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Unit 8 Research project
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Table of Contents
Part-1 Research Proposal
1.1 This should cover brainstorming session where various
suggestions about research topic can be discussed among student and tutor. Be
free to mention as many research ideas as you possibly can.
1.2 Discuss what factors influenced or motivate your choice of
research ideas.
1.3 Provide at least ten references to backup these topics.
1.4 Specify research questions for present research
1.5 Provide a Gantt chart with time scale on how you intend
to proceed and complete your research
Part-2 Research project
2.1 Research questions and research hypothesis
2.2 Project specification and procedure
2.3 Relevant data collection for research
2.4 Matching resources to the research objectives and
implementation plan
Part-3 Research report
3.1 Record and collate data pertaining to present research
3.2 Evaluation of the research outcomes
3.3 Analysis of data and interpretation of result in terms
of original research specification
3.4 Recommendation and justification for further
consideration
Reference
Part-1 Research Proposal
1.1 This should cover brainstorming session where various
suggestions about research topic can be discussed among student and tutor. Be
free to mention as many research ideas as you possibly can.
The present research relates with the Harrods which is into
the business of departmental store and the market competitiveness for Harrods
would be examined through suitable factors involved the in the process of
market competitiveness assessment of an organization. The five important elements
of industry analysis and overall competitive analysis for Harrods i.e.
bargaining power of consumers, bargaining power of suppliers, market rivalry,
threat of substitute product and threat from the new entrants in market
(Bradley, 2007). Depending upon the overall force for these factors
competitiveness for Harrods would be decided in departmental business. Other
research ideas for the present research includes determination of the employee
satisfaction index for Harrods, to determine the impact of competitive
advantage of Harrods on overall competitiveness in the market and determining
brand perception among consumers of Harrods.
1.2 Discuss what factors influenced or motivate your choice
of research ideas.
Selection of present research topic for determining
competitive strength of Harrods has been done depending upon several factors
given below:
§ Developing
marketing strategy for Harrods based on the market competitiveness for the
organization
§ Management of
Harrods is keenly interested in exploring factors contributing in low market
competitiveness for the organization
§ Area of
competitiveness determination for Harrods is quite unexplored and need
attention from management researchers
1.3 Provide at least ten references to backup these topics.
In order to initiate research on the market competitiveness
of Harrods there are several sources which would be referred. The first source
would be the extracts of interview with Michael porter would be referred in
academy of management executives which would provide the general framework for
competitiveness of an organization. Bringing discipline to strategy article
would be referred from The McKinsey Quarterly in order to understand the
various aspects of strategy formation in the organizational environment. Third
article referred for the present research topic was pertaining to “The Five
competitive forces that shape strategy” by Michael Porter which provides the
broad framework in order to understand the five parameter affecting overall
market competitiveness of the organization. Fourth article was referred through
Strategic management journal named “A resource based view of the firm” authored
by Werner Felt in order to understand resource present in the organization and
their constraints. Fifth article pertains to McKinsey Quarterly named “Bringing
discipline to strategy” and provides the strategic aspects for the
organization. Sixth article provides the important of competitive forces in
shaping strategy i.e. “How competitive forces shape strategy” authored by
Porter. Competitive strategy framework authored by Michael Porter builds the
general framework for developing competitive force analysis in present context.
Understanding strategy aspects authored by Ireland talks about the important
parts of strategy for the organizational context. Marketing management book
authored by Kotler provides the complete framework and implementation of
framework in context to particular organizations. Strategy Safari article
authored by Mintzberg and Lampel provides the strategy aspect for the
particular organization.
1.4 Specify research questions for present research
Research questions confronted in the present research can be
given as under:
§ To explore factors
affecting the competitive advantage of Harrods in industry
§ To identify factor
which limits the competitive advantage of Harrods in industry
§ To explore ways in
order to enhance competitive advantage of Harrods for retail industry
1.5 Provide a Gantt chart with time scale on how you intend
to proceed and complete your research
The present research for exploring competitive advantage of
Harrods would be undertaken in four major phases which are given as under:
Project task
Time taken
Start data
End date
Research planning
30
1-Apr-14
30-Apr-14
Literature review
28
1-May-14
28-May-14
Data collection and analysis
28
29-May-14
25-Jun-14
Final business research thesis
28
26-Jun-14
23-Jul-14
Table 1: Showing the project timeline for current project
Figure 1: Showing the Gantt chart for the current project
Part-2 Research project
2.1 Research questions and research hypothesis
Research questions concerning the current project for
determination of overall competitive strength for Harrods in retail industry
can be given as under:
RQ1: What is the overall competitive strength of Harrods in
retail industry?
RQ2: Which are the factors limiting and enhancing
competitive strength for Harrods in retail industry in UK?
RQ3: What are the methods which can enhance the overall
competitive advantage for Harrods in UK retail industry?
Research hypothesis based on the above research questions
can be given as under:
H1: Harrods has high competitive strength among the various
industry players in retail industry in UK.
H2: High rivalry between industry players is the limiting factor
to competitive strength of Harrods while high bargaining power from suppliers
is the motivating factor for Harrods in UK market.
H3: In order to enhance competitive advantage Harrods should
develop low pricing strategy.
