Planning Activities within Retail Sector: A Study on Tesco

DISSERTATION
(Analyze the Significance of Planning Activities
within Retail Sector: A Study on Tesco)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
Background of the study..............................................................................................................1
Aim and Objectives.....................................................................................................................2
Research Questions......................................................................................................................3
Problem statement.......................................................................................................................3
Rationale of study........................................................................................................................3
Significance of study...................................................................................................................3
Research specification (appropriate research methods)..............................................................4
Research Gap...............................................................................................................................4
Structure of research paper..........................................................................................................4
Summary......................................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................6
Introduction..................................................................................................................................6
Planning activities in retail firms.................................................................................................6
Factors that impact on the planning activities of business..........................................................9
Relationship between planning activities and business performance........................................11
Influence of planning activities on operational and financial performance of firm..................12
Summary....................................................................................................................................14
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................15
Introduction................................................................................................................................15
Research philosophy..................................................................................................................15
Research design.........................................................................................................................16
Research approach.....................................................................................................................17
Research strategy.......................................................................................................................18
Data collection...........................................................................................................................19
Sampling....................................................................................................................................20
Data analysis..............................................................................................................................21
Ethical considerations................................................................................................................22
Reliability and validity..............................................................................................................23
Research method limitation.......................................................................................................23

Summary....................................................................................................................................23
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS................................................................................................24
Introduction................................................................................................................................24
Analysis.....................................................................................................................................24
Summary....................................................................................................................................37
CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION........................................................................................................38
Discussion..................................................................................................................................38
Summary....................................................................................................................................41
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................42
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................42
Recommendations......................................................................................................................43
Reflection...................................................................................................................................44
Areas for further study...............................................................................................................44
Research limitations...................................................................................................................44
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................46
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................49
Questionnaire.............................................................................................................................49
Semi- structured Interview........................................................................................................50

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Planning can be defined as a set of activities or processes that supports business units in
accomplishing their goal (Keep, 2014). Planning is an essential part of organization that helps in
identifying errors and finding appropriate solutions to resolve such problems. It is the
responsibility of higher authorities to review current operations of enterprise and identify overall
requirement of improvements (Fernandes and Chamusca, 2014). Clear goal and vision are the
key elements of planning because both these aspects aid in determining necessary steps that can
assist firm in meeting its organizational objectives.
Overview of company
Tesco is the leading retail firm in UK and third largest retail brand worldwide. Company
has employed more than 440000 employees who are serving mass audience across the world.
Millions of consumers come to retail shop of Tesco every week. Most of the people buy products
from online store of company. Entity offers them attractive discounts and provides high quality
goods at affordable prices (Factors that Influence Effective Strategic Planning Process in
Organizations, 2016). This has made Tesco an international brand and now, firm has many
stores in other locations as well. It is generating high revenues in the retail market and has gained
competitive advantage as well. In the year 2017 Tesco generated profit of 55.9 billion. Net
income in the same year was 54 million. Entity has made many joint ventures with other firms.
Company offers high quality retailing products to its consumers that helps the firm in satisfying
its consumers and retaining them in business for longer duration. Market share of the firm is
rapidly growing. Tesco is rapidly developing is stores in international market. It also engaged in
e-commerce business (Tesco company profile, 2004). This supports the firm in increasing its
profit to great extent.
Efficient planning process is the key element of success of entity. It is the process that
ensures effective utilization of resources (Keep, 2014). All large, small and medium sized firms
have different resources. Planning process assists top management in making effective decision
through which they can utilize their resources well and control the overall wastage. It supports in
maximization of productivity of business unit and gives them chance to gain more profit in the
market. Managing risk is another advantage of planning process (IšoraItė, 2014). Each enterprise
has to face uncertainties. In such condition, sometimes, they may get failed to run their business
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effectively. Ineffective allocation of resources, economic changes, operational errors, etc. are
many risks that can spoil the overall performance of organization.
Planning promotes team building spirit and managers become able to retain skilled
employees at workplace for longer duration. Market planning supports in analyzing internal and
external situation of firm. Furthermore, financial planning assists in utilizing resources well and
minimizing unnecessary expenditures of company (Environmental Factors in Strategic
Planning, 2018). Human resource planning is the most important part of retail firm. This helps in
identifying the needs of staff members and filling post by hiring skilled people in organization.
Inventory planning process is the set of activities that allows business in managing their stock
well and decreasing issues related to over stock or shortage of material.
Present research will analyze the importance of planning activities within retail sector. It
will examine various factors that can impact on planning process of the business unit. Research
paper will review the literatures of other authors who have prepared their article on same topic.
This will help researcher in developing understanding about the topic. In addition, it will explain
various research methods that are suitable for this dissertation. Study will analyze data and
interpret the findings (Williams, 2017)
Aim and Objectives
Aim
“To analyze the significance of planning activities within retail sector: A study on Tesco”
Objectives
 To examine various planning activities that are made by retail firms in order to sustain in
the market for longer duration
 To identify the factors that impact on planning activities of business
 To explain the relationship between planning activities and performance of Tesco
 To analyze the influence of planning activities on operational and financial performance
of Tesco
 To suggest the ways that can help retail firm in making effective planning for their
growth
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Research Questions
 What are the various planning activities made by retail firms in order to sustain in market
for longer duration?
 What are the factors that impact on planning activities of business?
 How planning activities and performance of Tesco are interrelated?
 How planning can influence the operational and financial performance of Tesco?
Problem statement
The main problem is identified in Tesco that a sale of the company is continuously
declining. Entity is facing huge loss and now it has become difficult for Tesco to sustain in
market for longer duration. Company requires improving planning activities and having to
implement these planning in workplace practices so that it can improve its performance.
Rationale of study
The main reason of conducting this research is that there are many retail firms which are
unable to run their business in an effective manner. Small retailers are facing huge loss because
of improper planning. It is essential to identify root cause of these issues and identify importance
of planning process for the growth of retail industry (Keep, 2014). Researcher has worked in
retail firm for several years and thus, individual is well aware with the fact that improper
planning can create consequences for the business unit. This is an interesting topic and
individuals can conduct effective research on the subject matter (Bryson, 2018). Furthermore,
there is huge data available on the same topic. This can support scholar in gathering in-depth
information about topic and developing knowledge about the importance of planning activities in
retail organization.
Significance of study
This study will be beneficial for the researcher in developing their understanding about
importance of planning process in retail sector. It will help other scholars in conducting research
on same topic in the future. They will get brief idea about subject which will aid them in
preparing an effective paper. Furthermore, it will be beneficial for retail firms in identifying
issues that they are facing and essential planning activities that can help them in enhancing their
revenues to a great extent (Wolf and Floyd, 2017). This will also be beneficial for small size
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retail organization in making effective plan for the improvements and enhancing their revenues
to a great extent.
Research specification (appropriate research methods)
Research methodology plays a significant role in dissertation. It helps the researcher in
selecting appropriate method through which individual can conduct research in an efficient
manner. Current research will take support of interpretivism philosophy. This will be beneficial
in involving theories and models related to planning activities. Furthermore, scholar will apply
descriptive design. This would support in describing elements in an effective manner and
answering research questions. Researcher will use primary and secondary; both data collection
sources. Individual will apply semi structured interview technique in order to gather primary
information about the importance of planning activities in retail sector. On the other hand, person
will also take support of books, journals, internet articles, etc. that can help the individual in
developing their understanding about topic. Data analysis is the most important part of
dissertation. It is essential for the investigator to analyze data in an appropriate manner so that
actual findings can be presented well. Researcher will apply thematic analysis method that will
be suitable and help in answering research questions in an efficient manner (Kazemi and
Szmerekovsky, 2015).
Research Gap
In the present dissertation scholar has not included statistical numbers and calculations for
finding actual facts. Specific planning activity of organization have not been taken into
consideration, the study has concentrated on overall planning activities and its significance for
business.
Structure of research paper
The entire dissertation will be divided into separate chapters. Structure of this study is
described as below:
Chapter 1: Introduction: This would be an initial part of this study in which scholar will give
brief overview of topic. Individual will frame aim and objectives. Furthermore, rationale and
significance of the study will be described in this section.
Chapter 2: Literature Review: This would be the next part in which scholar will review other
author’s literatures. These articles will be related to importance of planning activities in the retail
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sector. This will develop understanding of scholar and individual will be able to carry out
research in an effective manner.
Chapter 3: Research Methodology: This would be the next part in which scholar will select
various methods that can help individuals in conducting investigation in an effective manner.
This will include philosophy, design, approach, data collection tools, data analysis and ethical
considerations.
Chapter 4: Data Analysis: In this section, researcher will analyze data by taking support of
thematic analysis technique. Individuals will present graphs and charts in order to present the
data properly.
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations: This would be the last part of this dissertation
in which scholar will conclude entire study and will give necessary justification for improving
planning activities in retail sector.
Summary
Above chapter can be concluded as that planning plays significant role in business unit, this
helps the firm in minimizing risks and conducting operations in smooth manner. Use of
qualitative strategy would be more suitable for the present dissertation and will help in finding
accurate answers.
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