000			03884nam a2200289 a 4500
008			2016
082	0	4	_aTHESES PRESS
100	1		_aAzad, Md. Abul Kalam, _eauthor.
245	1	4	_aThe impact of corporate social responsibility in customers' preference of retail business : _ba case study of Debenhams Plc. in the context of public relations / _cMd. Abul Kalam Azad.
264		1	_aCork : _bCork Institute of Technology, _c2015.
300			_a98 pages : _bcolor illustrations, graphs ; _c30 cm
336			_atext _btxt _2rdacontent
337			_aunmediated _bn _2rdamedia
338			_avolume _bnc _2rdacarrier
490	0		_aM.A. - Public relations with new media
502			_aThesis (M.A.) - Cork Institute of Technology, 2015.
504			_aBibliography: p. 72-76.
520			_aThe aim of this thesis is to find out how the consumers' loyality to a particular retailer is affected by the involvement of the company to various CSR activites. Companies engage in a number of CSR activities not only for an instant increase of sale but also for a good reputation and to fulfil their commitments to the community. At least three different but integated reserch methods were used in this thesis to find out what CSR activites the mentioned company is engaged in and the extent of customers' loyality is achieved. In a word, the correlation of these was investigated. Nowadays, CSR is conducted by various kinds of companies, reported on their websites and also in the media. However, the motivations for the practice of CSR have been criticized and questioned by many. The criticism of CSR, especially in retail industries, is particularly notable due to practices that many companies engage in which may be seen as unsustainable and unethical. Therefore, an exploration of consumer attitudes towards CSR was deemed to be a sufficiently important and interesting field of study. Moreever, due to the fact that little is known about retail consumers' awareness of CSR and again this is why the exploration of the consumer knowledge of CSR is also of critical importance. In this study customers' response to various CSR activies practiced by Debenhams was examined and the data was then analysed using proper techniques to justify the hyptothesis that consumers' loyality to the company increases as they know about the company's involvment to CSC. The measurement was done in the context of Public Relations metrics. Throughout this study, the author used various qualitative research methods in order to collect and analyze data of consumer's awareness and attitudes towards CSR when it come to their purchasing decisions. The results of the primary research was then analyzed and discussed. In addition, secondary research was also undertaken to add strength and validity to the overall study. Subsequently, findings of the primary research was then interpreted and placed in the context of the literature review. The analysis of collected data showed that the consumers are well aware of CSR activities in general but are not sufficiently aware of focused company's CSR activities. Reasonably, this issue has been mentioned in the recommendation section so that the company utilizes a more effective strategy to inform customers of their CSR activities. For CSR campaigns to be truly effective, it is crucial for customers to fully understand the importance and aim of CSR activities in order to have an impact on customers' purchsing decisions. - (Author's abstract)
610	1	0	_aDebenhams (Firm) _9117451
650		0	_aSocial responsibility of business. _945087
650		0	_aConsumers' preferences _935799
650		0	_aRetail trade. _941977
650		0	_aPublic relations. _941646
907			_a.b11178772 _b161010 _c160104
942			_n0
998			_ac _b160104 _cm _da _e- _feng _gie _h4
999			_c103156 _d103156