Managing a Successful Business Project - Marks and Spencer Assignment

MANAGING A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research Background.............................................................................................................3
P1 Aims and Objectives.........................................................................................................4
P2 Project management plan..................................................................................................5
P3. Work break down structure and Gantt Chart...................................................................7
................................................................................................................................................8
P4 Research methodologies....................................................................................................8
P5 Analysis...........................................................................................................................11
P6 Recommendations...........................................................................................................20
P7 Reflection........................................................................................................................21
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23

INTRODUCTION
The theme of the below research is globalisation. Globalisation refers to the process of
interaction and integration among people. By some, it is considered as a form of capitalist
expansion which entails the integration of national and local economies. It is seen to be grown
due to the advances in communication and transportation technology. The topics covered in the
report includes identification of the risks and benefits of joint business ventures in order to enter
the international markets. The chosen organisation for the study is Marks and Spencer and
Uniqlo. Marks and Spencer is a major British multinational retailer headquartered in
Westminster, London. Uniqlo is a Japanese casual wear designer, retailer and designer. The firm
is headquartered in Yagamuchi, Japan (Humphries, 2017). The report discusses in what manner
Marks and Spencer can successfully enter into the market of Japan by venturing with Uniqlo. It
explores the risks and benefits the organisation will be facing and the important strategies and
development required to successfully enter into joint-venture.
Research Background
In the era of globalisation, it has become important for the companies across the world to
be a part of joint venture in order to achieve their business objectives. Important benefits and
risks are identified of a joint business venture to enter international markets. The chosen
companies are Uniqlo and Marks and Spencer. It is important for these companies to grow
themselves on large scale in order to achieve their set business objectives. Marks and Spencer
wants to enter into the market of Japan and it will venture with Uniqlo to sell its products and
services. The report will do research on both of the company's business environment to evaluate
the importance of growth and development happening within these organisations. It will help an
individual to understand the nature of joint venture businesses and how effectively these business
can be brought into operation to achieve set growth and success (Ledford and Gast, 2018). Along
with it, the research will evaluate the importance of decision making while entering into the
international markets and how one can achieve set growth and development as per their own
needs and developments.
P1 Aims and Objectives
Aim:
The aim of the study is to analyze the risks and benefits of joint business venture while
entering into Japan - A case study on Marks & Spencer and Uniqlo.

Objectives:
 To determine the risk factors for joint-venture business in Japanese markets
 To determine the benefits of joint-venture business while entering into the international
market of Japan
 To understand how Marks & Spencer by venturing with Uniqlo can achieve its business
goals and objectives successfully
 To determine what are the core requirements for these organizations to operate into joint-
venture businesses
 To analyze in what manner effective strategies can be developed by these organizations
to achieve set growth and development in joint venture businesses
Research Question:
 What are the associated risk factors for joint-venture business while entering into
international markets?
 What are the benefits of entering into the market of Japan for joint-venture businesses?
 How organization can achieve set goals and objectives with the help of joint venture
businesses?
 In what manner effective strategies are developed by the organization to gain most
benefits from the joint-venture business?
Rationale
The reason behind choosing the topic the risks and benefits of a joint business venture to
enter International markets for Uniqlo and Marks and Spencer is to evaluate the importance of
joint venture business. Globalization has made organizations across the world to enter into new
markets and without joint-venture it is not possible for the organizations to do so. It has become
essential for companies like Uniqlo and Marks and Spencer to grow their business in order to
achieve set growth and development.
The idea of joint-venture allows the businesses to gain new market advantage and
develop needs which are as per their customers movement and their own set goals. It is important
for the organization to make use of effective business plans in order to enter into joint-venture
business (Robson and McCartan, 2016). Without effective planning it is not possible to ensure a
sustainable joint-venture business and gaining better growth and advantage. It becomes hard for
the organizations to newly become a part of the joint-venture businesses and adapt into an

environment where growth is not promised. The report will discuss those various advantages and
disadvantages which can take the organization and its goals further. Along with it, it puts light on
in what ways better growth can be achieved within the set business environment. It also explains
the various researches being done in order to achieve better organizational advantage and to
bring set growth to the organization. Important discussions are made in the report to evaluate the
important decisions required while entering into the international markets. Along with it, it
evaluates in what manner effective controls and restriction can be put to achieve desired growth
and success.
P2 Project management plan
Project management Plan is formal document which consists about the way different
activities will be executed during the investigation (Joint Venture Business Opportunities, 2017).
It covers different aspects of research project such as risk, costs, quality, communications etc. All
these factors are very much essential to be considered by project manager as these components
are very much important in order to accomplish desired outcomes. Project management plan
describes the different phases of the research project. It is the plan which provides project
manager an ease in monitoring the progress and helps them in ensuring that all the activities are
performed according to the set standards.
Cost: It is basically expenses which are generally associated with execution of the
research. High amount of costs is associated with making arrangement for collection of the data
related to the topic (Silverman, 2016). Some expenditure associated with the execution of
research project are traveling expenses, purchase of stationery, salary of project manager as well
as other member, communication costs etc. In context of present study budget has been prepared
by project manager in order to control the flow of money and to complete research project in
efficient manner (Ledford and Gast, 2018). The overall research costed £5,000 pounds. In order
to expand into the market of Japan, Marks and Spencer requires an investment of £250,000
pounds.
Scope : This element in the project management plan defines the key deliverable as well
as milestones that are to be accomplished. The present research has limited project scope. The
scope will help the organization to determine the efficiency of joint-venture business. Along with
it, it is going to explore in what ways they can gain better advantage in selling of their products
and services on a international level.

Time : It is basically a specification about the period within with the specific research
project is required to be completed. Scholar in present study has prepared the Gantt chart which
consists of starting as well as ending time for each activity. It has assisted investigator in
measuring the progress of the research project (Robson and McCartan, 2016). The time required
for the study and research is 3 weeks.
Quality : It is one of the important element in project management plan. Quality of
information assists users in ensuring the reliability as well as validity of research report. Result
is highly influenced by the quality of data gathered during the time of investigation. Ensuring
quality is one of the major factors required while organizational growth and development. In
order to maintain the quality, the joint-venture business need to determine the important causes
and needs on which they are fulfilling their set needs and developments (Piaskowska, Nadolska,
and Barkema, 2017). Along with it, to assess in what manner better benefits can be brought by
ensuring better quality while entering into new markets.
Communication : Proper of information is very much necessary during the time of
investigation in order to avoid overlapping and wastage of resources. In context of present study
communication plan has been developed by researcher which clearly defined the responsibility
of an individual related to sharing of information (Humphries, 2017). Appropriate
communication will help the to develop smooth functioning and maintain new developments
without putting many efforts.
Risk : While executing the research project there are high chances of different types of
risk. One of the biggest risk associated with execution of the risk include ethical or legal issues,
in context of collection of information from secondary sources, there are high chances of
plagiarism (Miller and Weinberg, 2017). Investigator in present study has implemented different
measures for avoiding the ethical or legal issues. Investigator has informed participants about the
purpose of research. Scholar has utilities special computer software for storing of information in
order to maintain the confidentiality of information provided by participants (Silverman, 2016).
Resources : In context of Present research project, the different types of resources which
are required by researcher are technology, communication devices, internet, research skills,
human resource etc. The usage of technology is essential to make the work easy and reduce the
cost of labor (Yan and Luo, 2016). Internet allows the research to become in depth and to gain
necessary knowledge about the important needs and development required by the study.

P3. Work break down structure and Gantt Chart
Risks High Low Medium
Data Theft
Issues of Security
Leaving Respondents
from survey
1.2.3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide timeframes
and stages for completion. (P3)
Gantt chart:
Activities
W1
Starting
05 Feb
18
W2
Starting
12 Feb
18
W3
Starting
19 Feb
18
W4
Starting
26 Feb
18
W5
Starting
05
March
18
W6
Starting
12
March
18
W7
Starting
19
March
18
W8
Starting
26
March
18
W9
Starting
02 April
18
W10
Starting
09 April
18
Selection of
topic
Project
planning
Literature
review
Study of
research
methodolog
y
Selection of
research
tool
Designing
questionnai

re
Interview/
Survey
Data
collection
& Analysis
Conclusion
&
Recommen
dation
Presentatio
n
Reflective
report

P4 Research methodologies
Introduction
Research methodology is the procedure that is used to gather the data and related
information regarding business decisions. It is very essential for the organization to select the
most appropriate and suitable research methodology.
Research type
The research study is based on qualitative and quantitative techniques. In qualitative
research data and information are collected, evaluate and interpreted on the basis of statistical
data and numeric (Dussauge, Arslan and Wassmer, 2015). On the other hand, quantitative data
refers to the data and information that is gathered, analyses and interpreted by using non-numeric
and observation. The present research is based on the qualitative techniques as the survey is done
on the basis of emotions and the plan and procedure consists step of a wide assumptions and
interpretation of the in depth understanding of data. The rationale for choosing to execute the

qualitative research is that it provides scholar an ease in collecting the detailed information
related to the topic.
Research Approach
Research approaches come after the type of research selected by the researcher. The
approach starts from specific data collection on the basis of the topic and after the pattern and
theory will develop by the scholar. The applied approach in the research is inductive that is the
most suitable in qualitative research that is effective in identify the impact of multinational
organization in the business environment of India (Wu & et.al, 2017). Scholar in present study
has utilized inductive research approach, as it provides scholar an ease in generating the meaning
from the information collected from both primary and secondary sources. In addition to this,
inductive research approach also assist scholar in developing the questionnaire for collecting the
information from participants.
Research Philosophies
The research philosophy deals with the source, nature and development of the
knowledge. The two fundamental research philosophies are; Positivism and Interpretivism.
Collected data from positivism philosophy are highly structured and the method is consists the
mix of quantitative and qualitative. On the other hand, Interpretivism data are in depth small
sample and the investigation is only based on the qualitative method. Researcher has applied
Interpretivism philosophy that is more authentic and reliable. Thus, the impact of multinational
organisation cooperation is investigated by the Interpretivism philosophy. Investigator in present
study has applied Interpretivism research philosophy, as it helps them in interpreting the
information. In addition to this, Interpretivism research philosophy, assist scholar in ensuring
high level of validity. The reason because of which researcher has selected the Interpretivism
research philosophy is that the information collected in such studies tends to be honest as well as
trustworthy.
Sampling
Sampling plays a major role in research. Sample refers to the group of individual, any
object or item that taken within from a large population. It is essential to select the appropriate
type and size of samples (Gross, Huang and Ding, 2017). The sampling are classified in;
Probabilistic and Non-Probabilistic. In context of the present study, scholar has utilized the
purpose sampling. The reason for choosing the purpose sampling technique is that researcher

perceives that manager in an organization can provide complete as well as detailed information
about the risk as well as benefit associated with Joint venture business. The scholar has chosen
20 senior managers of Marks & Spencer to answer the research question.
Data Collection
Data collection is a procedure that is used to collect the information from all the relevant
sources. After effectively select the sample, researcher enable the activity to gather the data from
representatives. Two kind of data collection are; Primary and Secondary, primary data can be
collected by the researcher trough different methods these are observation, survey, interview and
secondary data is collected through journals, books, online sources and articles. In present
study , investigator has collected the data related to the topic from both primary and secondary
sources. Reason for choosing to collect information from both the sources is to gather huge
amount of information related to the risk and benefit associated with Joint venture business. The
method used by investigator for collecting the primary facts related to the topic is questionnaire.
A questionnaire form consists of open ended questions which has been designed considering the
aim of the research (Harris, 2018). Investigator has included close ended questions in
questionnaire form as scholar perceives that it will assist them in getting the relevant
information. Internet, Online books, Journals, magazines, has been used for gathering the
secondary data related to the topic of investigation.
Data Analysis
This is the last process, where the data is analyzed after gathering (Parameswar, Dhir and
Ongsakul, 2018). It is the process that is used to mold, clean and transfer raw data and
information into a systematic and meaningful manner. Data is analyzed by two method which are
qualitative and quantitative. In the present research, researcher has used qualitative method for
data analysis and present the data in form of graph, charts and tables. In addition to this, thematic
analysis has been used by scholar for presenting the information. The different themes are
prepared by investigator considering the questions as well as answers provided by participants.
Scholar has chosen to utilize the thematic analysis technique as it provides them an ease in
analyzing the pattern of responses provided by the respondents. Investigator has also used the
graph, chart, diagram for showing the results or findings (Clark and Soulsby, 2017). Diagram
and chart has assisted researcher an ease in making the research report presentable as well as
understandable by user.

P5 Analysis
Questionnaire
Question 1. According to you which is the biggest risks associated while entering into the
market of Japan with Uniqlo?
 Risk of conflicts
 Clashes in management styles Imbalance of capital and resources.
Question 2. What benefits can globalization add up to for the businesses from venturing with
Uniqlo?
 Fostering business growth
 Access to new market and distribution network Increased capacity
Question 3. What is the biggest opportunity your business can receive from entering into the
Joint-venture with Uniqlo?
 Achieving new growth
 New development options New consumer market
Question 4. What do you think is required most by the businesses while entering into joint-
venture with Uniqlo?
 Finance and Capital
 Relationships Effective management
Question 5. What challenges do you think your organisation can face while entering in the
Japanese market?
 Diverse Culture
 Recruitment Infrastructure
Question 6. As per your opinion, what advantages your business can receive from selling the
products and services Japanese markets?
 Increase in profitability

 A rich and diverse consumer platforms New markets to sell current products and services
Question 7. Do you think your organisation is going to gain competition after entering into the
markets of Japan?
 Agree
 Disagree
 Highly Agree Highly Disagree
Question 8. What do you think are most effective skills which the employees of your
organisation need to ensure successful cooperation with Uniqlo in joint-venture business?
 Good Communication
 Planning
 Trust
 Performance monitoring
Theme 1: Risk of Conflicts is the biggest risk associated while venturing with Uniqlo
Risk of conflicts 13
Clashes in management styles 4
Imbalance of capital and resources 3

Interpretation: As per the above chart, it can be seen that out of 20 senior managers, 13
believe that the risk of conflicts is the biggest risk associated while entering into the joint-venture
business. In order to ensure that the organisation do not face this risk it is important for the both
Marks and Spencer and Uniqlo to ensure that they are having an effective management in place
which is managing these conflicts in a well-manner. Along with it, other associated risks include
clashes in management and imbalance of capital and management. The organisation can make
use of effective strategies in order to deal with these things and ensure growth and development.
Theme 2: Fostering business growth is one of the main benefit Marks and Spencer can
receive from entering into joint-venture with Uniqlo
Fostering business growth 12
Access to new market and distribution network 4
Increased Capacity 4
Risk of conflicts
Clashes in management
styles
Imbalance of capital and
resources

Interpretation: As per the above chart, it can be seen that out to 20 people, 12 believe
that the main benefit of entering into joint-venture business is fostering market growth. Along
with it, 4 managers believe that access to new market and distribution network is another
important benefits which the organisation will receive after entering into joint-venture with
global companies. This will help the business to develop and transform themselves in order to
achieve new set growth and gain new consumer markets worldwide. These benefits will help the
overall business to grow and maintain their decision making in order to grow and prosper as
international business firms.
Theme 3: Achieving new growth is the biggest opportunity the organisation can receive
from venturing with Uniqlo
Achieving new growth 10
New Development options 6
New consumer market 4
Fostering business
growth
Access to new
market and
distribution network
Increased Capacity

Interpretation: The opportunities which a business can receive while entering into joint-
venture business includes achieving new growth, new development options, new consumer
markets and growth and development of products and services. The above chart showcases that
the out of 20 people 10 of them agrees that the best opportunity which Marks and Spencer can
receive after venturing with Uniqlo is achieving new growth. The other opportunities include
new development options on which 6 people agrees and new consumer markets is another
opportunity which 4 people believe that the organisation will receive after entering into joint-
venture business.
Theme 4: Finance and Capital are the biggest requirements for the business while entering
into Japanese markets and venturing with Uniqlo
Finance and Capital 12
Relationships 8
Effective management 2
Achieving new
growth
New Development
options
New consumer
market

Interpretation: It is important for a business to have appropriate finances while entering
into joint-venture business. It is because these business help the organisation to achieve new
growth and development and without having appropriate finances it is not possible for a business
to achieve what it wants. In order to ensure this, the organisation makes use of appropriate
finance options and gains new market development opportunities by building relationships. As
per the above chart, out of 20 people 12 agrees that finance and capital is the utmost requirement
for Marks and Spencer to successfully enter into joint-venture markets. 8 people believe that
relationships are the most important aspects because they ensure that the organisation is
successful in building relationship with its clients and new people. 2 people believe that effective
management is another important requirement for a business to enter into joint-venture business.
Theme 5: Diverse Culture is the biggest challenge while entering into Japanese markets
Diverse Culture 14
Recruitment 3
Infrastructure 3
Finance and Capital
Relationships
Effective management

Interpretation: Marks and Spencer and Uniqlo tend to receive new opportunities while
entering into joint-venture businesses. Along with these opportunities, the challenges are also
going to arrive but the challenges need to be carefully observed by the firm because if they are
not dealt properly. It can bring downfall for the organisational success and development. Out of
20, 14 people believe that diverse culture will be the biggest challenge while entering into the
market of Japan. In order to ensure success in the diverse culture, the organisation has to
maintain new development prospects as per the needs and requirements of its own. It has to hire
new people and understand their particular needs and fulfil them accordingly. Along with it, out
of 20 people 3 of them believe that recruiting the appropriate individuals in the new business
marketplace is another important challenge which the organisation will face. 3 people believe
that having the right infrastructure will be another biggest challenge faced by the company. In
order to ensure that these challenges will be dealt with properly the organisation has to make use
appropriate strategies and has to hire a right team to ensure required growth and development.
Theme 6: Increase in profitability is the biggest advantage Marks and Spencer can receive
from entering into Japanese market and venturing with Uniqlo
Increase in profitability 12
Rich and diverse consumer platforms 4
Diverse Culture
Recruitment
Infrastructure

New markets to sell current products and
services
4
Interpretation: As per the above chart, it can be seen that the Marks and Spencer while
entering into the joint-venture business will receive advantage such as an increase in
profitability, a diverse and rich consumer platform, and new market to sell its products and
services. This will help the business to gain new growth prospectives in achieving required
development for the organisation. It can be seen that out of 20 senior managers working in the
organisation 12 believe that increase in profitability will be the major advantage which the
organisation will observe. Rich and diverse consumer platforms is another important advantage
which the organisation will see and out of 20, 4 people agree with it. Out to 20, 4 people believe
that new markets to sell current products and services is going to be one of the major advantage
for the firms in their business.
Theme 7: It is possible for Marks and Spencer to gain competition by entering into
Japanese markets
Agree 8
Disagree 6
Increase in profitability
Rich and diverse consumer
platforms
New markets to sell current
products and services

Highly Agree 2
Highly Disagree 4

Interpretation: It can be seen that the out of 20 senior managers, 8 believes that the
Marks and Spencer will gain new market competition after entering into joint-venture business.
It is important for the organisation to observe what kind of competition it is receiving and has to
operate accordingly. Along with it, 6 people disagree that the organisation will receive any sort
of competition while entering into joint-venture business. It is essential to make use of
appropriate strategies in order to achieve set growth and development and ensure that the
organisation is gaining new prospects and developments as well. Out of 20, 4 people highly
disagree about the set environment cannot bring competition and can ensure required growth and
development. On the majority, the organisation has to keep itself prepared in order to achieve set
growth and development and ensure better market advantage as well. It will help the organisation
to gain new market advantage keep itself prepared for the competition.
Theme 8: Performance monitoring is one of the major requirements to ensure success into
joint-ventures
Good Planning 5
Communication 5
Trust 4
Performance Monitoring 6
Agree
Disagree
Highly Agree
Highly Disagree

Interpretation: The above chart explains that out of 20 senior managers, 5 believe that
good planning is essential to ensure success in joint-venture business. It is important for the
Marks and Spencer to monitor its performance successfully in order to achieve set growth and
development from joint-ventures It is difficult without having proper planning to ensure required
growth and success. The organisation needs to take care of the development prospects and need
to ensure that appropriate planning is taking place. Another important aspect of ensuring success
in joint-ventures is better communication. Better communication allows the organisation to
achieve set growth and development. Along with it, it maintains proper development within its
own working environment (Sidhu and Christie, 2015). Trust and performance monitoring are
another important aspects which needs to be ensured while entering into joint-venture business
for an organisation.
P6 Recommendations
As per the above analysis it can be seen that joint-venture can bring a lot of success to the
organisation and its working environment. It is important for the companies across the world to
enter into joint-venture to achieve new growth prospective. For both Marks and Spencer and
Uniqlo joint-venture will bring new development opportunities and would ensure new
profitability (Hearn, 2015). It is important for these organizations to observe the challenges
arriving in the joint-venture business and understand what are the core issues which the
organisation can face while entering into joint venture businesses.
Good Planning
Communication
Trust
Performance
Monitoring

Also, it is important for the organizations to make required strategies in advance and
analyze the important challenges which it is going to face in the new markers. These strategies
will help the organization to achieve net sew of growth and develop itself in order to achieve
market growth and advantage (Arslan, Wassmer and Dussauge, 2015). These all aspects will
grow the firms on their required potential and would help them to achieve new market growth. It
is also important for the organization to understand and evaluate the major needs which can
transform itself in standing as a better competitor along with fulfilling its customer needs and
requirements.
It has been observed that Uniqlo and Marks and Spencer also needs to observe the global
opportunities for the organization to make joint-venture successful. These global opportunities
will provide the organization with new directions and is going to help it in managing itself
accordingly. These all efforts will allow the organizations to flourish and maintain their position
in the market.
As per the above evaluations it can be seen as the biggest associated risks with the joint
venture is the risk of conflicts. In order to ensure that conflicts does not arise in the business, it is
important that Marks and Spencer ensures effective planning is being done. Along with it, it is
important for the organizations to manage good communication with other parties while they are
a part of joint-venture business. Good communication can ensure effective growth and success
both to the organisation and its business.
P7 Reflection
The above research helped me to understand the importance of joint-venture business.
Along with it, I understood what are the important requirements for a firm to enter into joint-
venture businesses and achieve required growth and objectives along (Ahmad, Floris and Atzori,
2016). The research allowed me to gain new skills such as research, and better communication. It
also helped me in developing new knowledge about the core areas of an organization where
possibilities of growing business can be expounded. Along with it, it helped me in developing
new potential to make researches better and exploratory. I also learned about the various
developments which a firm needs to address while growing itself in international markets (King,
2017). The skills which I learned includes better communication, research, decision making,
report writing etc.

Along with it, I was able to achieve the stated objective of the research. The data
collection used in research allowed me to gain the data of different companies and organizations
which entered into the joint-venture business and evaluate in what manner they achieved success.
It helped me to identify in what manner Marks and Spencer and Uniqlo can achieve success from
joint-venture businesses. It successfully helped me to gain an understanding in what manner
Marks and Spencer and Starbucks can achieve success in the global markets.
CONCLUSION
The above research explains the importance of joint-venture businesses. It explains in
what manner an organisation can enter into joint-venture business to achieve set growth and
development. It also explains the strategic decisions which a firm needs to make while entering
into joint-venture business and how effectively Uniqlo and Marks and Spencer can deal with
these challenges to achieve set growth and development. The report puts light on the important
research methodologies used in the research to complete the research with essential tools and
techniques. Also, the researcher has made use of important questions to identify the important
needs and developments of the organization and to analyze what the people working in both of
the organizations think about the idea of entering in joint-venture businesses. The report also
analyses the main inputs which an organization needs to make while entering into joint-venture
business and how these inputs make sure that the organisation is moving into the right directions.
The necessary inputs showcase the value-based inputs of the organisation and the prospects
which it can gain from the new developments. Further, it is all-important for these cmapny to
observe the challenges arriving in the joint-venture business and understand what are the core
issues which the organisation can face while entering into joint venture businesses.