How Digital Technology Transformed Business: John Lewis Case Study

This report analyzes the impact of digital technology on John Lewis & Partners, focusing on its transformation of business activities, specifically operations and marketing. The study establishes project aims, objectives, and timeframes, supported by a project management plan including cost analysis, scope definition, and risk assessment. Small-scale research was conducted using a questionnaire distributed to employees to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. The research design employed a descriptive approach, and data analysis was performed using a thematic approach. The findings reveal insights into the understanding and importance of social media within the company, its impact on various departments, and the challenges faced during implementation. Recommendations are provided based on the analysis, and the report concludes with a reflection on the value of the project and its contribution to sustainable organizational performance. The report includes sections on research methodology, data analysis, and recommendations for the implementation of digital technologies within the organization. The appendix contains the questionnaire used in the study. The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the digital transformation of John Lewis & Partners.

Managing Successful Business
Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Establish project aims, objectives and time-frames based on the chosen theme........................1
Conduct small-scale research, information gathering and data collection, generating
knowledge to support the project...............................................................................................6
Present the project and communicate appropriate recommendations based on meaningful
conclusions drawn from the evidence findings and/or analysis.................................................8
Reflect on the value gained from conducting the project and its usefulness to support
sustainable organisational performance...................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................15
.......................................................................................................................................................16

TITLE- “How digital technology has transformed business activities e.g. operations, marketing,
etc. A case study on John Lewis & Partners.
INTRODUCTION
Digitalisation technology means use of digital tools at workplace. In digital technology
there is no paper work and it is ease in performing commercial activities. In this there is use of
different tools such as web techniques, digital media, software applications, etc. Digital
technology take place of analogy signals. Digital communication helps to transfer information
frequently to the concern person. Social media is apart of digitalisation, through which
communication among parties are easy and effective (Beringer, Jonas and Kock, 2013). These
days, trend of digital technology is increasing because it ease in performing business operations.
With the social media, different department of association can perform operations in more
appropriate manner. This report is based on retail sector super market store John Lewis &
Partners. His is the third largest retail sector association. In this report, project aims, objectives,
small scale research, information gathering and data collection methods are discussed. Apart
from this appropriate recommendations with meaningful conclusion are analysed. At last
knowledge enhanced with report and its significance for sustainable organisational performance
is discussed.
MAIN BODY
Establish project aims, objectives and time-frames based on the chosen theme
Background of research
Digital technology is one of the prominent approach which is essential to be adopted in
order to coop- up with external challenges. These days, there are many changes talking place in
working style of players in industry. In retail sector, there is core competition among
organisations. Some players of retail sectors are TESCO, Sainsbury, etc. with the help of social
media,business operations can be performed effectively. There is ease in communication with
workers of other departments and external parties. With up- gradation of working style,
employees satisfaction will increase. This helps to make good and long term relations with
workforce and they can communicate frequently (Breese, 2012).
John Lewis & Partners has many department, such as marketing, production, HR,
finance, etc. so social media helps to create balance in operations of these activities. With ease in
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communication, targets are achieved on time and less possibilities of duplication of activities. In
this report, analysis is done for implementation of digital technology. Research is conducted for
analysing cost, time for use of social media.
Aim
''To analyse the impact of social media on marketing and operations department.'' A case
study on John Lewis & Partners.
Objectives
 To understand the concept of social media.
 To analyse importance of social media for John Lewis & Partners. To identify the role of social media in marketing and operations functions.
Research questions
 Do you understand the concept of social media?
 What is the importance of social media for John Lewis & Partners? What is the role of social media in marketing and operations functions?
Project management plan
project management plan is a tool of defining, executing, monitoring, controlling and
closing of a project. It is a list of planning and managing to perform task and activities related to
a project. It is important for John Lewis and Partner who is a retail company in UK for
improvement of leadership style and focus on a particular direction (Sikdar and Payyazhi, 2014).
It also clear the objective of a firm and focus on increasing sales by digital marketing. It includes
following aspects:- Cost- While implementing social media, there is requirement of different cost such as
installation, training , maintenance cost, etc. This approach can e expensive because
changes are taking place with rapid speed in digitalisation.
Particulars Amount (£)
Installation cost 2600
Maintenance cost 400
Training cost 200
Miscellaneous cost 100
Total 3300
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 Scope- Working with social media is helpful for organisation because growth prospects
gets enhanced. John Lewis and Partners is able to compete with external firms.
Employees feels motivated as they are working with latest technique. This reduces labour
turnover and absenteeism of workforce. Marketing of product and services can be done
in ease manner. (Chang, Walters and Wills, 2013). Time- To implement social media to working of John Lewis and Partners time of approx
7 week is required. In case employees are not able to learn new technique, then there is
requirement of training time also. Quality- To implement social media at John Lewis and Partners it is important to use
good quality techniques. With implementation of upgraded technology positive result
seen in business operations because there are less possibilities of miscommunication.
Quality of product also increases with use of social media. Fast communication is
possible among departments and feedback can taken frequently from customers.
(Drucker, 2012). Communication- There is requirement of communication among employees regarding
implementation of social media. Mails, business phones, conferences are some channel
which ease in communicating among team mates and delivery of information is effective. Risk- There is a high risk available in social media marketing because technologies are
upgrading continuously. If John Lewis and Partners don't upgrade social media
application, then there is negative impact on operations. But with use of social media,
there is risk of leak of confidential data (Polonsky and Waller, 2014). Resources- For adopting digitisation in John Lewis and Partners, firm want many
resources like skilled employees, IT department with IT experts, computer system, and a
trainer for provide training to employees about digital marketing.
Work breakdown structure
Work breakdown structure is the hierarchical chart which shows systematic division of
task among team mates. This is the graphical representation which helps project manager to
predict outcomes in different circumstances. Researcher while framing WBS structure, firstly
analyse objective behind conducting research and then determine ways through which task can
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be completed (Duffield and Whitty, 2015). is the technique to divide whole task among team
mates in systematic manner. While performing research, there are different activities such as data
collection, research methodology which helps to achieve objectives. Hence with the help of work
break down structure activities are divided in synchronize manner. Work breakdown structure is
effective because this helps to finish project on time and within specified limit because activities
are distributed among different personnel.
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Gantt Chart
Gantt hart is a horizontal bar chart invented by Henry L. Gantt in 1917. This is the
research tool which divides whole research tenure is divided into small time period. This
technique represents different activities with time required to complete it. With the help of this
tool, whole project can be complete within specified time. This chart has start date with
completion date of every activity. Time scale shows time which is required to complete
particular research activity (Parker and et. al., 2013).
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Conduct small-scale research, information gathering and data collection, generating knowledge
to support the project
Small scale research means collection of data in order to achieve aims and objectives.
While performing research, there are different methods through which information can be
collected. Mainly there are two methods through which research can be conducted i.e. qualitative
and quantitative research.
Qualitative research- In this research non- numerical data is used and researcher
interprets on the basis of this data (Dutta and Bose, 2015). In this research information is not
proper structured. This research more focus on “Why”. In this research, there is use of historical
analysis, ethnography, case study, etc. In this research information given is subjective. Methods
to conduct qualitative research are- observation, interview, focus group, etc.
Quantitative research- Quantitative research is systematic way to collect data from
different sources. In this research logics, numbers, statical data, mathematical tools are used
through which recommendations is based on large number of population. In this research tables,
charts, figures, non textual forms, are used to provide result of research. Quantitative research
can be descriptive or experimental. Questionnaire is used as tool for conducting this research.
In order to conduct research in successful manner. There is requirement of information
collected from respondents. There are two methods of collecting data, i.e. primary and secondary
data.
Primary data- Primary data is fresh because it is collected by researcher from
respondents. Interviews, surveys, experiments are sources to collect primary data. Primary data
requires more time and cost because in this there is personal interaction between researcher and
respondents (Florén and Frishammar, 2012).
Secondary data- Secondary data is old and is not that much relevant as compared to
primary data. Secondary data is collected from books, journals, websites, etc. There are
possibilities that secondary data is not applicable because of past information.
In this report, qualitative research is conducted and data is collected through primary
source. Questionnaire is filled by 50 respondents. Employees are respondents in order to achieve
aims and objectives because role of social media on department business operations are
identified.
Questionnaire
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Name:
Employee Id:
Age:
Gender:
Q1) Do you understand the concept of social media?
Yes
No
Can't say
Q2) What is the importance of social media for John Lewis & Partners?
Increase brand awareness
Collaboration among departments
Synchronization in commercial activities
Q3) Which departments gets affected because of Social media?
Marketing
HR
Operations
Sales
Accounts and finance
Q4) What is the role of social media in marketing and operations functions?
Ease in communication
Taking feedback
Advertisement of product and services
Q5) Are you comfortable to work with new techniques of social media?
Yes
No
Q6) What are advantages of working with social media?
Systematic distribution of business operations
less possibilities of miscommunication
less possibilities of duplication of activities
Q7) What issues faced by John Lewis & Partners in implementing social media?
Updations of social media applications
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Training cost
Obsolete of Old technology
Q8) Is training required for workforce to implement social media techniques?
Yes
No
Can't say
Q9) Which training method is more suitable?
On the job training
Off the job training
Q10) Recommend the ways in which the John Lewis & Partners can implement social media
techniques in business organisation?
Present the project and communicate appropriate recommendations based on meaningful
conclusions drawn from the evidence findings and/or analysis
Research is performed with some tools and techniques, some of them are as under-
Research design: research design is a way in which research is conducted to attain aims
and objectives. There are three types of design design- descriptive, exploratory and experimental.
In thus research descriptive design is used (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017).
Data analysis: Data analysis means giving interpretation on the basis of research
conducted. In this research, data analysis is done through thematic approach. In this theme are
provide of each question which provides brief overview of question.
Theme 1: Concept of social media
Q1) Do you understand the concept of social
media?
Frequency
Yes 30
No 15
Can't say 5
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