do you want to find out?):

To evaluate the concept of offshoring and outsourcing business of a company.
To analyse the benefits and risks availed by M&S by offshoring and outsourcing its business at international market.
To determine if globalisation drive success to M&S in offshoring its business.

Section 2: Reasons for choosing this research projec

Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying, personal interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):

2.1 Main reason about choosing this research topic is to analyse the risks as well as benefits of offshoring and outsourcing upon business functions of M&S. It is a multinational organisation in UK which will help in development of country's economy by providing job opportunities to the people.

This topic will also help a researcher by increasing its knowledge and skills i.e. literature review, data analysis and data interpretation. All these types of skills will also help them to do further research and gain better outcomes within given time duration

Section 3: Literature sources searched

Section 3: Literature sources searched

3.1 Concept of offshoring and outsourcing business of a company.

Offshoring includes regarding the relocation of the enterprise process from one country to other nation. The major aspect which is about transferring includes operational process such as manufacturing, supporting and accounting. On the other side, outsourcing introduces as the practice which covers hiring of the party or organisation from outside of the enterprise to execute their functions as well as creation of products.

3.2 Benefits and risks availed by M&S by offshoring and outsourcing its business at international market.

3.2.1 Benefits:

The major advantages which is linked with the process of offshoring is regarding accomplishment of economies of scale. This will give a chance to the administration or management of M&S to use such resources of various nations in proper manner and complete the work in less cost.

3.2.2 Risks:

The major drawbacks which is linked with this option is regarding development of employment opportunities in other nation that outputs in bigger number of unemployment in their own country. This will reduce the growth and development of the economy as well as have to face the criticism from the society.

3.3 The ways through which company can easily enhance their business success at global level?

There are different ways suggested to an organisation about how to enhance their growth and success at international level. Some are determined as under:

1. Company should provide quality products at affordable price which will help them by by increasing its sales and market share.

2.Company should use different types of communication channels which will also assist them by increasing number of employees.

Section 4: Activities and timescale

Section Four: Activities and timescales

Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g research, development and analysis of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical analysis, tutor meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation, writing the report):

To conduct the proposed plan, researchers will conduct the following activities in prescribed period of time -
How long this will take:

4.1 Introduction- It is first stage of research where researchers will provide summary of entire details related to topic i.e. globalisation, its concept and what activities will carry out to address the main issue.(2 days)

4.2 Aims and objectives- It refers to most important stage in which researchers need to formulate specific aims and objectives. This will entails what have to consider while investigating and gathering information about given topic.(3 days)

4.3 Literature review- This section will provide information which is gathered through analysing the opinion of other researchers in order to address present objectives of research.(12 days)

4.4 Research methodology- here, description about tools and techniques as well as research strategies that are going to be used for carrying out entire activities to conduct study. (15 days)

4.5 Analysis of data- Data will be analysed by thematic analysis here, to obtain valid conclusion and further providing specific recommendation to chosen company for meeting its objectives and specific goals. (12 days)

4.6 Conclusion and recommendations- After analysing the data, here valid conclusion and recommendation on the basis of primary and secondary research will make. (5 days)

4.7 Submission of final report- After conducting the entire mention activities, investigation report will be submitted.(1 day)

Milestone one: ____Research Proposal ____________

Target date (set by tutor): _____29 Days _______________

Milestone two: ___Research Project ____________________

Target date (set by tutor): ____45 Days _________________

Gantt Chart
This technique has been used to allocate time-frame to each research activities in an appropriate manner. It would help in completing the entire activities in defined period of time so that efficiencies of research and its outcomes can be maintained.

Section 5: Research approach and methodologies

Section Five: Research approach and methodologies

What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why? What your areas of research will cover:

5.1 Research methodology is considered as an effective process which is applied by researcher to collect reliable information about the project. For this research onion framework is consider best model which has inner and outer layer. In this different layer have different approaches and methods which are determined as under:

5.2 Research approach: Inductive and deductive are consider two types of research approach. According to this project, inductive approach will be applied by investigator because it help them by giving accurate information about the benefits and risks of offshoring and outsourcing on business operations.

5.3 Research Philosophy: There are two kind of research philosophy which is positivism and interpretivism. According to current research, interpretivism philosophy will be followed by investigator. As it will help them to gather appropriate data about the study.

5.4 Research strategy: Observation, survey, case study, questionnaire etc. are consider as a different types of research strategy which is essential for investigator to collect accurate information about the study. According to this project, questionnaire will be applied by researcher to gather reliable as well as valid data about the benefits and drawbacks of offshoring and outsourcing upon business operations of M&S.

5.5 Data sources: primary and secondary are consider two types of data sources which is used for this project to collect in-depth and appropriate data about the topic. Under primary research, questionnaire will be used whereas for accumulating secondary data, books, Magazines etc. will be applied by researcher. All these are important sources applied by researcher to accumulate in-depth and reliable information.

5.6 Sampling method: There are two types of sampling which is probability and non-probability

For this project, probability sampling will be applied because it not need excess time, cost of an organisation. On the other side, non-probability sampling is not useful for this research because it require maximum time of the organisation. With the help of probabilistic sampling 50 respondents have been chosen.

Section 6: Research Ethics approval form

Research Ethics approval form

All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data collected form human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.

For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:

Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully with your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your research project is due to commence.

Section 6.1: Basic details:

Project title: “To Investigate the benefits and risks of offshoring and outsourcing on business operations of multinational company". A study on Marks and Spencer.

Student name: Cristian-Marius Ciubotariu

Student ID number: He06382

College Name: Regent College

Intended research start date:

Intended research end date:

Section 6.2 Project summary

Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:

Ø Interviews Yes No

Ø Questionnaires Yes No

Ø Observations Yes No

Ø Use of personal records Yes No

Ø Data Analysis Yes No

Ø Action Research Yes No

Ø Focus Groups Yes No

Ø Others (Please specify) :

Section 6.3: Participants

Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.

Will your research involve human participants?
Yes

Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults: ✓

How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
50

Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:

Through social sites

How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
Written

Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes      No

If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this

Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed consent to be observed.
Yes      No

Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief explanation of the study)?

Yes   No

Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a brief summary of your findings in general)

Yes    No

Section 6.4: Data Storage and Security

Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998)

Yes No

Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researchers will access and analyse the personal data from participants.

During the research:
Researchers

Where will the data be stored?
Pen drive

Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used

Yes   No

If Yes, please provide further details:

Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
Yes                     No

Section 6.5 : Ethical Issues

Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical concerns? If so, please outline how you will deal with these:

It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise because of your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not limited to the following :

Ø Informed consent.

Ø Potentially vulnerable participants.

Ø Sensitive topics

Ø Risk to participants and /or researchers

Ø Confidentiality/anonymity

Ø Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality

Ø Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer, sharing, encryption, protection).

Ø Reporting

Dissemination and use of your findings.

Section 6.6: Declaration

I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics Policy:
Yes No

I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor:
Yes No

I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:

The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical issues that may
arise in the course of my research

Name: CRISTIAN MARIUS CIUBOTARIU Date:04/06/2019

Please submit your completed form to your supervisor and also attach to the Research Proposal when submitting to Turnitin.

Research Proposal Form

Task 1: Outline

Section 0