Strategic Management in M&S

This assignment discusses the strategic management practices and sustainability tactics used by M&S. It explores the leadership styles within the company and examines the change management models implemented. The assignment also provides insights into the company's mission, vision, and objectives.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................3
TASK..............................................................................................................................................3
Company overview......................................................................................................................3
Strategic tools use to analyze methods of development usage by M&S.....................................4
Leadership style within M&S......................................................................................................5
Change management models use to examine tactic implementation within chosen company. . .6
Further sustainability tactic for M&S..........................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................9
RECOMMENDATION...............................................................................................................10
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Strategic management can define as development and implementation of major aims as
well as initiatives taken by companies in competitive business world. It is tactic utilize of a
venture resources in order to reach objective and goals of ventures. It requires reflection on
procedures within a company and external forces that could impact how a venture functions the
corporate world. The current assignment will be based on M&S, which falls under category of
leading fashionable brands in the United Kingdom. This study will explain usage of strategic
tools in context of analyzing approaches of development using by chosen organization.
Furthermore, it will define leadership style chosen by leader in company and would also justify
change management concepts to analyze strategic implementation at firm. This report will clarify
further sustainability strategy in regard to selected retail brand and define possible suggestions
base on overall analysis.
TASK
Company overview
M&S is one of the most popular British international retailers. The main reason behind its
popularity is selling quality products such as apparel, food items and home goods, mostly of their
own brand name (Le Thuy and Oe, 2020). It has a powerful brand embodying quality, value for
cost and practically, which appeals to many consumers and advertise target segment loyalty.
There are several factors accessible in the world of business which contributes in making brand
more successful and unique. The main organizational values of value, quality, service, trust and
innovation have consistently remained bases of company proposition.
Mission-
M&S has sustained its business in retail industry in effective manner, its mission is to
make motivated quality available to all, through depth and different products.
Vision-
Marks & Spencer vision is to be standard brand against which others are measured. They
want to become global leader by increasing customers satisfactory level and maximizing
consumer base.
The main objective of company is to inspire and excite its buyers at every turn. It always
wants to be at top and do right things.

In today’s time, M&S was rated as third leading fashionable brand across all sectors,
which in return bring several benefits to its venture.
Strategic tools use to analyze methods of development usage by M&S
In business world, strategic tools are used in context of many companies or ventures in
order to analyze their current practices, method of development and approaches use for growth
of businesses (Burgelman and et.al., 2018). Here, Ansoff matrix as effective strategic tool could
use in regard to M&S.
Market penetration-
This approach or method is quite beneficial for each company; it allows firms just like
chosen one to increase sales of existing ranges of items to current market (Jochem and et.al.,
2018). According to this tactic, M&S by focusing on increasing sales of its products to existing
target segment could develop business even better than last few months or years. It enables firm
to manage current management activities according to plan which create opportunity to develop
business in existing marketplace. With this method, company could use its items to gain attention
of new buyers.
Product development-
According to this strategy, organizations while operating their businesses in specific
sectors needs to concentrate on introducing new item or service to current market. M&S due to
its adaptive culture or behavior, adopt different development approaches and methods.
Organization since 2016 has adopt product development method in order to grow its venture in
effective and influencing manner. It is one of the most beneficial growth tactics in the world that
M&S has used. This approach has helped company to progress rapidly over years, which is quite
beneficial for venture in term of increasing sales, profits margin and productivity (Li and et.al.,
2020). With this method company develop its new items to provide to target segment as well as
new.
Market development-
It is another method or strategy of Ansoff Matrix that M&S and its chief executive officer
could use in context of business & market development. According to current approach, firm
need to concentrate on expanding business at new place or region where its workers should sell
existing products to new consumers. With this method, company could gain a lot of benefits for
example, it allows M&S to develop business at global level and gain competitive edge.

Differentiation-
M&S and its management grab current business growth and development opportunities
which enable them to reach at global level. Organization in order to develop its venture even
better can use differentiation strategy. By using this method company focus on entering
profitable market with all new buyers, which in return increase its customer base and generates
more revenue. It could use to grow venture even better than its rivals. With this opportunity
M&S build its brand image at international level.
Strategic importance to M&S-
As discussed above Marks & Spencer adopt two to three approaches and methods of
development, which are quite useful, important and beneficial for growth of its venture. It helps
to boost performance, productivity and profitability. All the strategic management approaches
bring benefits in different terms such as it contributes gaining competitive advantages,
generating revenue etc.
Leadership style within M&S
Leadership is an effective approach that enable a person or leader to motivate team of
workers and drive them towards achieving set objectives and essential goals of companies, which
is actually very important to achieve (Breevaart and Zacher, 2019). In the world of business,
there are different forms of leadership styles available such as autocratic, authoritative,
democratic, coaching, supportive and affiliative.
Steve Rowe is known as Saturday boy who change Marks & Spencer company and make
changes within its business operations in order to overcome decline of sales, which could impact
current sales, profitability and productivity level of company negatively. Croydon entrepreneur
Steve Rowe has appointed in chosen firm as chief executive officer after joining organization as
15 old year Saturday boy. He began his professional career as above name at his local M&S
outlets and not become a CEO after 33 years’ hard work which is incredible. Everything is
possible by using leadership style. From Saturday boy to Chief executive he finds lessons in
hometown outlet.
For example, Steve Rowe by using authoritative leadership style handle management
functions and organizational operations of M&S successfully. Authoritative leadership style
enables leaders like Rowe to cater appropriate directions and clear vision (Sukri and Shasrini,
2020). With this form he has effectively approach each task and initiatives from his position of

confidence. Steve Rowe with clear vision and mission take decision in context of venture which
is quite beneficial for M&S in term of increasing sales, profits margin and generate revenue even
better than last few months or years. According to selected leadership form, authoritative leader
is one who mobilize key resources at his or her control towards specific aim and concentrates all
their power into it. Marks & Spencer, chief executive work just like the above discuss way.
Archie Norman is the another person who use particular leadership style which is very
beneficial for him. As chairman of M&S he uses transformational leadership form which enable
him to transform overall business structure and operations in productive manner. Archie has
instrumental in transforming different British ventures including ASDA, Kingfisher etc. By
using chosen leadership style he lifts ups the share and revenue of organization.
Critical evaluation base on importance of leadership styles to M&S-
It could critically analyze that; Authoritative leadership style is essential in several terms
as it bring benefits for Marks & Spencer in term of providing opportunity to boost productivity
level. It develops clarity within chain of command and also creates consistent outcomes. On the
other hand, it creates lack of feedbacks and comments.
Along with this above one, transformational leadership style is also important for Brand
as it help drive management towards transforming current practices and activities towards new
one that in return increase level of production and performance. While, with transformational
style leader could develop negative results. Each effective chance offers negative outcomes. It
requires few things from users’ side such as open lines of communication with employees that in
some cases not possible.
Change management models use to examine tactic implementation within chosen company
Change management can define as approach and method in which an organization define
and implement alter within external procedure and internal environment as well. It could
consider as collective term for all methods to support, prepare and assist individuals as well as
group of people in making organizational change successful (Broska, Poganietz and Vögele,
2020). It is discipline that direct how management prepare and support workers to successfully
adopt modification in order to drive organizational results & success. In context of this term,
different types of models, theories and concepts are accessible.
By using information in case study base on M&S such as “Can the Saturday boy change
M&S”, it has been identified that Steve Rowe as Saturday boy conduct change management

activities and practices at workplace which bring benefits in term of increasing sales that has
been decline due to poor supply chain system etc. In form of strategic implementation, chief
executive officer of Marks & Spencer take decision to change structure of management which is
very beneficial and essential as well. According to this strategic implementation company wants
to come more closer to its target market. In context of this act, Change Kaleidoscope as change
management model could apply, which enable organization and management to successfully
implement change which provide desire outcomes.
It has three different rings that has been mentioned below and use to implement change-
Outer ring-
This ring of chosen model is relating to wider strategic change that company wants to
make for gaining further benefits and advantages. According to stage, management start thing
about making change in management structure.
Figure 1: Change Kaleidoscope Model
(Source: Managing Strategic Change, 2020)
Middle ring-

Just like above ring, it also relates to change procedure and decision taken by M&S. To
make strategic implementation and change management successful firm use key resources, such
as diversity, capacity, capability, power, readiness, scope etc.
Inner circle-
According to this ring, organization needs to develop plan for change, guide workers who
to perform and work with overall procedure which is beneficial for them and business as well
and provide benefits to both of them.
Style of change leadership require and type of strategic change needed-
M&S face issues due to decline to its sales and in this situation company should change
its leadership style and use appropriate one which make it capable to sustain for longer period of
time. Steve Rowe as chief executive at firm change existing style within new one and that is
Authoritative. Furthermore, management structure change as type of strategical change is require
in firm which in return boost productivity and sales level.
Above change with real one that occurred-
It critically analyzes that above change as compare to actual change in firm is beneficial
as it boosts level of productivity and increase operational efficiency which is very important to
enhance as it help to overcome decline of sales and lift up company even better than challenging
years. On the other hand, to implement change in context of management structure firm had to
spend a lot of time for making final decision and encourage people to accept the alter at
workplace which may be a time consuming act.
Further sustainability tactic for M&S
Sustainability term refer to competence to be maintained and balance at some degree. It is
essential for different reasons including environmental protection. Government and consumers
are more concern about sustainable environment and because of that they increase pressure on
whole world of business to develop sustainable tactics and plans which enable them to grow
even better in retail or other sector and supports in developing stronger brand image.
M&S in order to grow its venture more than rivals and provide benefits to target
consumers has developed effective and efficient sustainable strategy which it plan up to 2025
(M&S to relaunch Plan A sustainability strategy, 2020). By this year, firm will share net food
waster relatives to sales from its brand operated & franchised destinations all over the world
against a new developed baseline. In form of sustainable strategy company take decision to

reduce food wastage process and eliminate operational emission. Organization has already
contributed to redefine the major role its venture in society. Its contribution plan includes
improvements of environmental and social performance of M&S. Firm develop plan A through
which management execute sustainable strategy of company in systematic manner. Brand plan
reduction of carbon footprint up to 2025, by taking major actions and developing sustainable as
well as effective tactics like above one. Plan A tactic was founded in 2007 and then updated in
2017. After years’ company has taken decision in context of further sustainable strategy and then
again update the similar plan by including more valuable features that is halve food waste by
2025. The objectives of this plan mention below-
 M&S want to reduce its operational emission by 80% as compared to previous years.
 To manufacture home products and apparel by using 25% recycled materials.
 Organization objective is to eliminate emissions in its supply chain operation by 13.3
million tones.
 Company objective is to use recyclable raw materials come from sustainable sources.
The above discussion plan is strategically important in regards to M&S as it help to set
positive image of brand in mind of existing and new consumers successfully. By implementing
Plan, A and achieving all above objectives, company would gain a lot of benefits such as it
assists keeping business at top positive and boosting its brand reputation which is really very
important to enhance for firm while being operated as leading clothing retailers in the world. The
above sustainable strategy provide benefit in term of gaining attention of those buyers who
believe in environmental sustainability and conduct practices accordingly.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above discussion, it has been analyzed that M&S by considering the
needs and expectations of consumers towards its venture has manufactured each items which in
return allow firm to sustain business in retail sector for longer. It has been identified that by
using Authoritative leadership style Steve Rowe successfully increased sales level of M&S
which is quite impressive. Furthermore, by using transformational leadership form, Archie
Norman has also provided benefits to company in term of making changes within exiting
organizational management structure. It has been summarized that by following the rings and

suggestions, Marks & Spencer has gained further advantages which enable firm to grow even
better.
RECOMMENDATION
 There are many things M&S and its management could consider in order to grow
business and increase sales even better. For example, company should develop plan
through which its management would take suggestions from workers and consumers as
well relate to sustainability.
 Furthermore, firm must conduct survey and identify people perspectives about
sustainable attempts and practices which they want his or her favorite brand adopt, which
is quite beneficial and helpful.

REFERENCES
Book and Journals
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laissez‐faire leadership on followers’ trust in the leader and leader effectiveness. Journal
of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. 92(2). pp.384-409.
Broska, L.H., Poganietz, W.R. and Vögele, S., 2020. Extreme events defined—A conceptual
discussion applying a complex systems approach. Futures. 115. p.102490.
Burgelman, R.A and et.al., 2018. Strategy processes and practices: Dialogues and intersections.
Strategic management journal. 39(3). pp.531-558.
Jochem, P and et.al., 2018. Methods for forecasting the market penetration of electric drivetrains
in the passenger car market. Transport Reviews. 38(3). pp.322-348.
Le Thuy, L. and Oe, H., 2020. An Exploratory Discussion of a British Apparel Brand in Relation
to New Markets: Developing Actionable Recommendations Based on Network,
Relationship, and Collaboration Perspectives. Budapest International Research and
Critics Institute (BIRCI-Journal): Humanities and Social Sciences. 3(3). pp.1660-1675.
Li, L and et.al., 2020. Use of Model-Informed Drug Development to Streamline Development of
Long-Acting Products: Can these Successes Be Translated to Long-Acting Hormonal
Contraceptives?. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 61.
Sukri, A. and Shasrini, T., 2020. Leadership Style of Multinational Corporations: A brief review.
International Journal of Media and Communication Research. 1(1). pp.1-11.
Online
M&S to relaunch Plan A sustainability strategy. 2020. [Online]. Available Through: <
https://www.edie.net/news/7/M-S-to-relaunch-Plan-A-sustainability-strategy/#:~:text=In
%202017%2C%20the%20strategy%20was,M%26S's%20approved%20science
%2Dbased%20target.>
Managing Strategic Change. 2020. [Online]. Available Through: <
https://kfknowledgebank.kaplan.co.uk/business-strategy/strategy-into-action/managing-
strategic-change#:~:text=The%20change%20kaleidoscope%20was%20developed,the
%20wider%20strategic%20change%20context.>