Debenhams Case Study: A Comprehensive Business Analysis and Strategy

This case study examines Debenhams, exploring its market research methods, including customer interviews and both qualitative and quantitative analysis to understand customer preferences and demands. It also includes a SWOT analysis of Facebook, highlighting its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within the digital society. The study delves into motivation, leadership, and HRM issues, such as employee time management and communication problems, proposing solutions like improved manager-employee communication and training. Furthermore, it discusses equality and diversity policies, emphasizing their benefits for corporations. Finally, it analyzes the accounting model employed by a corporation, including assets, liabilities, and gains. The case study identifies problems like high overhead expenses and insufficient gross margins, and suggests possible solutions.

Case study of
Debenhams

TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESEARCH.........................................................................................................................................3
Case study of Debenhams................................................................................................................3
MARKETING AND DIGITAL SOCIETY..........................................................................................4
SWOT analysis of Facebook............................................................................................................4
Motivation, Leadership and HRM....................................................................................................5
Equality and Diversity in Corporation.............................................................................................6
Accounting model employed by corporation...................................................................................8
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................10

RESEARCH
Case study of Debenhams
In order to do the market primary research is a good way to obtain information to plan the
strategies for the company so that there is good profitability and market growth. It helps the
company to determine the target audience, demands and needs of the customers, etc. Debenhams
could use the method of customer interviews. The qualitative analysis could be conducted by taking
interviews of customers of different cultures, opinions etc. This will help to generate a better
understanding of the customer choices and demands. For quantitative analysis could be done by
questioning the customers face to face or by conducting an online interview. The questionnaire
could contain quantitative questions which includes statistics. This will help to generate effective
strategy to conquer the market.
The following questions could be used to conduct the primary research.
1. How often do you shop from Debenhams and what product you buy the most?
2. What brand you prefer for clothing and why?
3. What do you think is the most attractive feature of Debenhams?
4. Can you say a little about the fashion trends and craze?
5. What improvements would you want in Debenhams?
6. Can you give me a ranking of the brands available in the market?
After conducting the interview the information is to be recorded and analysed.
Ethical research helps in determining the acceptable and unacceptable stuff. There are
possibilities that during the research some customer may feel bad due to some questions or words. It
prevents the falsifying of data. For conducting an ethical research firstly the company must take
permission of the customers and ask them whether they are ready to answer the questions. This can
be done by taking permission on phones, emails, online or face to face. The questions prepared
should be first checked and approved by other members also and the questions should be made
keeping in mind that no harm is caused to anyone by the wordings or statements. All the data should
be kept confidential (Chuang, Jackson and Jiang, 2016). The name number or any other data should
not be misused or revealed. It will help to follow the Data Protection Act 1998.
Secondary research involves collection of information from previous or existing research.
Debenhams should use retail data for internal methods which will save time and money. For
external method it could use the government statistics as they are accurate and correct. These can be

conducted by obtaining the previous reports and papers.
MARKETING AND DIGITAL SOCIETY
SWOT analysis of Facebook
Strengths
1. Facebook is the biggest social networking website and has developed itself as a leading
brand in this sector. It is widely known for its features and activities across the world.
2. It has rooted its habit in the people specially among the young students and teenagers. Most
of the time children are seeing doing some or the other activities on Facebook. More than a
necessity it has become an addiction.
3. The owner of Facebook always involves in social activities and charities. These CSR
activities has created a positive impact in the society and has increased the brand value of
the organisation.
4. The data involved in the websites is very strong and robust.
5. More and more people are proffering Facebook for e commerce and advertisements (Kim
and Yoon, 2015).
Weaknesses
1. Analysis and reports suggests that the growth rate of Facebook carries many questions. The
rate of growth is doubtful.
2. Demonetisation taking place is another weakness. Some portals and search engines in the
organisation is practising under monetisation.
3. Many of the investors have the perspective that potential burn out of user could take place.
4. The doubt on the conversion rate of Facebook is still increasing with the years. The
conversion rate is suffering from continuous criticism.
5. The actions specified by the marketer are uncontrollable and it is difficult to determine that
whether the actions have taken place or not.
6. Continuous reduction in the click through rate is also the weakness. It is reported to be very
less than the rate of Google.
Opportunities
1. The surfing of Instagram application of Facebook is increasing day by day and is trending

continuously.
2. Takeover of What's app application by the quoted organisation has brought many scope of
growth and development.
3. Expansions of the company is remarkable and is expected to increase further (Bronkhorst,
Steijn and Vermeeren, 2015).
4. Increasing usage of the website for the online shopping services and promotion of the brands
through ads on the site is also expected to rise in the coming years.
5. Capability to introduce new products and plans.
Threats
1. The ability of the cited organisation to attract the advertisement and target them is highly
affected by the do not track regulation.
2. The profitability of the firm's advertisement sector could reduce to a great extent because of
increasing number of ad blocking extensions.
3. Another threat to the company is the violation of the laws of data in the software.
4. The cases of hacking of Facebook accounts are increasing continuously.
Motivation, Leadership and HRM
There are some problems which are faced by the employees like most of the employees
wasting their time on social media. They are not sharing their ideas for the development or
improvement in the company. Managers as well as leaders are doing doing their work properly.
They are not completing their duties on time. All the work which is done by the employees is not in
a proper way and also they are not meeting deadlines of completing work. Work which is done by
them is not in a team only a single person taking responsibilities for doing work. For these problems
causes are managers of the company not taking proper care of staff and not monitoring them that
they are doing good or bad work. Employees decided all things on their own. Employees are not
doing proper communication and by that they are facing so many problems (Kakabadse and et.al.,
2015). For doing the work they are not setting the deadlines and they are blaming teams. They are
not doing appropriate mechanical work and by that commission system flawed. These are the
causes by which problems arises in the company. Moreover, they have to use appropriate solutions
so that they can attain success. For removing these problems higher authorities of the business
entity also be involved so that employees can do appropriate work. Managers have to consult with
the team members with the effective communication so that employees and workers can share their

ideas and give some opinions for the improvements. Each manager of the company have to clear
their responsibilities so that they can not face any trouble or issue. Managers have to provide proper
training to employees. Along with this they have to provide proper encouragement for the career
progression.
This five stage model can be divided into deficiency needs and growth needs. The first four
levels are often referred to as deficiency needs, and the top level is known as growth or being needs.
The deficiency needs refers to motivate people when they are unmet. Along with this the need to
fulfil such needs will become stronger the longer the duration they are denied. For example, the
longer a person goes without food, the more hungry they will become. By using Maslow's
Hierarchy needs, they are providing proper motivation to employees, managers have doing their
work with full responsibilities so that they can attain targets and objectives (Schachner and et.al.,
2016).
Equality and Diversity in Corporation
Equality and Diversity is the term which is used for Equal opportunities as it is the legal
obligation to protect against discrimination. Equality refers to fairness and to universal access which
are related to employment whereas diversity is recognizing and embracing differences within an
society, employees etc. Adopting diversity policies offers and delivers so that they can attain
maximum benefits for companies and workforce like resolving labour shortages, greater product
innovation. Along with this it aid in enhancing marketing opportunities and a better corporate
image. By doing research European Commission reveal additional positive business outcomes, such
as improved communication processes and managerial styles. Moreover, it succour in reducing staff
turnover and absenteeism. There are some benefits of diversity policy is that they having a access to
a new labour pool and also aid in attracting and retaining high quality personnel from different
backgrounds. Along with this they have to resolve labour shortages. Along with this it helps in
enhancing corporate image and reputation in local community. Moreover, external recognition and
validation by achieving awards and improve innovation and creativity leading to new products and
services, and the opening up of potential new markets (Tatli and et.al., 2015). It enhanced marketing
opportunities by accommodating the demands of their diverse customer base and increase consumer
base. There are more benefits are that it improve the communication and information-sharing
channels. They have to use better managerial style, skills and performance in areas includes goal
setting etc. It reduced staff turnover and absenteeism due to the creation of working environments.
The successful implementation of diversity policies depends on a number of key
organisational factors. Implementation strategies was made on the basis of experience of change
processes along with the learning about managing change to ensure success. This helps in defining a

clear case for action and build active senior leadership commitment. Moreover, communicate
diversity and inclusion principles to staff, customers and other stakeholders. There are three type of
policies as well as strategy which focuses on the differences includes comprehensive diversity
policies and initiatives; single initiatives concerning specific diversity strands; existing policies -
such as gender policies - expanded to cover a broader range of diversity areas. Companies also
implement strategies aimed at raising awareness and understanding about diversity issues. It helps
in attaining success and improve productivity. They have to do proper monitoring which increases
the representation of women, disabled people and ethnic minorities at senior level (Kaplan and
Atkinson, 2015).
Accounting model employed by corporation
A list if here of the assets, liabilities, expenses and gains are Assets: Some of the assets are
here of the Robert: Customer - They are having some regular customers which can be counted in
the asset. Stock - As Mr. Robert has a deals in the food and soft drinks and they are having invested
their large amount of money in it. Liabilities: Suppliers - They are having suppliers which give them
products on demand on credit purchase. Expenses: Rent - Due rent can be counted in the liabilities
part, they have to pay their rent in advance on each quarter so they are liable to pay this amount.
Gains: Sales - Mr. Robert has earnings from their shop which helps them to survive after the
retirement.
There are some problems which are facing by Robert while making cash flows. Problems
are having high overhead expenses in which Overhead expenses are the costs of running a business
that are not tied directly to selling a specific product or service (Li and et.al., 2015). Examples of
overhead include rent, telephone, utilities, etc. Sometimes overhead expenses get out of hand
relative to the revenue that the business produces. High overhead expenses can hurt your business’s
cash flow. Robert can solve this problem by doing auditing of expenses and decrease that where it
can be done. But it decreases to a limit amount as that approach could also hurt the company.
Another problem is insufficient gross margins in which small businesses have to sell their
products and services in low prices and by that they have low, negative gross margin. It usually
affects small business owners who do not have a clear understanding of their costs. Robert can
solve this issue by doing audit of all products and services which they are providing to consumers at
a low price. Along with this if Robert can, raise the prices of products and services that have weak
margins. Moreover, if you can’t raise prices, consider dropping products/services that have weak
margins. Further ensure that all proposals price your products according to their cost.
Another is too much bad debt in which bad debt occurs when Robert sell product to a client

who does not pay and it harm cash flow. Solution is to review the commercial credit of your clients
before Robert extend payment terms. Provide terms only to clients who have good credit and a solid
payment record (Kostova, Nell and Hoenen, 2016).

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bronkhorst, B., Steijn, B and Vermeeren, B., 2015. Transformational leadership, goal setting, and
work motivation: The case of a Dutch municipality. Review of Public Personnel
Administration. 35(2). pp.124-145.
Chuang, C.H., Jackson, S.E. and Jiang, Y., 2016. Can knowledge-intensive teamwork be managed?
Examining the roles of HRM systems, leadership, and tacit knowledge. Journal of
management. 42(2). pp.524-554.
Kakabadse, N.K and et.al., 2015. Gender diversity and board performance: women's experiences
and perspectives. Human Resource Management. 54(2). pp.265-281.
Kaplan, R.S and Atkinson, A.A., 2015. Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning.
Kim, S and Yoon, G., 2015. An Innovation-Driven Culture in Local Government: Do Senior
Manager’s Transformational Leadership and the Climate for Creativity Matter?. Public
Personnel Management. 44(2). pp.147-168.
Kostova, T., Nell, P.C and Hoenen, A.K., 2016. Understanding Agency Problems in Headquarters-
Subsidiary Relationships in Multinational Corporations A Contextualized Model. Journal
of Management. p.0149206316648383.
Li, Q and et.al., 2015. A memristor SPICE model accounting for synaptic activity dependence. PloS
one. 10(3). p.e0120506.
Schachner, M.K and et.al., 2016. Cultural diversity climate and psychological adjustment at school
—equality and inclusion versus cultural pluralism. Child development. 87(4). pp.1175-
1191.
Tatli, A and et.al., 2015. Questioning impact: interconnection between extra-organizational
resources and agency of equality and diversity officers. The International Journal of
Human Resource Management. 26(9). pp.1243-1258.