Marks and Spencer CSR Strategy Analysis

This assignment analyzes Marks and Spencer's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. It examines the company's CSR goals, the techniques used to achieve them, such as Gantt charts and market research, and their overall impact on the business. The analysis highlights the importance of CSR in improving products, services, and customer relationships.

Managing Successful Business
Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Aims and objectives of Marks & Spencer.........................................................................3
P2 Project management plan incorporating cost, time, scope and quality and communication. 4
P3 A work break down structured and a Gantt chart to provide time frames and stages for
completion..............................................................................................................................6
TASK 2 ..........................................................................................................................................7
P4 Research on objectives by using appropriate research method.........................................7
INTERPRETATION............................................................................................................10
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................19
P5 Data analysis...................................................................................................................19
P6 Recommendation for the company.................................................................................20
P7 Reflection on research.....................................................................................................20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23

INTRODUCTION
Corporates which are generating huge revenues and profits from the society has a ethical
responsibility to return the benefits from a different way. So they have to provide a social
benefits to the society by which they can gain social ethics by using CSR activities which can
increase their brand image in the market (Ajmal, Helo and Kekäle, 2010). The present report is
based on the Marks and Spencer which is a leading supermarket of the UK. This report is having
content on the CSR activities and plans which can increase the brand value of the organisation.
TASK 1
P1 Aims and objectives of Marks & Spencer
CSR is an approach which is focused to improve their social welfare by the company and
it improves the business relations with all stakeholders and especially with the customers (Anand
and Fosso Wamba, 2013). CSR manage the business police. It is a management concept of
business. If an organisation like; Marks and Spencer want to achieve their objectives and goals
they can adopt CSR activities for full fill their targets and they can deliver best services to their
customers. One other advantage of these activities that company can create their brand image
and attract the clients of different groups.
Topic: “how can CSR activities helps to achieve organisational goals and objectives.”
Background: When employees of Marks & Spencer adopting CSR activities they can improve
their quality of product and attract large number of people. The ultimate objective of a company
is to earn maximum profit and for that managers have to prepare plans which are related to needs
of enterprises. CSR set the corporate social responsibility of business plan it supported the
business master plan. CSR impact on market and society and increasing the positivity influence.
There are some points of objective of CSR . It will also helps to expend market share of a
company. One another important benefit for adopting this that company can increase the sales of
their products.
Aims:- To enhance the profits by implementing CSR activities in the actual conditions.
Objectives:
1. To maximise the revenues by adopting CSR activities.
2. To attain organisational objectives to be in the targeted market of the company.
3. To analyse the significance of the CSR for the company.

P2 Project management plan incorporating cost, time, scope and quality and communication
It helps to implement project in the actual conditions which can help to the project
developer and implementer accordingly (Andersen, 2010). There is a project manager who leads
the project, and makes plan for the execution of project by taking inputs from project team and
stakeholder. Project management plans are created progressively which leads to develop, refine,
revisiting. The project management plan is not created at once but it is created in various
processes. It is made to execute the proper planning on the project that are assigned to team. It
has the combination of baseline and other associated line plans. In this manager of project
management team divides the task to their team so that every aspect of project can be fulfilled.
Project management plan covers every aspects as costs, scope of project, time required, quality,
communication, risk and resources.
Time: This factors is very important when a company produce goods and services they have to
deliver them on time to customers. Employees have to complete their work so they can full fill
organisational objectives. Managers prepare plans in which they decide time for every activity so
workers can enhance their skills and performance in market. It is also important for manager of
Marks and Spencer to give motivation and proper training to their subordinates so they can
complete their work with in time. Activities of CSR is completing in 3 months which is enough
for an organisation to complete a task.
Cost: The main aim of an organisation to decrees the cost and increase profits. Supervisors of
marks and Spencer have to adopt new strategies to minimise their cost from raw material to
manufacturer so they can deliver better prices of goods and services to their customers
(Chesbrough, 2010). If organisation do not give their best prices to their customers than they will
able to sustain in the market for long time. Apart from that enterprises have to cover their cost of
production and also maximise profits. Over all activities which are conducted in this research
will consume around Pound 1000 which is 10% higher than the last CSR implementation project.
Resources: This includes that company have both type of resources such as natural and men
made. Organisation have to adopt strategies and prepare plans to optimum utilisation of
resources. It will also helps to develop quality of products and services which are delivered to
customers. Employees can achieve their targets in effective manner. Ultimately it will help to
increase the revenue of enterprises.

Quality: It is another important component when a plan is prepared for production. It includes
consistency in production for example if marks & Spence produce 1000 units per day that it is
important they should follow quality standards when produce goods and services. If company
not produce quality products that it will be difficult for survival of that organisation because this
factor is directly affect profits of company. If a company can not achieve quality in production
that adoption of CSR is not benificial for that organisation.
Communication: It include that company have a sufficient communication channels for
communicating between employees. Organisation have formal and informal communication
channels by which subordinates connecting with each other. The manager have to decide proper
channel of communication so it will helps to full fill organisational goals and it will also helps to
quick decision making in the organisation.
Risk: Every business have their own risk. There is responsibility of manager that they reduce
risk by risk management. For this purpose manager can adopt some strategies by which risk can
be decrease in activities. It will helps to achieve organisational goals and target more efficiently.
Scope: When employees of Marks& Spencer conduct research, they can identify needs and
preferences of their customers. It will also helps to create brand value in market.
Project Management Plan

P3 A work break down structured and a Gantt chart to provide time frames and stages for
completion
Work breakdown structure: Work breakdown structure is a hierarchical project into phase which
included deliverables and work packages. It is a plant structure process that can define sub part
of effort to achieve the goal and objectives (Doherty, Ashurst and Peppard, 2012). The work
breakdown structure issues a common framework for the natural increase of the overall planning
and control of the partition of the work into the clear out the supplement from the declaration of
work can be improved and technical, schedule, price and material and labour hour reporting can
be fixed.
1. Aims and objectives: This is first stage of structure. the work break down structure
includes determine aims and objectives of a organisation. It include what a company want
from their operations. manager of Marks & Spencer is decides main goals and objectives
of a company for this purpose manger can also adopt CSR activities for defining
objectives of enterprises.
2. Project management plans: After setting goals and objectives of a company, manager
have to prepare plans for full fill that objectives. For this purpose there should be a
project manager who operate the activities of CSR which are helps to prairie project
plans. When project manager of Marks & Spencer prepare plan he should consider that it
relates with the organisational objectives.
3. Qualitative research: This is third stage of break down structure in which managers of
marks & Spencer conduct a research for collecting the data from different customers and
clients. This include a survey conducted by employees of organisation. CSR play
important role in this stage.
4. Analysis of data: When a manager conduct research after that they should analyse the
data which is collected from investigation. This analysis helps to take major decisions in
the organisation related to fulfilment of objectives and goals.
5. Recommendations for organisation: Last stage of break down structure is give
recommendations which is based ion the qualitative research and data analysis. It
includes any changes and improvement which are based on the the previous
investigation.

Gantt Chart: The Gantt chart is a map concept that can be done in similar and which can be
done by continues. It is the combination of the project report that we can explain the trade off
between the scope of work in the concept. Gantt chart can be establish the initial project system
and it can be also allocate the resource or the project. And that is define the report problems.
Gantt charts are not the correct all the time they can become overly complex with many activities
(Gareis, 2010). It is much better to create a clear and easily plan that define the work package in
short processor. Gantt chart is usually filled out the information. In this process the first step that
can identify the projects essential tasks.
TASK 2
P4 Research on objectives by using appropriate research method
It is essential to conduct a research to get outcomes for implementation of CSR in the
actual conditions. As the Marks and Spencer wants to implement CSR so it is essential to know
in which area they can conduct it. So an appropriate research method will be used to gather
informations by the company members. Some of the methods are here;

Qualitative research- This is a method which is used to to gather suggestions and opinion on
particular topic of targeted audiences. The data here are very exploratory and it gives a detailed
information of the research topic and defies the reasons and gives opinions about the topic. It is a
kind of research which also helps in finding out what a person is thinking and also give a
relevant reason of his thoughts (Kowalkowski, Kindström and Brehmer, 2011). Following things
that a qualitative research let us know are-
What a Prospect is thinking and feeling about our products and services.
What are the motivating factors of the customers.
How decision making get affected by the pricing
This research is basically about the detailed information of the behaviour and attitude of the
people.
Quantitative research- This method is use to collect numerical data which can help to
researcher to take a decision. In this type of research a structured facts and opinion of the people
are studied. Suitable figures, facts and reliable statistical are extracted by this research.
Following are the things that we come to know about from this research method-
 Do we have a suitable market.
 Awareness of our product in the market.
 Buying behaviour of the customers.
 Do we have more demands for our products and services.
Methods of quantitative research are as-
1. Aim to measure things
2. Approach should be scientific and the objective should be fulfilled.
3. One on one researcher
4. Postal methods
5. Electronic mailing
6. Self centralised.
By following procedure we come to know how the research is done and what all cafeterias are
there to analyse the various aspects of the topic. A sample is presented below to understand the
core aspect of the research study. As this research is based on the CSR and take a review from
the employees of the employees of the company. So qualitative research method will be used to

gather informations by workers of organisation which can help to implement CSR in appropriate
manner.
Survey report of qualitative research method
Name-
Age-
Gender-
1)Does Mark and Spencer's CSR strategy show a positive impact?
 Yes
 No
2) Is there any relationship you find in between CSR and competitive benefits?
 Yes
 No
3) Are you agreeing that the basic responsibility of Mark and Spencer is implementing the CSR
activity?
 Agree
 Strongly agree
 Neutral
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
4)Which all problems were faced by Mark and Spencer?
 Women's right
 Child labour
 Safety of employees
5)What are the initiatives taken by Mark and Spencer?
 Empowering women
 Health related measures.
 Environmental factors.
6)What are the feasible references to enforce CSR activities?
 Voluntary organisations
 Charity events
 Providing fiscal assistance.

7)Who is responsible for the CSR implementation.?
 HR Departments.
 Leaders and management
 Administration.
8)Suggest some strategies to be included in CSR by Mark and Spencer?
 Line departments
 Trust Foundation
 Different department of CSR.
INTERPRETATION
Theme 1: Positive impacts of CSR
Findings: 80% people said that CSR is having potentials to make a positive impact on the
company.
Theme: 2 Relationship in between CSR and competitive benefits
Yes No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
16
4

Findings: 70 people which are involved in this research has agreed that CSR is having positive
relation with the competitive benefits.
Theme 3: CSR is basic responsibility.
Yes No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
14
6
Agree strongly agree Neutral disagree Strongly disagree
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
4
6
2
6
2

Findings: 50% of the people said yes that company is having CSR is basic responsibility of the
company.
Theme 4: Problem faced by Marks and Spencer
Findings: People's which are involved in this survey, around 40% people said that safety of
employees is the main problem of the company.
Theme 5: Initiatives of the company.
Findings: 50% of people are highly believes that environmental changes initiative has to be taken
by organisation.
Empowering women
health related measures
environmental factors
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
4
6
10
Women's right Child labour Safety of employees
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
6 6
8

Theme 6: Feasible references for CSR
Findings: 50% people said that company has to make charity events for the CSR actvities to
involve public in it.
Theme 7: CSR implementation
Findings: Management and leaders are having the main role in the CSR implementation around
60% people said it.
Theme 8: Strategies in CSR
Voluntary organisations Charity events Providing fiscal assistance.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
6
10
4
HR departments Management and leaders administration
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
4
12
4

Findings: 60% people which are involved in the survey has agreed on a separate department for
the CSR activities.
From the above survey it can be concluded that Mark and Spencer in successful in fulfilling the
CSR. The company is also benefited in facing the competition of the outside market as the
organisation is carrying out the responsibility of implementing CSR with the help of the HR
department of Marks and Spencer. In order to do the improvement in the management of CSR
for the company Mark and Spencer can establish a different department for it. It will help the
governing body in taking effective decisions regarding the CSR. As from the report it is analysed
that the company is helping in women empowerment through the charity programmes it develops
a good image of the organisation in the business world.
Log Book
Project Logbook for the chosen organisation: Marks and Spencer
Name of the Learner: Name of the supervisor:
Project title: Date:
Update of weekly research/ tasks achieved
(Account
for a minimum of six weeks with dates)
Line departments
Trust foundation
Different departments for CSR
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2
6
12

 What have you completed?
 Did you fulfil Task requirements?
 Are you on track and within deadlines set?
 Did you need to make any changes to your
project management plan?
A questionnaire to analyse the needs of the
customers.
Yes
Yes
No
Any risks and / or issues identified?
 Did you identify risks/issues with a lack of
skills required for undertaking research tasks?
 Did you identify any additional risks/issues
that
have an impact on the project management
plan?
Yes
Yes, e learning skills
Cost of the project can be increased by the
external factors
Problems encountered
 What barriers did you face?
 How did you overcome them?
Communication with the targeted audience and
use of technology
By taking help of the seniors
New Ideas and change of project direction By using the e mails company can makes an
effective communication with the targeted
customers

What Have I learnt about myself this week?
 How did I feel when I had to deal with
tasks/problems?
 Did I find it useful to complete the tasks?
 How well have I performed? What did I
contribute?
 What can I improve on next week?
 How might this learning apply in the future?
I am having a need to improve use of
technology.
Nervous
E learnings is essential to complete tasks
I have performed according to my skills
By improve my learnings from the internet
in the next project
Tasks planned for next week
 Which tasks are priorities?
 Have you set aside sufficient time for
completion?
Use of internet to gather informations
Yes, 2 hours to complete my learnings
Project plan status to date (on, ahead, behind)
Supervisor comments to address
Signature of the Supervisor and date:
Week 2
What have you completed? Result achieved about the CSR

What was the threat? Data could be lost during the research.
What were the problems encountered? Technical problems were faced
Week 3
What were the risks and issues? Risk of lower quality data
What all problems were encountered ? In analysis of data
Any new ideas and change of project direction Use of better techniques to make research
Learnings planning for Next Week To use data analysis techniques
Week 4
What were the Risks and Issues? Distribution of the social sectors
Did you faced any Problem? Divide parts of the research in to the
employees
New ideas and Change of project direction? Use of technology and experienced employees
Learnings planning for Next Week? Simple question for targeted audience
Week 1-5 Days Task Achievements
1.1 Update on weekly research Data on the CSR
1.2 Risks and Issues First day Threat of irrelevant data
1.3 Problems encountered Second Day Communication
1.4 New ideas and Change of
project direction
Third Day Use of technology
1.5 Learnings Fourth Day Effective questions have to put
1.6 planning for Next Week Fifth Day Better question which can help

to get exact data
1.7 Project plan Sixth Day Targeting on regular customers
1.8 Supervisor comments Seventh Day Improvements needed
Week 2 Days Achievements
1.1 Update on weekly research Results on the CSR
1.2 Risks and Issues First Day Loss of data
1.3 Problems encountered Second day Technicals
1.4 New ideas and Change of
project direction
Third day Use of experienced employees
1.5 Learnings Fourth day Use of technology to make
survey
1.6 planning for Next Week Fifth day Research from the market
1.7 Project plan Sixth day People related to the
companies activities
1.8 Supervisor comments Seventh Day Need improvements
Week 3 Days Achievements
1.1 Update on weekly research Results related to the CSR
activities
1.2 Risks and Issues First Day Risk of lower quality data
1.3 Problems encountered Second day In analysis of data
1.4 New ideas and Change of
project direction
Third day Use of better techniques to
make research
1.5 Learnings Fourth day To use data analysis techniques
1.6 planning for Next Week Fifth day Researches in to the markets

1.7 Project plan Sixth day A questionnaire related to the
CSR
1.8 Supervisor comments Seventh day Effective work
Week 4 Days Achievements
1.1 Update on weekly research Needs of the society
1.2 Risks and Issues First day Distribution of the social
sectors
1.3 Problems encountered Second day Divide parts of the research in
to the employees
1.4 New ideas and Change of
project direction
Third day Use of technology and
experienced employees
1.5 Learnings Fourth day Simple question for targeted
audience
1.6 planning for Next Week Fifth day Research on the social needs
1.7 Project plan Sixth Day By using technology and
effective issues
1.8 Supervisor comments Seventh day Impressive work
Week 5 Days
1.1 Update on weekly research Environmental needs of the
people
1.2 Risks and Issues First Day Different point of views of
people
1.3 Problems encountered Second day Decide a point to discuss with
the targeted audience

1.4 New ideas and Change of
project direction
Third day Use of employees which are
related to the points
1.5 Learnings Fourth day Human behaviours
1.6 planning for Next Week Fifth day Better work has to be provided
by the managers so they have
to make a proper plan on the
questionnaire.
1.7 Project plan Six day A questionnaire distribution by
the mails to the selected
customers
1.8 Supervisor comments Seventh day Better idea
TASK 3
P5 Data analysis
Many of organisations are using these techniques of researches, which are given under
here:
Qualitative research: This is a scientific method of research used for knowing the answer of a
question to collect findings and and evidence (Shehu and Akintoye, 2010).
Methods of doing qualitative research
• Individual interviews
•Focus groups
•Observations
•Action research
As the company wants to improve their products and services as per the customer demands so it
is essential for them to make proper analysis of the customers (Meredith and Mantel Jr, 2011).
So they have used qualitative method which is effective to analyse the customers view and
thoughts against to the company.

P6 Recommendation for the company
CSR activities are the essential element for the company to improve their brand image, so
it is essential for the company to find out those causes and issues on which they can improve
their products and services to provide better services as per the requirement of the customers. So
they have to make proper market and customers research which can help to the managers and
leaders of the Marks and Spencer to betterment in the activities. It is essential for the managers to
analyse the customer's expectations so they have to conduct regularly a customer analysis
(Meskendahl, 2010). So it is essential for the marketing managers to analyse the customers
which are regularly their supermarkets, and they have to take a personal feedback of them
regarding to the products and services. It can help to the company to analyse those points on
which they can make their improvements. As the company is having big structure so they have to
make a proper research on the stakeholders which are working in the organisation so it is
essential for the company to meet the expectations of the employees. At the last managers and
leaders have to make proper decisions to select a strategy to improve their products and services
and as well as they have to consider their employees also in the betterment scheme. Most of the
people which are involved in the research has said that CSR is significant for the organisation so
Marks and Spencer has to conduct this on yearly basis. They have to use in making a customer
relations which can help to them to improve their sales and yearly profits. They have to select an
area in which they can conduct CSR and they have to make a separate budget for it to implement
it.
P7 Reflection on research
Research is an essential element for the company to increase and improve their work as
per the targeted objectives of the managers and leaders (Müller and Turner, 2010). Marks and
Spencer can meet out their objectives by making a proper plan on the CSR activities. So they
have to make their activities in a proper manner which can increase the benefits on the social
responsibilities of the company. As the Marks and Spencer are having social corporate
responsibility to impro0ve their products and services as per the demands of the customers so it
is essential for them to analyse the needs of the customers and make their improvements
accordingly. So in the firs they have to make a proper research on the demands, needs and
expectations of the customers from them which can increase and improve the products and
services of the company to provide better satisfaction to the customers. So it is essential for the

company to make a proper analysis before making a strategy on the objectives. It can help them
to make better working activities as per the requirements of the customers and stakeholders of
the company. One more thing which is they have to use appropriate tools and techniques in the
market researches and customers researches to improve their working capabilities as per the
needs and demands of the consumers (Rosemann and vom Brocke, 2015). As they are using a
primary data researches methods which are appropriate to find out the needs and demands of the
customers but they have to use a personal interviews also which can help to the company to
enhance the effectiveness against their needs. After it it is essential for the managers which are
working in the marketing field to make objectives which are effective for the company and as
well as for the stakeholder to improve their workings. In the order to to achieve the target and
objectives managers and leaders have to make appropriate strategies against to the objectives. It
can help to the company to make their business activities according to expectations of the
customers which wants a better product with in the cost effective prices. So they have to find out
faults and causes which are consuming the finance which can be reduced by the managers and
leaders to make an effective strategy on them (Shattock, 2010). So these are some points on
which company can develop CSR activities to improve their products and services.
As I have conducted this research on the CSR implementation in the Marks and Spencer,
it is tough to determine accurate objectives so I have take support of previous researches which
are available on the internet. Here in this report, I have done project management plan which
helps to learn it's significance in the implementation of project. I have made Gantt chart in the
MS project which helps to accomplish different task in a particular time frames. I have observed
about better research method according to need and how to use it gather informations. So these
all about the project implementation which I have done in the pre decided time limits.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above report it as been concluded that, marks and Spencer is an
international retailing company which have to various types of techniques in order to improve
their performance in international market. They have to opted Gantt chart which can bale to
improve work quality and provide an opportunity to earn more profit. Researches are help them
to meet their set of target and objectives. Appropriate research tools such as qualitative and
quantitative techniques which are help to identify current market demand of their customer.

Organization have to provide better customer services to the people in order to attract large
number of customers and enhance their revenue margin as well.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals