LD9627 Developing Academic Skills for Business and Management Coursework Sample

LD9627 Developing Academic Skills for Business and Management

Instructions on Assessment:

Assessment One: 50% of overall module mark

1. Undertake a critical review of one of the journal articles cited below, justifying the criteria that you have selected to perform the review. The word limit is 1500 words. As a minimum you should critically analyse:

• The rationale for the study.

• The range and depth of key academic arguments and/or models used in the paper.

• The appropriateness of the research methodology.

• The robustness of the article’s findings and to what extent they could be used by managers in organisations.

You should choose one of the following journal articles:

1. Zibarrass, L.D. and Coan, P. (2015) ‘HRM practices used to promote pro- environmental behaviour: A UK study’, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26 (16), pp. 2121-2142.

2. Baaij, M.G., Mom, T.J.M,, Van den Bosch, F.A.J. and Volberda, H.W. (2015) ‘Why do multinational corporations relocate parts of their corporate headquarters abroad?’, Long Range Planning, 48 (1), pp. 46-58.

3. Ralston, D.A., Egri, C.P. and Karam, C.M. (2015) ‘The triple bottom-line of corporate responsibility: Assessing THE attitudes of present and future business professionals across the BRICS’, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 32 (1), pp.145-179.

Solution

Background

The purpose of this is to conduct a critical analysis by considering the article “ The triple-bottom-line of corporate responsibility: Assessing the attitudes of present and future business professionals across the BRICs”. The study deals with corporate social responsibility of firms using the triple-bottom-line theory to assess the attitudes of both present and future professionals in the BRIC countries (Ralston, et al., 2015). For this purpose, the report has analyzed the rationale for the study, use of academic arguments and models, appropriateness of the research methodology used, robustness of the findings and results and implications for managers.

Rationale for Study

The authors have provided a short rationale for conducting the study by first pointing out the need of understanding how the BRIC countries are playing significant economic and political roles across the world (Ralston, et al., 2015). Here, the ethical values of business professionals of these developing countries have been observed to be different from those of developed countries, which has motivated the authors to conduct the study. This reason for carrying out the research seems relevant as such ethical values ultimately influence their actions of fulfilling the corporate social responsibilities (Picardi & Masick, 2013). Furthermore, the authors cited another reason for conducting the research, which states that the changing values and ethics also consequently affect the governing ways of global businesses (Ralston, et al., 2015). This reason is also justified as different values and ethics can encourage business professionals to address the components of economic, social and environmental responsibilities of global firms in various ways. Besides, the study has also been undertaken for analyzing how such governing ways of fulfilling responsibilities help in the development of local communities (Ralston, et al., 2015). This is also acceptable as it helps in understanding the crucial aspects of global business governance and their impact on society. However, the authors have not provided any justification for using the triple bottom line model in their research rationale (Picardi & Masick, 2013). In addition, any specific section for providing rationale of the study has also not been considered here; it is included with the brief background of the research.

Academic Arguments/Models

The authors have addressed various sub topic while performing the literature review of the research study. However, they did not provide any separate headings for pointing out this chapter, which has created a certain level of ambiguity. Naming the chapter as literature review and then analyzing different articles or existing studies based on the research topic would have been more systematic and attractive to the readers (Fink, 2019). Despite this, the selected research study has developed an effective base for conducting the literature review by providing a brief overview of the four countries included in the BRIC group. Alongside defining the concept, some significant data and figures related to each of these countries have also been given. In this regard, the authors have used authentic sources to gain information about the BRIC group and present it in the literature review (Ralston, et al., 2015). This section has further helped in showcasing the diversity in these countries based on their cultural traditions, political systems and socio-economic development. Such exploration has further helped in showing how they often lead to different values and ethics of business professionals across the BRIC countries. Thus, it has been beneficial in setting the foundation of the entire literature review.

Furthermore, the authors have explored different journal articles and reviewed them for understanding the concept of triple bottom line model of corporate responsibility (Ralston, et al., 2015). This model has been used for conducting the entire research study. In this regard, they have effectively analyzed each of the three aspects of corporate actions of global firms, namely, social, economic and environmental. Here, the authors used findings from around 321 cultural studies on corporate responsibility published in the years between 1998 and 2007 (Ralston, et al., 2015). However, they have not added adequate critical analysis of these existing articles to gain both positive and negative perspectives associated with the impact of these three elements (Torraco, 2016). Thus, the triple bottom line theory has been considered as the main theoretical model in this research study based on the nature of the research topic.

Besides, the authors have also developed a conceptual framework in this literature review chapter for undertaking the research study. Here, a crossvergence theory perspective has been included by making specific predictions about the impact of various socio-cultural and business ideology factors in the value and behaviors of the business professionals of the BRIC countries (Ralston, et al., 2015). This is an efficient attempt made by the authors of this research because such an effective conceptual framework has further helped in setting the basis of collecting data and analyzing them. In addition, it can be said that this framework has also been useful for developing the research methodology of the research study.

Appropriateness of Research Methodology

The authors have developed a conceptual framework of crossvergence theory perspective in the literature review. Based on this framework, they have identified macro-level or country and meso-level or generation predictors influencing the values and ethics underlying triple bottom line responsibilities in the BRIC countries (Ralston, et al., 2015). Thus, the authors have been successful in framing the hypotheses based on this conceptual framework.

Furthermore, exploratory research for MBA assignment expert has been considered as the research topic still remains inadequately studied in the recent articles (Ralston, et al., 2015). In this regard, the researchers have considered two main sets of hypothesis statements. The first one includes macro level predictors of difference or congruence in corporate responsibility perspectives while the second one consists of meso level predictions between generation groups (Ralston, et al., 2015). This research method can be considered as effective because the authors have intended to study about the causal relationship between macro level and meso level predictors and difference or congruence in CR perspectives of countries. Thus, this has helped in examining the CR values and ethics amongst the BRIC countries.
Besides, the authors have considered a considerably large sample size of 1688 participants across 4 countries, consisting 1239 current business professionals and 449 future business professionals, which display an almost true representation of the population. Here, questionnaires were provided to the samples by undertaking a cross-sectional sampling design (Ralston, et al., 2015). The sampling method has proved to be effective as it helped in collecting the required data. The researchers have also maintained anonymity and participants’ voluntary involvement. This shows that all ethical guidelines were also followed (Kumar, 2018). Moreover, the authors have also been successful in ensuring validity by using confirmatory factor analyses. In addition, they have also used an effective method of MANCOVA for conducting the hypothesis analysis.

Robustness of Article’s Findings

In this study, the researchers have ensured high-quality of findings by using statistical techniques and methods, such as, means, correlations and standard deviations. This has helped in showing the causal relationships between the independent and dependent variables. Such relationships have been helpful for making the readers understanding how current and future business professionals view corporate social, economic and environmental responsibilities within and across BRIC countries. They have also helped in pointing out the different elements of the triple bottom line that are perceived as important in those countries and their variations and congruence between their values and ethics. The robustness of the findings can also been seen in the detailed understanding that they have provided about possible future trends in corporate social responsibility (CSR) (Ralston, et al., 2015). These have further enabled the readers in comprehending how they can be applied for analyzing supportive values and beliefs concerning environment and local communities. However, it can be said that the findings have not drawn any specific conclusions about such values or beliefs regarding CSR of current and future generations as they keep on changing with time and current market trends.

Implications for Managers

The study can be helpful for future managers as it provides a detailed view about differences and congruence existing in the values and beliefs of business professionals associated with CSR responsibilities. Furthermore, it also offers a better understanding about the youth in the Asia-Pacific region through their views, values and beliefs concerning the environment. This can enable the managers in better addressing the elements of triple bottom line by motivating the undergraduate business students who get employed in various firms. Thus, future managers can become capable of better responding to various environmental and social concerns alongside incurring economic profits with significant help and participation from future business professionals.

Conclusion

The report aimed at conducting a critical analysis on the research study concerning the triple bottom line of corporate responsibility. For this purpose, the researchers considered the views and beliefs of various current and future business professionals across BRIC countries to study their impact on fulfilling such responsibilities. They were successful in presenting the findings by using appropriate research methodology and data collection methods. This was possible because of their efficient review of existing journal articles that helped in setting the foundation of the research. In addition, the research proved to be beneficial for future managers as well by providing them with adequate theoretical and practical knowledge about CSR responsibilities. 

References

Fink, A. (2019). Conducting research literature reviews: From the internet to paper. Sage publications.

Kumar, R. (2018). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage.

Picardi, C. A., & Masick, K. D. (2013). Research methods: Designing and conducting research with a real-world focus. Sage Publications.

Ralston, D. A., Egri, C. P., Karam, C. M., Naoumova, I., Srinivasan, N., Casado, T., ... & Alas, R. (2015). The triple-bottom-line of corporate responsibility: Assessing the attitudes of present and future business professionals across the BRICs. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 32, 145-179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-014-9376-x

Torraco, R. J. (2016). Writing integrative literature reviews: Using the past and present to explore the future. Human resource development review, 15(4), 404-428. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484316671606