Contemporary Issues in Business Management: M&S Report (CU London)

This report examines contemporary business issues and their impact on Marks & Spencer (M&S). It begins by defining contemporary issues and their relevance to organizations. The main body identifies and evaluates the effects of political issues (Brexit), health concerns (COVID-19), and gender issues on M&S's operations and performance. The analysis considers how these issues have affected M&S's sales, supply chains, employee well-being, and gender pay gaps. The report offers personal views on how M&S could manage these challenges, emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and proactive strategies to mitigate risks and improve business outcomes. It concludes with a summary of the key findings and recommendations for the CEO of M&S.

Contemporary Issues in Business
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Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY.............................................................................................................................3
Identify the contemporary issues and evaluating the impact on Marks & Spencer...............3
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Contemporary issues are defined the conceptual termed in which identify relevant
threats and opportunities in the organisation. In another way, it refers to the unexpected and
expected issues that are currently affecting the people, place, which are unresolved. Usually,
it concern about the specific problems, debate or controversy related to the political, gender
and health issues. The essay will discuss the contemporary issues and identify that how it will
impact on M&S.
MAIN BODY
Identify the contemporary issues and evaluating the impact on Marks & Spencer
Contemporary issues are defined the unrealistic problems and opportunities that are
related to the present day life. It should be included the political, health, gender based
problems created by the high level of change in the modern technology, cultures, lifestyle
(Amado & Belfo, 2021). It has been developed thinking ability and identifying the preference
of individual’s.
Marks & spencer is the oldest retailer on the basis of England which is dealing with
different products such as products, clothing and food etc. The company was established in
1884 by Thomas spencer and Michael Marks. It operates 959 stores across United Kingdom,
including 615 that only selling food items. M&S is the fastest growing organisation so that it
was face different kind of contemporary issues at business level. The most common issues
such as political, health and gender issues. The company always focused on the quality of
services and offering fair values, moral thing. It should be encountered the serious difficulties
because of the contemporary issues. But it was develop uncompromising attitude towards
employees and improve the level of business performance adequately. At some point, the
brand has faced different kind of challenges because of contemporary issues related to the
political and health (Poudel, 2021). These are directly affecting on the overall business
performance of M&S in the competitive marketplace.
Brexit and covid-19 have been consider as contemporary issues and impact on the
M&S in different ways. Generally, it has been reduced the level of business production &
sales. So, it automatically minimised the revenue level. As covid-19 pandemic, it has been
changed the economic level in terms of Brexit. This kind of situation is particularly impact on
the foreign & domestic level. This can happen due to the lock downs.
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The political issue refers to the power of individual’s, who are distributed and
operates within social enterprise. It also thinking about ability to engage, interact with
enterprise at wide level. In terms of contemporary issue, the political issue is the most
common problem which needs to analyse at business level. In the organisation level, the
political issue stands on the complicated ethical as well as moral aspect. In fact, it is needed
to understand that how it can be explained or managed in proper manner.
In the context of political issue, M&S is struggling to operate their business in United
Kingdom. Due to Brexit, it has been changed the decision of UK to leave the European
Union. It is the main part of political factor which might have impacts on the M&S
operations. It has been developed the situation, when it is difficult to identify the current
position of nation. If it will stand following the Brexit, especially in context of tariffs, rules or
regulation of trade. Therefore, it arise the complex situation and generating limited outcome
that are not appropriate for M&S (Amado & Belfo, 2021). For example- M&S has faced huge
loss due to the free trade policies, procedures applicable with suppliers. As a result, it has
been showing the high price or costs of items for end potential customers. M&S have faced a
critical challenge of political issue because it is just representing a trade policy and create a
battle for enterprise. There are several powerful authority targeted the political aspect of
M&S. So, it is difficult to determine the interest in favour of international trade as well as
investment. Political issue related to trade barrier shows a greater difference between M&S
and supporters. The way in which political economy can be organised but it affects who win
the battle over trade policy.
On the other hand, it has been focused on the political culture issue and consider the
most common challenge for M&S. As growing the business market, it continuously changing
the demand, preferences and taste of the potential customers. Having been around since 18s,
the M&S retailer is now expanding. But at some point, it arise political culture related issue
because the demand of young people is higher and majorly focused on the trendy options. So,
M&S may have faced a challenge and identifying less productivity as well as profitability in
the marketplace. For example- M&S offering a food services to the potential customers but
during covid-19 pandemic, it is difficult for enterprise to fulfil all essential demand of people
(Amado & Belfo, 2021). In marketplace, there are various tough competitors who have
already dominating the competitive market while it is unclear approach for M&S, difficult to
expand their food business with same brand name.
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In additional the political issue impact on the M&S because of taxes, stability. If it
arise the situation when increases the rate of taxes then further arise the prices or costs of
items. It would be generated the negative implication on the selling price of items (Ani & et.
al., 2022). In M&S, the political issue respond by the government authority and creating an
appropriate values, fair opportunity for trade practices. In some cases, it continued to develop
fluctuation in taxes while reducing the profitable rate of M&S. This kind of situation can
arise due to the political issue.
In the context of health & well-being issue, M&S is always focused on this kind of
contemporary issue in the workplace. Due to the current environment, it encounters different
health issues with consideration of implementation, prevention technique. M&S focuses on
the business operations and functions. Every tasks can be completed through online medium,
and required to create or develop ideal working environment for colleagues, staff members. It
helps to promote the level of health & well-being. In some case, it arise the health issue
among employees due to high work-load. As growing the M&S enterprise, it has been
increased the high pressure and faced by employees in the workplace (Ani & et. al., 2022).
The best conditions, according to the research reviewing the impact of physical working
culture or environment. It is directly impact on the health & well-being of colleagues. For
example- manager of M&S interact or communicate with staff members and implementing
all kind of safety measurement at workplace. The potential employees are looking to find the
right information and then performed different tasks. Due to consider the health issue, it
would develop the situation of link between health & well-being and decrease the customer
satisfaction.
In case of health issue, it reinforced the understanding that there is established link
with working culture, environment. Ideally, it might have focused on the support for well-
being of employees in the workplace. In M&S, health issue relates to the physical working
equipment because staff members are closely integrated with systems (Frydenlund, 2021).
So, it would be increased the possibility of health issue and directly affecting the
performance. After covid-19 pandemic, M&S will concern about health & well-being of
employees in the workplace. In some cases, health issue impacts on the M&S due to lack of
safe premises, working areas. A lack of sufficient resources are creating a lot of mess at the
time of working environment (Amado & Belfo, 2021). M&S would be taking care of health
& safety perspective of employees, following a proper policies, standards. In order to keep
monitor or track the performance of staff members.
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Gender issue is not only defined the fundamental concept but it also expressed the peaceful
approach which needs to handle critical situation. The gender issue will be developing a
complex situation among peoples regarding rights, roles & responsibilities. Despite gender
issue, many challenges remain exist: discriminatory legislation, social norms. These are
contributed to be identified underrepresented thing at different level (Musavengane &
Leonard, 2019). For example- women & girls have experienced the sexual violence, physical
violence. This kind of situation can be developed at home, office. Whenever it arise the
gender based issue which needs to be targeted the response, especially women. It ensured that
long term recover benefits or advantages gained on daily basis.
The Gender issue can be defined the situation of inequality among women & men in
the society. In the context of M&S, it arise the gender issue when company has admitted to
paying its average female staff member 12% than its male employees. It contribute to
develop a gender pay scale and affecting the entry level staff member of women. Still, men
workers are dominating the senior ranks (Weinberger, 2022). In the workplace, gender
inequality comes in different forms-unequal pay, incidents of harassments. The unequal pay
for women & men is still not reality concept. This kind of issue is directly impacts on the
M&S while minimising the level of business production & sales. Some kind of conflicts are
identified among men & women worker in M&S. it is always blame the people because of
considering the tradition, social norms that keep women from selecting a higher paying roles.
In era, male-dominated the M&S organisation and developing the situation of unequal access
(Leath & Perkins, 2022). Additionally, women especially living the different environment
and always faced a fear of negotiation pay. It is being penalized if they do. Based on the
survey, gender issue occurs due to the inequality and identify the differences in higher
position. It is difficult to be dealing with constant stress in the work environment or culture.
Based on the personal perspective, I have focused on the contemporary issues such as
political, gender and health issues. These kind of issues are directly impacts on the M&S. it
needs to deal with such kind of contemporary issues in proper manner. M&S has undertaken
a much overdue approach or review in terms of diversity & inclusion approach. This kind of
approach will help M&S to handle discrimination because it will be arising the situation
inequality among employees. At some point, it is not enough for understanding and tackle the
inequality issue in the organisation. At M&S, it is also understanding the importance of
valuing and respecting the differences (Wulf & Trammell, 2021). A major gender issue can
bring their whole selves in the workplace. This kind of approach will support for individuals
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and actively minimising the violence, harassment. On the personal views, it has been
identified the political issue which arise because of inequality among staff members. I have
found that M&S deals with negative opinion or view point of people. This can be possible
when it exist employees and belong to different background. That’s why, it may increase the
possibility of gender issue. For example- It has been categorised the people on the basis of
colour, caste and background. Thus, it has been developed issue while directly affecting the
conflicts among people. It is not good for M&S because reducing the profitability or
productivity. It can be minimised the overall performance & efficiency of enterprise at
different levels. I have been analysed that M&S will try to implement necessary action on the
contemporary issues through approach of diversity & inclusion (Hudders & De Jans, 2022).
This kind of strategy will encourage or motivate employees of M&S to understand the needs
of individual’s. The company will look at certain point, where M&S can easily identify the
staff members. In order to tackle critical situation and making progress on identifying
political issue, as part of diversity & inclusion.
Based on the personal opinion, The political issues are developed in the society where
people cannot trust or respect each other (Leath & Perkins, 2022). In some cases, it allows the
people to learn about the issue of contemporary and affects on the individual’s dignity or
respect. Typically, the negative perception of political issue had spread and matured around
the global world. It began to think about the ethic components of their own societies.
CONCLUSION
From above discussion, it has concluded that contemporary issues expressed the issue
that is directly affecting the individual’s. In this report, it has been focused on the different
issues such as gender issue, political issue and health issue. These kind of contemporary
issues identified in M&S and impact on the entire business performance and efficiency. In
context of contemporary issues, it arises in the M&S, identifying its significant impact on the
business operations & functions.
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REFERENCES
Book and Journals
Amado, A., & Belfo, F. P. (2021). Maintenance and support model within the ERP Systems
lifecycle: Action research in an implementer company. Procedia Computer
Science. 181. 580-588.
Frydenlund, E. (2021). Modeling and Simulation as a Bridge to Advance Practical and
Theoretical Insights About Forced Migration Studies. Journal on Migration and
Human Security. 9(3). 165-181.
Poudel, A. B. (2021). An exploration of how social science students utilise an opportunity to
learn about simulation-based research methods: A design-based study.
Musavengane, R. & Leonard, L. (2019). When race and social equity matters in nature
conservation in post-apartheid South Africa. Conservation & Society. 17(2). pp.135-
146.
Weinberger, N., (2022). Signal Manipulation and the Causal Analysis of Racial
Discrimination.
Wulf, T. & Trammell, R., (2021). Understanding Disrespectful Behavior Through a
Gendered Lens: Race and Power in a Women’s Prison.
Hudders, L. & De Jans, S., (2022). Gender effects in influencer marketing: an experimental
study on the efficacy of endorsements by same-vs. other-gender social media
influencers on Instagram. International Journal of Advertising. 41(1). pp.128-149.
Leath, S., Jones, M. & Perkins, T.R., (2022). An investigation of Jezebel stereotype
awareness, gendered racial identity and sexual beliefs and behaviours among Black
adult women. Culture, health & sexuality. 24(4). pp.517-532.
Ani, U. D. & et.al., Policy Briefing March 2022.
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