Managing Information and Technology

Managing Information
and Technology
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
Introduction about Marks and Spencer...................................................................................3
Background information about Marks and Spencer...............................................................3
Discuss products and services of Marks and Spencer............................................................4
Analyse the competitive environment....................................................................................4
Analyse inbound logistics, operations and outbound logistics...............................................7
Analyse any two support activities in Porter's Value Chain of Marks and Spencer..............8
Identify key value adding activities with justification...........................................................9
Business could deploy information technology, innovative idea for enhancing competitive
position.................................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
Information technology is considered as a tool which foster innovation in business.
Through innovation, an organisation able to gain numbers of benefits such as they can develop
smart application, fast processing, enhance data storage, help in distributing information and so
on. In a company innovation technology play a major role in data management, R&D, sales,
marketing, communication, customer interaction, logistics and so on (Bryson, 2017).
Organisation selected for this assignment is Marks and Spencer which is operating in retail
industry. It was founded by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in 1884. They are operating at
the worldwide level. Topics included in this report are about a detailed information of company
including its background, products and services. It will also include analysis of competitive
environment, logistics, operations and outbound logistics as well as report also describe about
porter's value chain along with key value adding activities.
MAIN BODY
Introduction about Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer is British retail store which is operating at the multinational level. It
was established in Leeds, United Kingdom. Its head office is located at London, United
Kingdom. They are operating at the worldwide level having approx 1463 locations. Marks and
Spencer is listed on the London Stock Exchange as well as it is also constituent of FTSE 250
Index. Currently respective retail company has more than 959 stores across the United Kingdom
that include nearby 615 store which only sell food and drinks products. There are approx. 80,787
employees are working at Marks and Spencer London till 2018 (Campos, 2016). The main
purpose of Marks and Spencer is to serve as a general store which caters lower upper and middle
class people. They want to offer quality products range which are segmented into foods, clothing
as well as home décor. Moreover, mission of Marks and Spencer is to develop standard of high
quality performance in order to satisfy customers by providing quality products and services at
the potential marketplace.
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Background information about Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer was established through partnership among Michael Marks and
Thomas Spencer. Michael Marks was a polish Jew who born in Slonim and he is migrated to
England, United Kingdom in year 1880. Thomas Spencer was a cashier at the English market
town of Skipton, North Yorkshire. After coming at England, Marks joined organisation in Leeds
named Barran. In 1894, Marks acquire a permanent stall in the Leeds market after that he invited
Spencer to become his business partner. After that 1901, Marks moved to Birkenhead which is
open market as well as at this place he amalgamated his business along with Spencer (Castillo,
DePasquale and et. al., 2017). At 24th February 1923, Marks and Spencer left the market of
Birkenhead. In 1973 respective company expanded its business operations and functions at
Canada market. After that in 1988 Marks and Spencer acquired two big companies i.e. Brooks
Brothers which is an American Clothing store and a US food chain named Kings Super Market.
Discuss products and services of Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer offers high quality clothing, food products and home products at the
worldwide level. There are numbers of sub brands through which Marks and Spencer offers their
products and services such as Per Una, Rosie, Autograph, Blue Harbour, Limited, Marks and
Spencer Collection, Marks and Spencer Energy and so on. Along with this, they also have a
subsidiary i.e. Marks and Spencer band which is owned by HSBC band since 2004. Marks and
Spencer offer wide range of clothing, footwear, jewellery, food products for kids, women as well
as men. For female they offer wide collection of belts, hats, shoes, bags, designer fashion
garments, scarf, night clothes, bags, umbrellas, lingerie’s and many more (ABOUT US, 2020).
Similarly, Marks and Spencer offer huge range of products for men and kids such as bags, belt,
shoes, coats, cloths, dresses, hats and so on. Along with this they also offer both formal as well
as informal wears. Moreover, Marks and Spencer also offer other services such as international
brand, M&S bank, M&S energy and so on.
Analyse the competitive environment
Competitive environment is determined as dynamic external system through which a
company competed as well as functions according to their set goal. If there is huge numbers of
sellers of similar products and services, then company will competing in huge competitive
marketplace or environment. Where there is less seller of any specific product and services then
a firm will gain competitive advantage which help them in gaining high profitability and market
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