An Investigation of Conflict Management in the Retail Sector (M&S)

This research proposal investigates the significance of conflict management within the retail sector, specifically focusing on Marks and Spencer. The introduction highlights conflict management as a process to reduce negative factors in business, particularly those stemming from employee interactions and cultural differences. The research area centers on conflicts among staff at Marks and Spencer, recognizing its impact on productivity and profitability. The aim is to analyze the importance of conflict management in mitigating these problems. The objectives include understanding conflict management concepts, examining issues faced by Marks and Spencer staff, and analyzing the use of conflict management approaches. The literature review supports the importance of conflict management tools and approaches to improve performance. The report references key sources discussing conflict management and its implications in a business environment. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the research proposal, outlining the context, objectives, and methodology for a thorough investigation into conflict management within the retail sector.

Research Proposal

Table of Contents
Title of Topic - An investigation is to analyse the importance of using Conflict Management
within retail sector............................................................................................................................1
1.0 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................1
1.1 Specific researchable topic area............................................................................................1
1.2 Importance of the problem....................................................................................................1
1.3 Aim of the project.................................................................................................................1
2.0 Research Objectives and Research Questions...........................................................................1
2.1 Research Objectives..............................................................................................................1
2.2 Research Questions...............................................................................................................2
3.0 Literature Review.......................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

Title of Topic - An investigation is to analyse the importance of using Conflict Management
within retail sector.
1.0 Introduction
Conflict management is being considered as a process, that helps a business organisation
in reducing all negative factors that are linking with conflicts, which are being faced by a
business organisation (Brown and et. al., 2017). It has been analysed that, a business company
majorly gets into trouble due to its employees, and this happens because staff members do
belongs to different range of cultures, where they carry different perceptions while performing
common tasks.
1.1 Specific researchable topic area
In present context, research area for this investigation is going to be the “conflicts“ that
staff members of a business organisation like Marks and Spencer faces while performing both
individual and common tasks.
1.2 Importance of the problem
The reason behind choosing this specified area is that, conflicts among staff is said to be
one of the crucial factor that majorly affects a business organisation in negative sense. Here, it
was found that the business organisation would require to enhance the overall productivity level
in order to raise maximum profits. In the same way, Marks and Spencer also faced issues in
regards to the same which affected overall performance level of the company.
1.3 Aim of the project
Aim of present investigation is “To analyse the importance of using Conflict
Management to reduce problems faced by workers within the retail sector. A case on Marks and
Spencer.”
2.0 Research Objectives and Research Questions
2.1 Research Objectives
Considering the aim of present investigation, main objectives are being formulated
underneath:
 To understand the concept of conflict management.

 To examine the major issues that can be faced by staff members within Marks and
Spencer (retail business sector).
 To analyse the importance of using conflict management approaches in resolving
conflicts faced by staff members of Marks and Spencer.
2.2 Research Questions
Focusing upon the objectives there are a few investigating questions are being developed
underneath:
 What is the concept of conflict management ?
 What could be considered as major issues that can be faced by staff members within
Marks and Spencer (retail business sector) ?
 Why it is important to use conflict management approaches in resolving conflicts faced
by staff members of Marks and Spencer ?
3.0 Literature Review
According to Mckinney, (2019), conflict management is said to be one of the crucial
program, which consists with the tools, approaches and more that helps in improving the overall
performance level. Here, it is important that there are people who understand conflicts and know
how to resolve them.
As given by McKibben, (2017), staff member's of Marks and Spencer basically faces
issues with their top level management. There is a case, which was analysed where Steve Rowe
basically took over the position of Marc Bolland at the retail institution, in order to improve the
overall performance level but the leadership style which was followed by him was autocratic
(The challenges facing Marks & Spencer's new chief, 2019).

REFERENCES
Books an Journals
McKibben, L., 2017. Conflict management: importance and implications. British Journal of
Nursing. 26(2). pp.100-103.
Brown, G. and et. al., 2017. Identifying environmental and natural resource management conflict
potential using participatory mapping. Society & natural resources. 30(12). pp.1458-
1475.
Online
What Is Conflict Management? - Definition, Styles & Strategies. 2019. [Online]. Available
through: <https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-conflict-management-definition-
styles-strategies.html>.
The challenges facing Marks & Spencer's new chief. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/02/challenges-facing-marks-
spencers-new-chief-steve-rowe>.