Impact of E-commerce Strategies on Performance Management in UK Retail Sector

This dissertation evaluates the impact of e-commerce strategies on performance management in the retail sector of the UK, with a focus on Marks and Spencer. It explores the concept of e-commerce, its importance in the retail sector, and the potential impact on performance management. The research aims to recommend effective e-commerce strategies for Marks and Spencer to improve performance management and ensure growth and success.

BMP6001 DISSERTATION
Assessment 1 – Research Proposal
Dissertation Title:
To evaluate the impact on
performance management of a
business due to the implementation
of e-commerce strategies in the retail
sector of the UK. A study on Marks
and Spencer
Submitted by:
Name:
ID:

Table of Contents
Background to Research Topic........................................................................................................
Background to Research Organisation.............................................................................................
Research Rationale...........................................................................................................................
Research Questions..........................................................................................................................
Research Aims and Objectives........................................................................................................
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................
Research Approach:.........................................................................................................................
Research Strategy:...........................................................................................................................
Research Methodology:...................................................................................................................
Choice of research method.....................................................................................................4
The research philosophy.........................................................................................................4
The Research design...............................................................................................................4
Access and Ethical Issues.......................................................................................................4
Research Tools:................................................................................................................................
Sampling:.........................................................................................................................................
Timescale.........................................................................................................................................
Resources.........................................................................................................................................
References........................................................................................................................................
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Background to Research Topic
E-commerce is mainly related with the buying and selling of goods
and services through making use of some electric network of online
platform which mainly consist use of internet. E-commerce has enhanced
the productivity and inflation level for a firm by leading improved
expansion opportunity and more effective and convenient way to get in
touch with customers (Kremez and et. al., 2019). Therefore, current study
is conducted on Marks and spencer company to evaluate the impact on
performance management of a business due to the implementation of e-
commerce strategies in the retail sector of the UK.
Background to Research Organisation
The company which have been selected for current research project
is Marks and Spencer which is a major British multinational retailer. The
main headquarters of Marks and Spencer is located at London, England
and this company was formed out as a partnership between the Michael
Marks who was a Polish Jew in the early 1880s. Marks and Spencer is
having specialisation in selling clothing along with home products as well
as food products which are mostly of its own label. Beside this, M&S
currently has having more than 959 stores in various position of UK, which
comprises of 615 as the one where only sell the food products which is
presenting that its product is highly in demand and there is scope of its
further expansion (Yu, and et. al., 2017). Thus, making efficient use of e-
commerce strategies are vital and significant for Marks and Spencer to
have improved performance management within UK.
Research Rationale
The selection of current research topic is rationale as e- commerce has
become a vital concept which offers a more convenient and cost efficient
way to connect and interact with customers through making use of online
channel. Further, e-commerce is also significant to have enhanced the
scope of productivity and higher sales through providing a more
convenient way and platform for buying and selling of products. Beside
this, current study is also vital to analysis the significance and impact of e
commerce on the performance management of a firm along with analysis
of e-commerce strategies that can be adopted to have better performance
management. Further, current topic selected is also important from
personal aspects of the researcher as it tend to meet the academic as well
as the educational purpose together with ensuring an improved level of
skills and other competencies for scholars and researchers.
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Research Questions
 What is meant by the concept of e-commerce along with reviewing
the emerging need and importance ecommerce within retail sector
of UK?
 What possible impact on performance management of a business is
lead out due to the implementation of e-commerce strategies in the
retail sector of the UK?
 Which can be the some effective and latest e-commerce strategies
that can be adopted by Marks and spencer to have better
performance management in order to ensure improved growth and
success?
Research Aims and Objectives
Research Aim:
“To evaluate about the concept of e-commerce along with analysing
impact of implementation of e-commerce strategies on the performance
management of a business within the retail sector of UK”. An investigation
on Marks and spencer.
Research Objectives:
 To review about the concept of e-commerce along with it emerging
need and importance within retail sector of UK
 To determine about the impact on performance management of a
business due to the implementation of e-commerce strategies in the
retail sector of the UK.
 To recommend some effective and latest e-commerce strategies
that can be adopted by Marks and spencer to have better
performance management in order to ensure improved growth and
success.
Research Methodology
This part forms out to be a vital part of every research project that
provides information about proposed method which are utilised to conduct
an investigation (Li, M., and et. al., 2020). The research methods and
approaches which would be applied and used for conducting current
investigation on Marks and spencer are provided below together with valid
justification for their selection:
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Research Approach:
Deductive and inductive forms out to be the two most commonly
used approaches for conducting a study out of which application of
deductive form of approach is more appropriate for current investigation.
Utilisation of the deductive form of approach is projected for current study
as it is totally in line with positivism philosophy and support effective
scanning and testing of numeric facts to ensure a more specific set of
results.
Research Strategy:
It forms a vital part of every investigation which provides a base for
an investigation through stating about the tools and techniques applied
for collection and analysis of data. Action research, surrey, case study,
observation, interview, experiments, etc. forms out to be main forms of
research strategy out of which selection of survey strategy is made for
current investigation. Use of survey strategy ensures more easy and
efficient form of data collection from wider size of the population in most
cost as well as the time effective manner through making use of a
questionnaire (Janjevic and Winkenbach, 2020).
Research Methodology:
Choice of research method
There are two main methodological choices which are available while
conducting an investigation which consists of qualitative and quantitative
research method out of which qualitative comprises of detailed form of
investigation which is complex and time consuming. Thus, with respect to
current investigation, use of quantitative method of research would be
made as it ensures and leads out to easy form of the collection of data in
numeric terms. Beside this, the justification for making use of quantitative
form of research method is based on the fact that it supports collection of
numeric and statistical fact that can be effectively resented with the help
of charts and table therefore, ensures better understanding and
measurable from of research results to effectively achieve and accomplish
set objectives (He, Zhang and He, 2019).
The research philosophy
There are four common types of research philosophy which consists
of positivism, interpretivism, realism and pragmatism from which one is
selected to carry out an investigation as per the nature of research topic.
In context to current investigation which is based on analysing impact of
e- commerce on the performance management of a business, use of
positivism philosophy is proposed which would be used to conduct current
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investigation (Song, and et. al., 2021). The reason and justification behind
selecting positivism philosophy is based on the fact that it supports
objective nature of study which ensures enhanced efficiency along with
better analysis and evaluation of collected facts through leading a more
systematic and practical way of study.
The Research design
Selection of appropriate research design is important as it states and
provide the overall framework of the study through lining and connecting
all components in a logical and coherent way. Descriptive, Correlational,
Causal-Comparative/Quasi-Experimental, and Experimental Research are
four main types of research design out of which utilisation of descriptive
research design is proposed for current study on Marks and spencer (Dhir
and Dhir, 2018). The defence behind the applying descriptive research
design with respect to this particular investigation is based on the fact
that it provides and support a systematic and accurate way to describe a
population along with facilitating better analysis of a situation and
phenomena for effective research results.
Access and Ethical Issues
In order to ensures proper academic and ethical practises, the access
to collected data is only given to the researcher and tutor to maintain the
privacy and meet the purpose of conducting formal research. Further, to
overcome and mitigate the other possible ethical issues regarding the
authenticity and reliability of collected data, BERA code of ethics are also
implied and used. Further, provisions of the data protection act are also
applied to meet the set ethical consideration along with ensuring the
security and privacy of collected facts.
Research Tools:
two main sources which are available as origin of data consists of
primary as well as the secondary sources of data collection. To ensures
adequate amount of data and facts for this particular study, implication of
primary together with secondary sources of data is made. Primary
collection of data is justifiable as it provides first hand and authentic form
of data whereas use of secondary data is also appropriate as it ensures a
base and framework for study through providing knowledge about past
facts and records (Qin, Liu and Tian, 2021). Collection of primary set of
data would be gathered by use of a questionnaire as research
tool while secondary data is reviewed from online articles and
journals. Finally, analysis of primary set of data will be done through pie
charts along with the frequency table whereas secondary data would be
analysis with the help of systematic and clear literature review.
Sampling:
For current investigation, use of random sampling method is made
for selection of 45 participants from the employees of Marks and spencer.
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Timescale
Following Gantt chart is presenting timescale for current investigation:
Resources
The main resources which are applied for current study comprises of
financial resources to meet the expenses of data collection, cost of
transportation and other material used. Further, human resources are also
utilised to perform various research activity along with for better
collection of data. At last, technical resources like laptop, USB, e-library,
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smart phones etc. are also used for better collection and recording of
data.
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