The Team
A team of two individuals will undertake the project. Each individual will play a particular role depending on the schedule, capabilities, and specialization. Moza and Latifa are team members. However, at this stage, Moza is the one responsible for formulating and providing a detailed explanation of the research topic. In other words, Moza will provide reasons why the topic needs to be studied. Besides, the discussion will focus on the problem of the study area.
Also, Moza will formulate questions of the proposed topic that the study will seek to answer. Finally, Moza will provide a detailed schedule for the study and state-specific expected results of each scheduled activity. In the schedule, Moza will also provide estimated costs that each activity is expected to incur.
On the other hand, Latifa’s main responsibility is to discuss the methodologies that are to be used in the study. In other words, Latifa will provide a detailed description of the research methodology including qualitative and quantitative techniques that are to be applied in the study. In the methodology, primary and secondary research methods will be discussed including details on how the data will be collected. Besides, Latifa will explain how both primary and secondary sources of data are accessed, analyzed, and presented. Essentially, Latifa will focus on the proposed study methodology and provide a detailed explanation of the primary and secondary sources of data, type of data to be collected, how the data are accessed, and reasons why such data are critical for the study.
The Problem Area
Whether corporate social responsibilities undertaken by the firm have an impact on customers or not remains a major concern to most managers of various organizations. It represents an area that needs to be studied. In this study, the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on the firms’ clients will be examined. The main objective of the study is to scrutinize the impact of corporate social responsibilities on the organization’s clients.
Both qualitative and empirical studies techniques will be applied to study changes in the behaviors of clientele due to the implementation of corporate social responsibilities. Existing literature indicates the positive effects of corporate social responsibility on increased customer satisfaction (Gray et al., 2007). Therefore, this study is hypothesized according to the previous findings of various studies. As such, the findings of this study should authenticate this strong belief that CSR practices have positive impacts on customers’ satisfaction.
Further, this study intends to examine empirically the influence of corporate social responsibility on customers’ attitudes. Much of the earlier studies have focused on the impact of corporate social responsibility on the employee’s outcomes. However, the study is distinct and original since the effects of corporate social responsibility on clients will be tested empirically to determine the validity of the variables. Besides, this study will add more knowledge to the existing literature on the impact of corporate social responsibility practices on customers.
As indicated, the study aims at finding out whether practicing good corporate social responsibility has an impact on the customers. In essence, the corporate social responsibility concept provides a coherent framework that is used to explore the relationships the business has with the communities in which they are operating (Hohnen, 2007). Existing literature indicates that companies with strong social responsibility have increased efficiency hence greater performance on satisfying the customers.
Also, businesses organizations with increased social responsible practices have enhanced customer satisfaction, which in turn adds more value to the firms’ shareholders. In this sense, socially responsible practices take into consideration ethical behaviors being practiced by the firm. The concept encompasses all those practices that the firms undertake to increase efficiency in the management of resources as well as enhancing good relations with customers, employees, as well as shareholders (Porter & Kramer, 2006).
The most important dimension is how the firm’s social responsibility practices affect their relationship with customers. According to McWilliams, Siegel, and Wright (2005), attention is now being shifted from producers to consumers. Putting customers first is the norm of today’s business practices (Cavett-Goodwin, 2007). The researches indicate that practices emphasizing on customer satisfaction ensures lasting relation and enhances the performances of the firm.
The social responsibility of the firm that enhances the needs of the customers is one of the distinctive attributes leading to its success. Successful companies always built long-lasting relations with customers through the emphasis on customer needs and offering quality and reliable services (Ludescher, 2009). In other words, adopting a socially responsible practice that takes into account the customer perspective is critical to the firm’s success.
Research Questions
Upon completion of the study, the following questions will be answered
- What are the impacts of corporate social responsibilities on customers’ satisfaction?
- Do the adoption and implementation of CSR strategies cause an improvement in customers’ satisfaction?
- What other effects do the adoption and implementation of CSR activities have on customers?
Methodology
The study will be both quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative data will be obtained through primary sources while qualitative data will primarily be attained from secondary sources (Howe & Eisenhardt, 2001). In other words, primary and secondary sources of information will form the main techniques of data collection.
Secondary Research
Secondary research is a process where the required information is collected through existing literature or studies that have been conducted. In other words, secondary data collection is a qualitative study on the proposed topic (Patton, 2002). Also, secondary research tends to examine the theoretical perspective of the proposed topic of the study. In essence, secondary data tend to examine the theoretical aspects of the study through a critical analysis of the existing literature on the concerned topic (Trochim, 2006).
In this study, the secondary data will primarily be obtained through the literature review on peer-reviewed academic journals regarding the proposed topic. The secondary information from peer reviewed academic journals will focus on the findings, discussions, and the views of various scholars as well as authors on the area under study (Wolcott, 1994). The reason for reviewing such literature is to increase the knowledge of the concerned stakeholders on the study topic.
Another important advantage is that the peer-reviewed journal articles present the extent or the scope in which the proposed topic has been studied. Moreover, the articles contain various study approaches to the proposed topic, which contain more information useful for this study.
Similarly, the secondary research data and information will accrue from existing records particularly on the impact of adopting and implementing corporate social responsibility on customers as well as any other documentation that has been filed about the corporate social responsibility practices under study. The major advantage of the source of secondary data is that direct information concerning the effects of organizations’ practices on corporate social responsibility on customers is obtained (Kumar, 2010).
Moreover, information from existing records explains the customers’ behaviors as well as the management actions towards corporate social responsibility practices. The major disadvantage of the source of secondary data is that the information is limited to the influences of corporate social responsibility on customers. In other words, the information that can be retrieved from the source is limited.
Generally, a review of the effects of corporate social responsibility practices on customers through the application of existing literature and records will be evaluated to obtain secondary information (Spector, 2006). Such research information will facilitate the ascertainment of the effects of corporate social responsibility on customers. Moreover, the information from the secondary sources will be accessed through online library sources as well as the organization’s websites. Permission to access online sites will be sort. Besides, secondary information will be obtained directly from the libraries particularly in situations where cost constraints are limited. However, online sources will highly be applied.
Primary Research
Primary research is the process where the data is collected directly through quantitative means (Kumar, 2010). In this study, the primary data will majorly be obtained through quantitative research methodologies. The quantitative research methodologies that will be applied include surveys and interviews. However, the proposed study will primarily utilize the survey method through the application of a well-structured questionnaire to obtain the required data.
Moreover, the requisite research data will be gathered across the study population consisting of majorly of the clients and managers of organizations. A sampling of the study population remains critical in the survey methodology (Kumar, 2010). In this study, though all the customers and managers of various organizations are deemed viable, only a few selected through an appropriate sampling strategy will be interviewed concerning the research topic.
The data from the survey is aimed at assisting in devising a sound and rational study conclusions amid offering feasible recommendations for the research being conducted. The survey will focus on the information concerning customers’ behaviors, conducts, and attitudes due to the implementation of corporate social responsibility strategies.
The advantage of the survey method of obtaining primary data is that there are possibilities for improvements in the type of information to be collected (Norland, 2001). In other words, the survey questionnaire contains a variety of questions targeting the required information. Besides, more related information on the study area can be obtained. Besides, direct information particularly on the part of customers is obtained. The major problem with the survey is that it is time-consuming and costly. In other words, the survey method of data collection normally takes time requiring researchers to increase costs (Richey & Klein, 2008).
To present significant research findings, appropriate conclusions, and credible recommendations, the proposed investigative study on the impact of corporate social responsibility on the organizations’ clients would also use the interview method of the primary data collection. The interview intends to administer the questionnaires to the study participants through the application of online procedure by choosing the respondent initially incorporated in the study population (Bazeley, 2002).
Interview schedules that would be approved to help gather information on the effects of corporate social responsibility on customers will equally be used to establish the impact of the practice on customers as well as related factors. Interviews will gather information on how the organizations’ management has applied corporate social responsibility to improve the customers’ satisfaction.
The advantage of the interviewing method of primary data collection is that various observations such as the interviewees’ reactions and feelings can be made at the same time. Besides, the interviewer can modify the question depending on the situation to get the required answer. The direct response is critical in establishing the effect of corporate social responsibility on customers as one of the main human resources practices currently undertaken by the organizations to help attain the desired outcome.
However, the interview process may hinder the provision of the information the respondents consider secret. Moreover, the respondents may twist information depending on what the interviewer requires. In terms of accessibility, the permission of various respondents will be sought before the proposed study is conducted. Moreover, the consent of relevant authorities will be sought before administering the questionnaire to the respondents (Esposito, 2002).
The Proposed Time Schedule
The study will require the following in terms of resources and planning
References
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Cavett-Goodwin, D. (2007). Making the case for corporate social responsibility. Web.
Esposito, J. (2002). Interactive, multiple-method questionnaire evaluation research: A case study. Charleston, SC: QDET.
Gray, R. H., Owen, D. L. & Maunders, K. T. (2007). Corporate social reporting: Accounting and accountability. New Jersey, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Hohnen, P. (2007). Corporate social responsibility: An implementation guide for business. Manitoba, Canada: International Institute for Sustainable Development.
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Ludescher, J. (2009). Corporate social responsibility: From corporate strategy to global justice. Web.
McWilliams, A., Siegel, D. & Wright, P. M. (2005). Corporate social responsibility: strategic implications. Web.
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