Business Project Management Report for Wilkinson's Retail Chain

This report analyzes the business project management plan for Wilkinson's, a UK-based retail chain. The introduction highlights the importance of efficient resource management and the adoption of digital technologies for enhancing customer interaction and internal communication. Task 1 frames the aims and objectives, focusing on the role of digital technology in transforming business operations. Task 2 establishes the project management plan, covering scope, risk management, quality control, cost, time, and communication. Task 3 details the work breakdown structure and Gantt chart. Task 4 discusses the research methodology, including primary and secondary data collection methods. The report also includes an evaluation of project outcomes in Task 5, recommendations in Task 6, and a self-reflection in Task 7. The report emphasizes the importance of a well-structured project management plan to achieve the company's objectives and enhance its market position through digitalization.

Managing Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Framing Aims and Objectives...............................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P2 Establishing Project Management Plan.................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart...........................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Research by using methodology............................................................................................6
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................9
P5 Evaluation of project outcomes.............................................................................................9
TASK 6..........................................................................................................................................18
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................18
TASK 7..........................................................................................................................................19
P7 Self reflection.......................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Management of business is a task which requires special skills and resources. It is very
difficult for companies to survive in a competitive market place. For ensuring a successful
management of each and every resource it is important for organisation to use its resources in a
efficient way. It requires an effective strategy and a well-structured plan as to attain its goals and
objectives. There are different opportunities that are available in market and has to be exploited
by company by using effective strategies (Saunders and Lewis, 2012). These days technology
has become very important for organisations and have to be adopted by them in order to ensure
that they achieve a higher level of efficiency. This report is based on Wilkinson's which is British
high street chain that sells products in housewares and household goods. Digital revolution has
shaken up every industry and made data sharing easier for firms.
At present the company needs a mobile application for enhancing customer-firm
interaction and a way to make communication of important information fast within organisation.
This report will collect information related to development of application as well as sites. A
project development plan will be prepared, Gantt chart as well as work breakdown structure will
be made to specify different task (Sparrow, 2012). Different ways of data collection and analysis
methods will be used to ensure that findings are accurate. Also at the at the end of the report
recommendation will be stated as well as a self-reflection will be given.
TASK 1
P1 Framing Aims and Objectives
Retailing sector is one of the fastest growing industry where the organisations are
focusing on customer satisfaction and market development. Every aspect is analysed by
company before launching any new product as to ensure that it will fulfil customer requirements
in a effective manner (Young, 2013). Today, these companies are also focusing on concept of
dual growth which will allow them in improving standard of living of people while also
increasing their market share and image. The very first thing which these companies do is to
develop a positive environment within company so that the employees are satisfied and
determined to do their job more efficiently.
Wilkinson is a well-known high street retail chain operating in United Kingdom. It is
known to sell its own labelled products which are considered to be of high quality. The managers
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in the company are responsible for developing as well as implementing plans and policies that
are focused on digitalisation of processes. This is a activity which will assist company in
increasing its interaction level with customers and also ensure that it is able to communicate
important things within organisation. In present era, digitalisation has allowed organisation in
developing their capabilities and reach maximum market share (Baiden and Price, 2011). It does
not matter what is the size of company as small firms are the ones which gained maximum from
this revolution. For current case, there is a requirement of mobile application and a
communication system in Wilkinson which will enable managers in interacting with customers
and informing internal people. The research will be conducted on:
Research Title:
“Role of digital technology in transforming business operations and marketing,
Case study based on 'Wilkinson'”.
Objectives of project:
For ensuring that goals (aims) are attained, it is important for setting objectives as these
will provide a way to measure all outcomes. They are stated below:
 To analyse role of digital technologies in assisting business operations for attaining
objectives.
 To evaluate ways in which organisation operational capabilities can be improved by
utilising various digital technology.
 To identify needs of digital technology in various areas of serving by Wilkinson.
 Recommending ways that in which digital technologies can be properly used in an
organisation.
Research Questions:
 How digital technology have impact on different business activities in present situation?
 How to measure the impact of these technologies on key issues of Wilkinson's?
 What criterion or methods can be used by company for adopting usage of digital platform
within and outside organisation?
TASK 2
P2 Establishing Project Management Plan
Management plan assist in delivering an opportunity for researcher which he can use for
stating about goals, objectives and procedures in brief. It is essential for every company to make
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an effective and impressive project management in order to achieve its goals and objectives in a
certain time period (Chang, Walters and Wills, 2013). In addition, Wilkinson have to consider
some elements while making a project management plan, such as- cost, risk, quality, scope etc.
the biggest objective of company is to increase financial profit by analysing future condition
which will affect current market position. So that, company can deliver their services without
facing any kind of problem. all components of project management plan are follows as under:
 Scope – While creating a project, it is essential for managers to determine its scope in
global environment whether it is able to provide market growth to a firm or not. Scope of
project helps is providing many growth opportunities to managers by increasing their
revenues. For this, they are using digital tools and techniques for achieving higher
competitive advantage (Smith, Gonin and Besharov, 2013). These technologies are also
accessible in managing all working activities in an effective manner. Now company is
doing online business, with this it can easily enhance their market share. Therefore, the
scope of project is very wide and it is able to attain higher competitive advantage to a
firm. Risk management – Managing and accessing future risk, is very crucial part of project
management. In present time, all companies are using various risk management strategies
so as to determine their project's strength and opportunities. Managers of Wilkinson
makes adequate plans and policies, it will contribute in their project success. Risk
management plan involves find out risk factors, potential impact, probability of
occurrence and proposed actions (Kowalkowski, Kindström and Brehmer, 2011). They
also have to ensure about effectiveness or smoothness of activities that are included in
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project management plan. Thus, if project management are able to examine future risks
and uncertainties, they will take appropriate and accurate decisions which are beneficial
for firm and able to diminish further challenges. Quality control – Quality of a project can ensure firm's growth and it also contributes to
meet customers' requirements. As the refereed firm is providing online services, so that it
is essential for managers to manage quality of their products and services. If a company
provides best items, then it will increase its market growth for a long time span. In
addition, customers only want qualitative and branded goods from company. Good
quality products are able to improve annual sales and make higher profits for the firm. As
company is using digitalisation, so that is must for it to maintain the quality of products
and services. Cost – If a project's costs is going too high, then it affect financial position of the firm.
Wilkinson's has to decide an average costs of its products (Doherty, N. F., Ashurst, C.
and Peppard, J., 2012). Adoption of new techniques can affect service delivery costs and
manufacturing costs of products. Hence, the company need some fixed capital in order to
manage project management activities. Time – A time framework is set for every activity of project plan, it is helpful in
competition of tasks in a certain time period. By setting time limit, managers can also
fulfil desired needs and expectations of their potential customers.
 Communication – Effective and proper flow of communicate will contribute in sharing
all ideas and reducing issues in the process of project management plan (Too and
Weaver, 2014). Free flow of communication will also helps in establishing healthy and
positive relationship among staff members. Apart from this, by effective communication
managers can also know needs and wants to their customers. For this purpose, they have
to use different social sites and web portals in order to connect with customers.
There is described all elements that are involved in the process of project management
plan. With this, managers can achieve their desired goals and objectives in a very facilitate
manner. Including all these components put a positive impact on working activities and
operations, such as- sales, promotion, advertising and so on (Rosemann and vom Brocke, 2015).
If Wilkinson will open its further stores in UK market; for this project managers have to recruit
some other workers who are liable to create and execute a proper project management plan.
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TASK 3
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
Work breakdown structure is a method which is used by managers for breaking down
complex problems or task in smaller jobs which are easily understandable and achievable. These
are used by top management for making sure that any plan prepared is implemented in phases, so
that maximum result can be obtained (Gustafson, 2012). Wilkinson uses this method to break
different task in smaller task and ensure that they are achieved by each and everyone. There are
certain benefits of developing an WBS, such as, it allows individual in measuring his
performance, it motivates them and ensures that task is completed in a set period of time.
Gantt Chart is a tool which states about time frame that will be consumed in each task. It
is a graphical method which is used to state about time period that is distributed between
different activity. It is basically used for setting milestone for each and every task (Smith and et.
al., 2012). The charts are very vital as they allow user in understanding the time period allotted to
each task. It is a very effective method which will allow managers in ensuring that each and very
task is completed in a set duration.
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TASK 4
P4 Research by using methodology
The prime purpose of research is to inform actions. It refers that study should be
contextualize with its findings; market research will help a researcher to get information of high
quality. Its results must be applicable for future project implementation plans and policies.
Furthermore, it is necessary for business entities to use an appropriate and suitable methods
while conducting any kind of research (Eskerod and Huemann, 2013). With the help of an
effective technology analysation can be changed into a logical form. This results, business
owners can make meaningful judgements that are advantageous for the growth and vitality of
firm. The two main methods of research is stated as under: -
 Primary Secondary
Primary data – Primary data is helpful in providing information that is particularly
collect for research project. Its main benefit is it is able to tailor research needs whereas a
demerit is primary data research is too expensive to obtain. There are different ways of primary
data collection, such as -
 Focus groups – Generally, it is discussion between 8 to 12 persons and taking their
reviews or feedbacks on a particular topic. In focus groups, the researcher tries to
motivate in depth-discussion on the topic of research so as to get more and more
information. Survey – Online and offline surveys are conducted by investigator. It is in form of
questionnaire that is designed carefully for target population. It can be done through by
mail, telephone or face to face (Eweje, Turner and Müller, 2012). Sometimes, number of
respondents are very low so as it is essential for researcher to use large sample. It will
help to achieve relevant responses.
Secondary data – In this, the information is collected is already used by another
researcher but it is sufficient for current research. Secondary is used in order to increase sample
size and to reach effectively on results. It facilitates large research projects, the researcher allows
to get information form a specific area of interest. Business organisations are using secondary
data research to gain more information from social media and different web portals. Its main
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advantage is that preliminary work can be done in an effective manner. There are the main
sources of secondary data research: -
 Government sources
 Trade, professional and business associations
 Universities, foundations and libraries
 Profit and loss statement of companies
 Balance sheets and sales figures
 Previous marketing research and inventory records.
Another two method of research are dictated as under: - Qualitative research – Basically, qualitative research is conducted for low range of non
representative cases. In this, participants are chosen in order to fulfil the criteria. The
main objectives of this research is to render an insight for resolving a particular issue and
problem (Aronson, Shenhar and Patanakul, 2013). In addition, it is also accessible to
underlying motivations and reasons. In this, findings are not worthily and could not be
usage to generalise the interest of population.
 Quantitative research – It is helpful in measuring reviews and opinions of chosen
sample. Investigator is using quantitative research to explore their findings and facts. In
this, participants are select randomly and there is study on large number of population
(Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, 2017). There are various structured
techniques are used, i.e. questionnaire, online survey and telephonic interviews.
Quantitative research recommends for a final course of action.
Case study 1: Wilkinson have to produce creative and innovative products in order to
achieve its desired goals in target market. They need to analyse role of digital technologies in
order to complete business activities and operations in an adequate manner. The main purpose of
Wilkinson is to manage their brand effectiveness. For this purpose, the firm have to provide best
quality trades to customers.
Case study 2 – Wilkinson have branded products which are able to attain and retain
customers for a long term period. Retail products of this brand gives more customer satisfaction
to its potential buyers. Now, firm is started to produce products for middle class people to
increase their sales and profits.
Furthermore, research methods are stated below: -
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Research design is concerned with developing entire strategies so as they can determine
selective elements (Gustafson, 2012). It provides some directions and guidelines in order to
measure the effectiveness of data and facts.
Research approach – It supports managers to create a theory by the help of collected
data or information. The method is more flexible.
Sampling – It is classified into two segments, probability and non probability. It is used
by investigator to get fast information.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
E – mail:
Age:
Gender:
Question 1) Is digitalisation is advantageous for Wilkinson?
A. Yes
B. No
Question 2) Do you think that using digital technology will help in achieving goals and
objectives of the company?
A. Yes
B. No
Question 3). Do you think that digitalisation is important for business organisation?
A. Yes
B. No
Question 4). How digitalisation put an impact upon company
A. By increasing number of customers
B. By increasing sales
C. By maximising market growth
Question 5). Do you think that it is necessary of Wilkinson to modify their existing tools
and techniques of production?
A. Agree
B. Moderate
C. Disagree
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Question 6). Do you think that the firm is using proper methods to store their
information?
A. Yes
B. No
Question 7) What will the long term impact of modification on business activities?
A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Neutral
Question 8). Which method of marketing will help managers to gain competitive
advantage?.
A. Traditional marketing
B. Modern marketing
Question 9). Is digitalisation is accessible in binding all functions of firm?.
A. Yes
B. No
Question 10). Any further recommendation for improving digitalisation process ?
TASK 5
P5 Evaluation of project outcomes
The research is conducted for among 50 respondents.
Theme 1: Digitalisation is beneficial of Wilkinson
Question 1) Is digitalisation is advantageous for Wilkinson? Respondents
Yes 35
No 15
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Interpretation: As per above diagram, it has been founded that there are 35 respondents
are in favour of digitalisation is really beneficial of business organisation, whereas 15 thinks that
it can reduces company's market growth.
Theme 2: Advantages of using digitalisation
Question 2) Do you think that using digital technology will help in
achieving goals and objectives of the company?
Respondents
Yes 45
No 5
10
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
35
15 Column B