Managing Information and Technology: A Case Study of Marks and Spencer

MANAGING
INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Organization Introduction...........................................................................................................3
Competitive environment analysis..............................................................................................4
Porter's Value Chain Analysis of Marks and Spencer................................................................6
Reflection and Recommendation................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Information technology is considered as utilizing technology for operating business
functions. It also involves utilizing computers, technology, networking and other associated
devices in operating business operations of the company.
Organization Introduction
Marks and Spencer is a multinational retail company based in United Kingdom.
Company was established in the year 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in Leeds.
Headquarter of the Marks and Spencer is located in London, United Kingdom. Company deals in
high quality clothing, home products and food products. Major brands in retail sector is
associated with the Marks and Spencer. Brands like Per Una, Autograph Limited, Rosie, Blue
Harbour, M&S collection and M&S Energy are associated with the company from a very long
time. Company is serving its services across the globe by having a retail outlets in more than
1400 locations.
Background Information of Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer is a retail company based in United Kingdom. In 1998 the company
became the first retail organization witnessing pre-tax profitability of more than £1billion which
also enable the company management to project the dignity of the company in front of all its
stakeholders. Marks and Spencer is a listed organization under London Stock Exchange and the
company is also a part of the FTSE 250 Index (Jin, Miao and Park, 2018). Company was
initiated because of the partnership between Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. Michael
Marks was migrated to England in early 1880s and Thomas Spencer was the cashier of English
Market Town of Skipton in North Yorkshire. Initially Marks was working with Barron in Leeds.
Latter on Marks opened a stall in Leeds and offered a partnership to Thomas Spencer. Marks and
Spencer made a huge reputation in the retail sector in early 20th century only by framing a policy
about to sale only British made products. Due to the policy of selling only British made products
company associated with long term partnership with British manufacturers in order to sale
clothing and food products under the brand name of St Michael the brand was established in the
year 1928. Directors of the company put an specific attention over the quality products in 1957
under stock size measuring system. Company started its international expansion in 1973 by
opening stores in Canada (Rašić Jelavić and Brkić, 2016). Latter on company expanded in
France retail market by launching stores in Paris. Company has also witnessed financial decline

many times but effective business strategies enabled the company to expand globally. Today the
company is having a retail outlet at more than 1400 locations across the globe.
Product and Service detail of Marks and Spencer
Product range of the company is well diversified. All leading brands are a part of
business operations of the company. Company offers brands like Limited collection, Per Una,
North Coast, Portfolio, Indigo collection, Autograph, Marks and Spencer collection, Classic
collection, Blue Harbour, shoes, cosmetics, Harvard, Wood Spice, Blue Energy. IN women
range company offers brands like Isis, Tess Daly Beauty, Florentyna, Natural Beauty, Earth Spa.
Other than all the above brands company also offer domestic technology products like
Technology- audio and video equipment.
Competitive environment analysis
Competitive environment is recognized as an external business environment associated
with the company. It is more like an external system in which company needs to operate its
business operations. To analyse about the competitive environment of Marks and Spencer model
of Porter Five Forces is used. This model is a dynamic approach in order to analyse the
competitiveness of the business environment. This model involves five forces that put an impact
over company's market presence. Such factors involve competition in the industry, power of
supplier, power of customer, threat of substitute product and power of new entrants.
Competition in the Industry (High): Marks and Spencer operates its business operations in
retail sector. Retail industry is among the major competitive industry sector in the business
environment (Novikov, 2018). Retail sector also carry a huge contribution in the economic
growth of the country as it contains high profitability and sales turnover as well. Due to immense
profitability opportunities in the sector retail industry is among the highly competitive industry
sector covered under business environment. M&S needs to deal with many other leading
competitors like Sainsbury, Asda and others. Company also needs to deal with small retail
companies that also influence the retail market by attracting decision-making of customers. Asda
has a leading market share in retail market that also a huge threat for the Marks and Spencer.
Due to increasing population across the globe the sales turnover of the retail industry is also
witnessing an increasing trend and immense growth rate. It is expected that the retail market will
expand its market share from the existing 12% to 24% till 2024 (Steidle, 2016). Based on the
predictions about the retail sector growth many new entrants will also come and be a part of the