Impact of COVID-19 on Sales of Marks and Spencer: A Research Proposal

This research proposal evaluates the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sales of Marks and Spencer. It includes the background, aims, objectives, research questions, literature review, methodology, and work planning.

LT6P19GN: Research Methods and Project
ASSESSMENT COVER SHEET
PROGRAMME TITLE: BA (Hons) Hospitality Management (Top Up)
MODULE TITLE: Research Methods and Projects
MODULE CODE:
INTAKE/SEMESTER:
ASSESSMENT TITLE: Research Project Proposal
MODULE LEADER/LECTURER
STUDENT ID: (London Met)
STUDENT ID:
STUDENT NAME:
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 019
I declare that all material in this assignment is my own work except where there is clear
acknowledgement or reference to the work of others and I have complied and agreed to the College
statement on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity on the College Student Handbook provided at
Induction.
Signed: Date:
Word Count:
Assignment Submission Guidance:
Students should provide a completed assignment cover sheet with all essential details. All assignments
should be submitted in electronic format via college systems on or before the submission deadline. The
e-submission system will not allow late submissions. By submitting this assignment and cover sheet
electronically, in whatever form, you are deemed to have made the declaration set out above.
1 | P a g e 4
Research Proposal (HM Top-Up)- Autumn 2021

LT6P19GN: Research Methods and Project
Research Topic/ Research Question:
1. INTRODUCTION.
Research Background: (Introduction to the research area with some background information). Include
the following:
COVID-19 pendemic has caused a lot of disruption and you do this, there was change in global scale.
The major impact of pandemic was felt by suppliers, retailers, employees in the supply chain
management. Deep endemic started in March 2020 and from there itself, suppliers of retail industry
have to bear losses. There are significant decisions developed in respond to changing business situation.
It is very important for retail industries to manage the losses beard in COVID-19 pendemic and focus
upon enhancing and managing organisational efficiencies. This research is conducted in order to
analyse the losses incurred by Marks and Spencer at the time of this pandemic.
Aims & Objectives
Aim: (What do you want to achieve and why do you want to achieve aim?)
The research aim is to evaluate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sales of Marks and Spencer.
Objectives: (How do you want to achieve this aim(s)). State at least three but not more than four
objectives).
To assess The impact of COVID-19 pendemic on retail companies
To evaluate challenges faced by retail companies at the time of COVID-19.
To understand ways used to overcome losses incurred by Marks and Spencer at the time of COVID-19
Research Questions: (The breakdown of the research topic for some specific questions- it is easier to
2 | P a g e 4
Research Proposal (HM Top-Up)- Autumn 2021

LT6P19GN: Research Methods and Project
convert the objectives into questions- only required for if you are conducting a qualitative research
study.
i. What is The impact of COVID-19 pendemic on retail companies ?
ii What are the challenges faced by retail companies at the time of COVID-19?
Iii What are the different ways used to overcome losses incurred by Marks and Spencer at the time of
COVID-19
Research Hypotheses: These may be only required if you are conducting a quantitative research study
H0 (Null hypothesis): There is no impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sales of Marks and Spencer.
H1 (Alternative hypothesis): There was negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sales of Marks and
Spencer.
Research Rationale: (Justification of the proposed study and potential benefits). The following
questions will help you)
This research is conducted for Understanding and enhancing knowledge about the consequences which
retail companies have to face after COVID-19 pendemic. Due to lockdown, retail stores have to close
and all business was gone online. As the delivery was not quick, customer satisfaction level was
declined. This study is conducted for evaluating and understanding the Different ways which Marks
and Spencer can overcome the challenges developed by COVID-19.
.
Scope of Research Study:
The scope of this research is very wide. It includes the management of retail companies and how they
have overcome this situation of COVID-19 pendemic. This study will tell about the consequences
which are faced by retail companies. There is analysys by which interpretations are developed in
context of overcoming the challenges faced at the time of COVID-19.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW:
The literature should have an introduction, main body that is organised in relevant themes; and a
conclusion
3 | P a g e 4
Research Proposal (HM Top-Up)- Autumn 2021

LT6P19GN: Research Methods and Project
At the time of COVID-19 pendemic, challenges were faced by the different sectors off industries. In
context of retail industry, there was huge loss faced by companies initially. After a few months,
companies have started selling their products online. It helped in maintaining the rage towards
potential customers and maintaining sales of the company.It is important for Marks and Spencer to
monitor the compliance as well as safety of suppliers at the time of pandemic. Suppliers must be
provided guidance about understanding the risk, mitigating it and managing the responses for
evolving situations at the time of outside. Several best practises have been solved in order to have
appropriate as well as regular communication that will support and maintain visibility. Disapplying
and sourcing of deports and sites must be enhanced by these suppliers. There is requirement of having
constant communication with suppliers that can be included through weekly calls, conferences online.
Proper guidance is provided to suppliers which has ensured that their having proactive management of
health and safety in the factory. It is monitored that all government guidelines regarding cover 19
pandemic are followed at factory. The supplier partners have to manage guidance provided by
government and evolve necessary measures included for sign posting the government.There is need to
have shared best practises between suppliers that has highlighted this support for safety and health
standards. Labour providers for protocols have been enhanced in order to manage the requirements.
Marks and Spencer has developed a self risk assessment question which provided guidance to
employees about taking care of their own health. Marks and Spencer has able to enhance its online
sales at the time of COVID-19.In context of retail companies, it is important that management of all
the business operations has to be tackled properly in order to enhance management of completing
organisational goals. COVID-19 pandemic has created lot of difficulties for conducting business
operations. On the other hand, it is responsibility of this company to focus upon enhancing the
business online so that sales can be initiated.
COVID-19 pendemic has caused negative impact upon sales of Marks and Spencer. This company is
involved in supporting British farmers and at the time of this pendemic, the company initiated to help
these farmers at any cost. There were lot of challenges faced by farmers as well as the suppliers.
Marks and Spencer provided full support the farmers. The steps taken by Marks and Spencer at the
time of COVID-19 pandemic add mentioned below:
 Launching a supporting British farmers campaign which highlighted the commitments to the
British farmer families. This included initiation for enhancing the agricultural sector and
managing the production.
 Different ranges and recipes for supporting suppliers in the management of COVID-19 in food
manufacturing.
 Launching online plant and flower delivery which supported suppliers for closing the gap in
4 | P a g e 4
Research Proposal (HM Top-Up)- Autumn 2021

LT6P19GN: Research Methods and Project
demand.
 Increasing promotions on beef products and providing fund for new product development.
METHODOLOGY
Use Saunders’s research onion framework to develop an effective academic research methodology
Research methodology is a very important part off thesis. It helps to achieve the goals and objectives
of research through a systematic process. It includes identification, collection, analysis as well as
interpretation of collected data related to research topic. It provides help to investigator in examining
the feasibility of research topic. This is associated with the way in which data is collected and
interpreted for making out effective research outcomes. There are following steps included in
Saunders research onion framework which is used by the researchers in the present research:
Research philosophy: it consists of evaluating set of values, beliefs as well as principles on the basis
of which data is collected and evaluated. Basically there are three types of research philosophes
including positivism, interpretivism and realism. In the present research, positivism philosophy is
used. For evaluating validity of topic, data collected from research is evaluated on the basis of
theoretical aspects. The advantage of using this philosophy is collection of important data and
managing genralised opinion for attaining goals.
Research approach: there are two types of research approaches including deductive and inductive. In
the present research, reductive approach is used which is a method of collecting quantitative data used
for determining whether hypothesis is false or true. The major objective of this approach is to evaluate
different theories on the basis of research topic.
5 | P a g e 4
Research Proposal (HM Top-Up)- Autumn 2021

LT6P19GN: Research Methods and Project
Research strategy: in the present research, investigator has used survey method. In this viewpoints of
different respondents has been considered for completing the research.Literature review is used for
knowing about different thoughts and ideas provided by authors about research topic. This is
empirical nature of case study strategy in which data is gathered on the basis of real life situations.
Research choice: this is used for determination of data type which is collected in this study.
Qualitative research and quantitative research both are used in this. Graph and numerical data is used
for conducting the thematic analysis.
Time horizon: in context of this research, the time evaluated for conducting this research is two
months. The longitudinal and cross sectional parts of time horizon depends upon these sectional
study.
CONCLUSION
It is concluded from the above research that COVID 19 has negatively impacted sales of Marls and
Spencer. It has managed to manage the consequences through online sales. There are different ways
which have helped the company to cope up with the challenges faced at the time of lockdown. It was
easy to maintain and construct different approaches through which online sales can be more proactive.
WORK PLANNING
(Gantt Chart, PERT Chart). Presentation of the actual Chart
REFRENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ashman, R., Solomon, M.R. and Wolny, J. (2015) ‘An old model for a new age: consumer decision-
making in participatory digital culture’, Journal of Customer Behaviour, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp.127–146.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282350425
Bronner, F. and Hoog, R. (2015) ‘Consumer-generated versus marketer-generated websites in
consumer decision making’, International Journal of Market Research, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp.231–248.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2501/S1470785309201193
Chu, S.C. and Kim, Y. (2014) ‘Determinants of consumer engagement in electronic word-of-mouth
(eWOM) in social networking sites’, International Journal of Advertising. The Review of Marketing
Communications, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp.47–75. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2501/
Keller, K.L. (2013) Strategic Brand Management: Best Practice Cases in Branding: Lessons from the
World’s Strongest Brand. Pretice Hall, USA.
http://brandabout.ir/wp-content/uploads/Keller_Strategic_Brand_ManagementBookFi.pdf
Forushani, S., Mohammad, R. and Kuhgilani, N. (2014) Electronic Impact in the Early Third
Millennium. Trading Publication Company of Trading Researches and Studies, Germany
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320288026_A_study_on_factors_influence_towards_e-
6 | P a g e 4
Research Proposal (HM Top-Up)- Autumn 2021

LT6P19GN: Research Methods and Project
commerce
7 | P a g e 4
Research Proposal (HM Top-Up)- Autumn 2021