Impact of Globalisation on Corporate Structures of John Lewis & Partners

RESEARCH
PROJECT

Table of Contents
TITLE .............................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Overview of the research............................................................................................................3
Research aim ..............................................................................................................................4
Research question .......................................................................................................................4
Rationale of the study..................................................................................................................5
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................5
Importance of globalisation on corporate structures of Lewis & Partners..................................5
Challenges faced by John Lewis & Partners for business expansion within the organisation’s
structure.......................................................................................................................................6
Ways for overcoming issues of globalisation over business activities of an organisation
associated with the structure.......................................................................................................6
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................7
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION (2000)...............................................................11
Data Interpretation ........................................................................................................................13
Theme 1: The importance of globalisation on corporate structures of lewis & partners..........21
Theme 2: The challenges faced by John Lewis & Partners for business expansion within the
organisation’s structure.............................................................................................................22
Theme 3: The ways for overcoming issues of globalisation over business activities of an
organisation associated with the structure.................................................................................22
RESEARCH OUTCOMES ...........................................................................................................23
Covered in PPT.........................................................................................................................23
REFLECTION AND RECOMMENDATION FOR ALTERNATIVE RESERACH
METHODOLOGY........................................................................................................................23
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................23
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................24
.......................................................................................................................................................24

TITLE
To investigate the impact of globalisation on the corporate structures of large
multinational companies and the major challenges they face. A study on John Lewis & Partners
(The Harlequin Centre, High St, Watford WD17 2TW, United Kingdom).
INTRODUCTION
Overview of the research
Globalisation refers as the connection of various parts of the globe resulting in the
enlargement of international political, economic and cultural activities. In addition to this,
globalisation is the movement and also integration of people and goods among number of
nations. Along with this, corporate structure of an organisation is consist of different departments
that plays an essential role towards achievement of company's overall goals and mission. There
are some common departments within an organisation such as marketing, finance, human
resource, information technology and operation (Rowley, 2017). Along with this, CFOs, vice
presidents and presidents of the company also consider main part of corporate structure. For this
research report, John Lewis & Partners is a chosen organisation. It is a chain of high-end
department stores that operates its business throughout the Great Britain. It is a multinational
organisation that was founded in 1864 by John Lewis and headquartered in London, United
Kingdom. There are number of departments in this company that have an effective and important
role in accomplishment of long term goals and objectives of company.
Globalisation leads to maximised competition for an organisation. This competition can
be related to cost and price of product and service, technological adaptation, target market, quick
production, quick response by companies etc. When an organisation produce with less amount of
cost and sells cheaper, it is much more able to maximise its market share and profitability.
Globalisation have direct impact on corporate structure of John Lewis & Partners. Globalisation
have significant impact on human resource department and management when an organisation
expands its operations into international market (Choudhary and et. al., 2018). In this, companies
require to consider a different range of practical adjustments to be more able to recruit, train,
retain and help a workforce that is often spread throughout some nations, which also have
varying cultural identities. Apart from this, global market threats and opportunities are main
effects of globalisation on marketing department of John Lewis & Partners. As it will help an
organisation in promotion and marketing of its product and services to the customers and in the

marketplace. It turn to support company by increasing its sales and maximising number of
customers easily. Thus, globalisation have direct impact over corporate structure of company.
Apart from this, there are some challenges of globalisation that going to be faced by John Lewis
& Partners while enter into international market. These challenges mainly related to trade
barriers, costs of transportation, competition, political, economical and social risks (McDonald
and Thorpe, 2016). These are major challenges that negatively impact on different functions
within an organisation.
Research aim
“To investigate the impact of globalisation on the corporate structures of large
multinational companies and the major challenges they face.” A study on John Lewis & Partners.
Research question
Q1) Exploring the impact of globalisation on the corporate structure John Lewis?
1. What are the importance of globalisation on corporate structures of Lewis & Partners?
2. What are the challenges faced by John Lewis & Partners for business expansion within
the organisation’s structure?
3. What are the ways for overcoming issues of globalisation over business activities of an
organisation associated with the structure?
Research objectives
 To identify the importance of globalisation on corporate structures of Lewis & Partners.
 To analyse challenges faced by John Lewis & Partners for business expansion within the
organisation’s structure.
 To Recommend ways for overcoming issues of globalisation over business activities of
an organisation associated with the structure.

Rationale of the study
Main reason for doing this research project is to exploring impact of globalisation on
corporate structure of company. Globalisation have to influenced on different functions within an
organisation (North and Kumta, 2018). Along with this, for analysing impact of globalisation
over corporate structure of John Lewis & Partners, this research will be conducted in the
Harlequin Centre, High St, Watford WD17 2TW, United Kingdom. Main rationale behind
selecting this place is, John Lewis & Partners have its operations in different nations but in
United Kingdom, company have number of outlets. It is significant for researcher to analysis
opinion of employees about the globalisation and its impact on corporate structure of John Lewis
& Partners.
This research is important for an individual and academic level. In personal level, with
the help of this investigation, an individual can easily improve their understanding about the
globalisation process and its impact on different functions of company. If this research is
published into market, it is beneficial in academic level because it support students and many
other organisation by providing actual information regarding the impact of globalisation on
corporate structure of companies.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Importance of globalisation on corporate structures of Lewis & Partners
According to the viewpoint of Sutcliffe, and Glyn, (2019), globalisation has changed the
way in which business is done. For meeting the need of globalisation, top level managers have
to design organisation structure that is adaptive with the changing environment. There are
basically three types of structural organisation among the global organisations such as divisional
structure, functional structure and global matrix structure. Functional structure groups
individuals into functional departments such as marketing, operations, R&D, finance, etc.
divisional structure is defined as dividing into sub types such as global product division structure
and global geographic division structure. The product division within the Lewis & Partners is
responsible for global operations in particular product area in global product structure. The
division manager of this company is responsible for various organisational functions like
organising, planning and controlling different functions for producing and distributing products
for any market in the world. Global product structure is grateful for managing different activities

of the company. The changing managerial role within global organisation is present. While
working at global level, the different roles that organisation has to play include allowing people
to specialise and perform their roles effectively.
Challenges faced by John Lewis & Partners for business expansion within the organisation’s
structure
According to the viewpoint of Shastri, Shastri and Pareek (2019), there are various
challenges faced by Lewis & Partners for business expansion within the organisation's structure.
The main problem faced by this company was political hindrance and economic problems. It was
ensured by the management of this company that this company only invests in those markets
where political stability is present. Also this company emphasises on doing well in business by
analysing all the economic factors of the country before investing in it's market. Unfamiliar
culture is also an issue that arises while doing business in different countries. It is essential for
this company to overcome these challenges in order to accomplish organisational objectives and
goals.
Management of this company undergoes various researches before starting business in
new market. There is also opportunity for this company to establish it's position within global
market. There are various countries that have some kind of tariff or fee for companies that are
bringing goods and products from different countries (Pereira, Malik and Froese, 2017).
Company has to pay different type of fees depending upon the amount of tariff that company is
paying.
Ways for overcoming issues of globalisation over business activities of an organisation
associated with the structure
From the views of Cinquanta (2019), Globalisation is a term which describe how various
countries, people and businesses across the global are connected to each other in various ways
such as technology, transportation, good and services in the atmosphere. Their are different
structure format in the organisation which have some difficulty in conducting the activities at all
the levels of the organisation. Their are various problem in the architecture of the organisation
structure which needs to be taken care in the companies like solving the communication across
the business activity. Sometimes less developed nation faces problem with the new technologies
which are coming up in the market and having different organisation structure which are to be
taken care on time and decrease the side effect of globalisation and improve the performance of