Globalization and Barclays: A Case Study of Global Business Expansion

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How Globalisation can drive success of the business: A Case of Barclays increasing their
financial and banking services
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Abstract
The research project initializes on the advent of how globalisation can drive business success, a
case of Barclays working their financial and banking services to expand globally. The project is
devised with aims and objectives where the purpose is to witness how the impact of globalisation
is dramatically expanding Barclays’ business venture. Besides, a small literature is being devised
to analyse the impact of globalisation, along with the success Barclays has towards their business
operations. Further, the methodology carried out is implicated on a small-scale survey where 30
employees of Barclays would be chosen to find their responses. This will be evidenced with the
help of research outcomes on the key findings of the survey research. Moreover, a reflection with
the help of recommendations will be carried out to conclude the research.

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Acknowledgement
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my supervisors for their guidance and support.
Without their gracious co-operation, it would not have been possible for me to complete this
research work by covering all the aspects of research.
Thanking you

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Table of Contents
a. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4
Background of the research.........................................................................................................4
Rationale for selecting topic........................................................................................................4
Research Aim...............................................................................................................................4
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................5
Research Questions......................................................................................................................5
b. Literature Review........................................................................................................................5
Impact of globalisation in banking..............................................................................................5
Success of globalisation to expand Barclays’ financial operations.............................................6
Challenges faced by Barclays while increasing its business venture globally............................7
c. Research Methodology................................................................................................................8
Research Approach......................................................................................................................8
Research Method.........................................................................................................................8
Data Collection and technique.....................................................................................................8
Sampling......................................................................................................................................9
Ethical issues...............................................................................................................................9
Gantt chart...................................................................................................................................9
d. Data Analysis and Interpretations..............................................................................................10
Quantitative analysis..................................................................................................................10
e. Research Outcomes....................................................................................................................18
f. Reflection and Recommendations for alternative methodology................................................22
Reflection...................................................................................................................................22
Recommendations for using alternative method.......................................................................22
g. Conclusion.................................................................................................................................22

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References......................................................................................................................................24
Appendix: Survey questions..........................................................................................................26

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a. Introduction
Background of the research
Globalisation presently is regarding as a key technological and innovation process that integrates
economies of the world with movement of services, and goods across the capital borders. As the
marketplace grows, the opportunities and resources also make large growth factor. The result can
be more competitive in terms of labour, and production efficiency. It also helps to increase the
potential market with economic gains and customers. This phase of the research is on Barclays,
UK that is integrating to advance their financial services in the market, so that they can compete
with HSBC, Lloyds and RBS (Home.barclays, 2019). Barclays has tentatively focused on young
people across their network, so that financial and banking operations can be increased largely.
Presently, Barclays is intending to deliver strong returns, just by building strength as the
transatlantic customers and the wholesale bank, through their global reach (Crane and Matten,
2016). Now, the phase of globalisation will analyse how these banking giants will find
competitive advantage on the success of their business frontier.
Rationale for selecting topic
The topic selected in the urn as globalisation currently has been the pioneer to drive success for
many MNCs. It is emerging and increasing because of the setting of the company’s position in a
unique trait so that hiring and marketing process is done by analysing the local talent, identifying
the competitive advantage and setting timely goals for company’s development. Now, Barclays
has been selected in this research because the company has a diverse portfolio in their business
where rapid digitisation in banking is transforming every wish of client and customer (Wood and
Wilberger, 2015). Besides, the acceleration in their payments technology is making it possible to
move money for business, at a lower cost (Investmentbank.barclays.com, 2017). Moreover, the
size of the capital markets is also supporting the economic growth pattern in parts of UK, and
globally at a rapid pace.

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Research Aim
The aim of the research is to understand the positive impact of globalization in the business of
Barclays in terms of increasing their financial and banking operations.
Research Objectives
 To understand the impact of globalization in the financial sector through business success
 To examine how Barclays have expanded their business in the era of globalization
 To identify the key problems experienced by Barclays through their expansion with
globalization
Research Questions
1. How success of globalization is helping Barclays to expand their business globally?
2. What are the major impacts of globalization that Barclays has experienced?
3. What challenges faced by Barclays to expand their success of business venture globally?
b. Literature Review
Impact of globalisation in banking
As opined by Aggarwal (2011), the age of globalisation for Barclays began with a strategic step,
and it is now relying on thousand employees. It has been customer-focused, so that the corporate
structure can be developed well. Their phase of development has been towards an Open Plan
Programme that is available in major markets to allow customers to decrease mortgage costs by
offsetting them with money, which they hold in checking accounts and savings. According to
Cooper (2013), the age of the new sphere of globalisation has been a success to many financial
firms, just like Barclays in UK. It is just allowing them to attain competitive advantage, or
diversifying through mergers. A key phase is the technological revolution of internet that is
changing the competitive landscape of the financial services globally. Since financial institution
is operating highly in their own market, it is catering its services with the demands through a mix
of customer segments.

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Another phase may be the market deregulation that is forced by the financial institutions is
prioritising the goals by shifting focus from the transaction processing to more customer focused.
In EU, a policy change also has enabled the banking operations and other financial institutions,
just to extend the operations across member states (Wang et al. 2011). With the increased phase
of globalisation, the recent pathway of innovation towards IT and communications has resulted
in a decrease in the diseconomies of the scale when brought up by business costs. They are
already contemplating with the limelight of geographical expansion hugely. From the opinion of
Lee, et al. (2012), the bank websites and ATM networks has also enabled effective long distance
interactions between customers and the institutions, which are hugely dependent on less financial
transactions in a continuous basis for a business.
Success of globalisation to expand Barclays’ financial operations
The management of Barclays bank during 2003 intended to accelerate their performance in their
bank, due to developing capabilities around the world when customers choose a bank in markets,
and creating faster growth through shareholder value. In that state, Barclays found acquisition
with Absa, South African bank where it was a market leader during 2005. Now, the impact of
globalisation has paced Barclays with a dreadful force in the international banking as the iconic
brand. In the recent years, Hickson and Pugh (2014) have opined that the business portfolio has
heavily increased since the fortunes of the shareholders are dependent on doing business in one
single country. Barclays is also trying to prioritize on their commercial banking operations
outside UK, in order to expand their global businesses like Barclays Wealth through private
banking, Barclaycard with credit loans, cards and other insurance products, and Barclays’ global
investors with asset management. From the opinion of Soltes and Gavurova (2015), the new
vision of globalisation has articulated Barclays, so that their shareholders will invest for future
growth. In that quest, the company is also integrating in the minds of the employees, and the
other community involved. Hence, the criterion is to serve the customers, so that they can
comply with regulatory and legal needs, just to maintain the financial controls.
Ceniga and Sukalova (2015) also discussed that the company is serving its customers such that
the range from individual mortgage holders in Manchester, England to companies managing risk
by complex derivatives in tax jurisdictions. They have promoted synergies in Global retail &
Commercial Banking and the Invest Banking and Investment Management department too. Their

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execution was mainly put into an agenda where they try to develop a balance of talent
development with phase of selective recruitment (Pfeffermann, 2016). As the customer base is
their ideal decision to choose the financial service provider, they maintain good relations.
Challenges faced by Barclays while increasing its business venture globally
According to Razak et al. (2016), globalisation has always been a phenomenon that carries out
diverse viewpoints but certain challenges may arise like carrying the ethical business, paying
back to communities, and addressing social responsibility. These were not known 50 years ago
before globalisation landed their pace with succession. Barclays is highly challenged, not just to
deliver the business performance but also to serve back communities with issues of fighting
poverty where it is been operating. Even, the economic challenge faced by Barclays is also
addressing issue regarding the credit crunch (Aggarwal, 2011). In that case, recessed economy is
restricting the economic development of many nations where it is operating. As such, the
management is also is the urn to take few decisions like the job redundancies to foster equality in
globalisation. Hence, this will decide results for global economic integration and flow of capital
across national boundaries within the economy of the bank (Lee, et al. 2012). A major issue that
Barclay has also faced is the technological advancement, which is a key driver for the change
experienced in the bank. Upon this, it is crucial to analyse the business operations of the bank, so
that competitive advantage and value chain can be increased.
According to Ceniga and Sukalova (2015), the European and UK banking operations of the bank
have equalised the carbon emissions that have decreased energy consumption by 2.1%. The bank
intends that commitment is an area, which will try to stabilise the economies that are extending
beyond the procurement strategies and the own operations. Even, the bank has reported to be
supporting medium firms in UK on which the local economy had been in financial stress. With
such global operations, the bank has executed debt repair line for which the customers were
facing large issues. Thus, it can be implied that developing the customer relations with investing
in innovation could enable the advancement of services and products. Further, Hickson and Pugh
(2014) implied that Barclays also adapts with the industrial practices in their supply chain by
deploying tools and techniques with the allied business strategies. In that state, the bank is trying
to increase the potential, so that strategic supply chain initiative and employee diversity can be
increased.

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c. Research Methodology
Research Approach
In this research, the use of deductive approach would be chosen, as it is concerned on developing
a research hypothesis/question based on the chosen theory or the attribute of concepts associated
to social research. It can be implied that deductive design will help to test the relation, or link it
with general circumstances. As the research will be carried by asking relative questions to the
key employees of Barclays, the proposition of the study will be developed with the statements
where the phase of globalisation is increasing company banking and financial operations well
(Edmonds and Kennedy, 2016). The best part of deductive approach is that it completes the
study in a short span, and no such risk situations occur.
Research Method
In this research, the researcher will utilise quantitative method of analyzing the investigation by
performing numerical analysis. Quantitative research helps to gather the information from the
potential employees using random sampling method, mostly through surveys. The study here
will be portrayed by utilizing 5 close-ended questionnaires, which are been given relative options
with the help of Likert scale from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree (Riff et al. 2014). The
overall research will be carried out from the population where selective samples will be gathered
to perform the study.
Data Collection and technique
Data Collection is performed by both Secondary and primary research. The phase of primary
research will be done in findings part through numerical analysis with data and interpretations
that will be carried out with a chosen sample size. For this research, a predictive sample size for
the Barclays bank will be selected, from which they would be asked few questions, so that a
collective response could be attained (Davies and Hughes, 2014). On the other hand, the
secondary data collection is already been conducted in the literature part where support of
author’s opinion are gathered to make the research responsive. However, the technique that will
be used for the research will be done through numerical analysis with percentage forms with
tables, charts and MS Excel.

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Sampling
For this research, the use of Random Sampling method would be used to draw the samples for
the selected participants. From the population of 55 respondents chosen, 30 respondents (mainly
the employees) would be selected to analyse how Barclays is analyzing their business success.
Ethical issues
The respondents that would be selected in case of survey will be asked relative questions, and for
this, they need to be given informed consent and confidentiality for the data (Yilmaz, 2013).
They also have the liability to leave the research at any point of time and they would be given the
verdict that their data will not be given to any third parties.
Gantt chart
Main activities/ stages Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Main part of literature research
completed, research questions
and objectives defined, research
proposal submitted
 
Arrangements for data collection  
Literature research finished and
review written
  
Secondary data research  
Primary research with analysis  
Data written report  
Revised draft written report   
Final submission of the written
report
 
Table 1: Gantt chart

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(Source: Author)
d. Data Analysis and Interpretations
Analysis of the collected data is required to make the research project more authentic and viable
and to have the right outcome of the research. In case of this particular research, analysis of the
collected data is required to obtain the right outcome.
Quantitative analysis
1. How far do you agree that Barclays has been positively affected by globalization?
Options No of
respondents
Response %
Strongly Agree 12 40
Agree 4 13
Neutral 1 3
Disagree 6 20
Strongly Disagree 7 24
Table 2: Barclays has been positively affected by globalization