Digital Technology & Business Project Management at Marks & Spencer

This report examines the impact of digital technology on business activities at Marks and Spencer (M&S), a large retail company. It covers the aims and objectives of implementing digital technologies, a project management plan encompassing cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources, and the application of a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart. The report also details a small-scale research project using both qualitative and quantitative methods to gather data, followed by data analysis and interpretation leading to recommendations. A reflective section concludes the study, assessing the research process and its findings in the context of M&S's digital transformation efforts to enhance performance and competitiveness.

MANAGING SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
P1 Aims and objectives...............................................................................................................3
P2 Project management plan.......................................................................................................5
P3) A Work Break down structure and Gantt Chart to provide time frame and stages for
completion for the proposed project management plan...............................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
P4) Small scale business through using quantitative and qualitative methods............................8
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
P5 Data analysis and Interpretation...........................................................................................10
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendations.......................................................................17
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................18
P7 Reflection on research conducted.........................................................................................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Digital tools and technologies are considered as the most essential part of modern
business era as each small as well as large business enterprises are concern on implementing
digital technologies in order to developing their performance and productivity at market place.
Marks and Spencer is a chosen company for this particular report it is a large retail company
which deals in variety of goods and services and widely concerned on satisfying the needs and
wants of people at Marketplace (Axinte, Petrică and Barbu, 2017, June). This report contains the
study about the implementation of digital Technologies at workplace and its impact on
developing the working condition of firm and this particular report we will discuss about the
essential AIMS objectives of the chosen scenario and effective project management plant in
which cost scope time quality communication risk and resources are involved, appropriateness of
work breakdown structure and Gantt chart, small scale research through applying qualitative and
quantitative research methods analyzing Research and data through applying appropriate Tools
and techniques will discussed in a detailed manner.
P1 Aims and objectives
In the world full of digitalization competition is so high and it is the major responsibility
of organisation or its higher authority to apply most suitable resources as to attaining competitive
edge at Marketplace the fundamental duty of an organisation is to satisfying the needs and wants
of people at Marketplace were very much willing to taking benefits of our food products and
services of farm each business organisation has some aims and objectives which are needs to be
attempt by firm as to gaining higher growth and profitability. In this modern and competitive
world it is essential for each business organisation to attain higher growth and profitability
through implementing organisational operations in effective and appropriate manner.
Organizations are widely concern on applying digital tools and technologies in order to attaining
a higher and competitive position at market place (Crane and Matten, 2016). Effective
implementation of digital technologies are beneficial for reducing the workload of employees
which create benefit in completion of organisational task and duty in very short period of time.
Aims and objectives are the predetermined statement which helps in providing a significant

direction to the firm or its management to implement all operations and functions in effective
manner.
Topic: “The impact of digital technology on business activities at Marks and Spencer”.
Background of the project:
In the world full of digitalization, technologies can be considered as the key element for firm as
effective implementation of technologies is effective in attaining higher growth and success at
market place. Marks and Spencer’s is a popular business firm. Laura Wade-Geary’s is the
executive director of multichannel at Marks and Spencer’s. He manages the spearhead major
digital transformation for the 130 years old retailers. The major focused area of Marks and
Spencer’s is to implementing various digital technologies in order to promoting online marketing
which create benefits for customers as well as company (Duffield and Whitty, 2015). The
company is concern on satisfying the needs and wants of people through producing variety of
products and services at market place. As to moving forward towards right direction company
needs to follow some aims and objectives which are described as under:
Aim: The impact of digital technology in supporting small business growth and innovation at
Marks and Spencer’s.
Objectives:
 To identify the impact of digital technology within Marks and Spencer’s `
 To analyze the requirements for using digital technologies in enhancing performance and
productivity of firm.
 To evaluate the appropriateness of digital technologies in implementing innovation at
work place.
 Recommend various ways by which Marks and Spencer can attain high competitive gains
in medical market.
Questions:
 What are the impact of digital technology within Marks and Spencer’s ?

 What are the requirements for using digital technologies in enhancing performance and
productivity of firm?
 How to evaluate the appropriateness of digital technologies in implementing innovation
at work place?
 What are the ways by which Marks and Spencer can attain high competitive gains in
medical market?
P2 Project management plan
Project management plan helps in organizing whole business activities in effective and
systematic manner. An effective management plan create value in attaining growth and success
at market place. Plan plays effective role in implementing all business activities in systematic
manner. The manager of project plays effective role in designing the management plan as per
effectively completion of task (Dutta and Bose, 2015). This undertaking administration design
will incorporate every one of the exercises that will occur amid the entire procedure. It is
essentially a formal archive that is important to be readied and with the assistance of this , the
undertaking chiefs guide, screen and control the workers. In creating an effective management
plan is is essential for a manager to considered various aspects such as cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources etc. the manager of Marks and Spencer's will make
appropriate use of all these factors in order to attaining success in the management project. The
factors are described as under:
Cost: This consist to be the primary aspect which is needs to be taken into proper consideration
by the researcher at the time of conducting an effective project. It is essential for project manager
to make appropriate arrangement of capital and funds in order to implement all business
operations in effective manner (Söderlund, J., 2011). Marks and Spencer spend a huge amount in
the adding some new and advance feature in their products and services in order to gaining
attention of people at market place.
Time: This is also an another essential aspect of management plan which is signifiant for a
manager to be considered in appropriate manner (Gama, Sjödin and Frishammar, 2017). At the
time of creating a project management plan manager needs to set a specific time period in order
to implement all task as per the priority of project. This create value in completion of task in
desired period of time.

Scope of the Project: Administration of an association has need to build nature of item and
administrations in this way improve consumer loyalty's and also mark an incentive at
commercial centre. Analyst apply this apparatus of organization with in venture work and make
business tasks far and wide and not constrained to disconnected enterprises but rather now they
are spreading their business exercises too. In current market situation the extent of task is high in
their temperament as in present day time is comprise all open doors which bolster whole work
with a specific end goal to rise benefit and higher market position (Kaiser, El Arbi and
Ahlemann, 2015).
Risk: Risk and issues are uncertain in nature and these are arising in any situation or in any
condition. As a reputed company Marks and Spencer is concerned on developing new and
innovative products at market place through taking risk. In the field of business it is necessary
for firm to take risk in order to attaining high growth and success at market place.
Communication: As a well reputed organisation Marks and Spencer is focused on establishing
an effective communication channel in order to managing the flow of data and information in
effective manner (Serra and Kunc, 2015). An effective communication helps the firm in attaining
high growth through establishing coordination among employees.
P3) A Work Break down structure and Gantt Chart to provide time frame and stages for
completion for the proposed project management plan.
In an organisation manager plays effective role in managing all business activities in
order to attaining higher growth and success at market place. There are two essential aspect
which are applied by Marks and Spencer as to managing organisational activities in most
effective and efficient manner, which are described as under:
Gantt Chart:
It is a graphical portrayal of any exploration venture. Vast number of associations utilize
Gantt outline for better planning of their undertaking and it additionally provide guidance in
successful activity of every last errand that held in business firm. It comprise as a bar diagram
that mirror the begin and complete time of any specific venture (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017).
The procedure of Gantt chart is generally utilized by associations for building up a period criteria
in which the administration of exercises related with assignment is simple and powerful. This

can be considered as an another compelling technique for actualizing undertaking and
obligations in all around oversaw way (Ries, 2011). Lodging occasion Hotel apply this procedure
for overseeing time for each assignment, with the goal that it is simple for firm to accomplish
upper hand through accomplishing hierarchical objectives and destinations.
Work-break down structure:
It can be considered as the best strategy for separating all business exercises in regard of
finishing business in given time frame. It is most utilized idea in each business firm to distribute
business exercises into various parts. This framework predominantly helps in accomplishing
hierarchical objectives and targets in given time-frame (Baiden and Price, 2011). This is broadly
embrace by business associations keeping in mind the end goal to lessen the work stack from the
representatives. A breakdown structure is essentially intended to keep up the work according to
the given time plan. Each firm assume a huge part in doling out a specific time for every last
undertaking since it the time isn't chosen than workers are not performing exercises in successful
way. Work breakdown structure is comprise as tree structure which partition a major task into
different little divisions for dealing with the work in powerful way.

Illustration 1: Work-break Down structure
(Source: Work Breakdown Structure 2017)
TASK 2
P4) Small scale business through using quantitative and qualitative methods.
In this modern era the major motive of each small as well as large business enterprises is to
attaining high growth and success at market place. Organizations are widely concern on
implementing new and advance technologies in respect to gaining attention of buyers towards
the firm. The effective implementation of technologies is creating value in producing more and
more goods which are effective for fulfilling the desires of buyers. Marks and Spencer is
adopting new and suitable technologies in order to developing their production and operation.
Organizations are mainly applying qualitative and quantitative tools as to collect information as
per performing business operations in effective manner (Chang, Walters and Wills, 2013).
Qualitative Method: This strategy is broadly utilized as a part of securing information which
depends on the quality viewpoints. In this information must be accumulated based on quality
estimation of data (Eweje, Turner and Müller, 2012).
Quantitative Method: With this method, information has been assembled based on amount. For
the most part, specialists utilize this technique for gathering important and huge information for

their examination venture. These aides in distinguishing right outcomes with the assistance of
scientific apparatuses and methods.
Questionnaire
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Phone Number:
Email:
Address:
Q1) Does the implementation of digital technologies are beneficial for Marks and Spencer?
Yes
No
Q2) What are the major benefits of applying technologies at work place?
Expansion of Business
Easy business operations
Increasing sales
Enhancement in production
Q3) In which term digital technologies are effective in organizations growth?
Time Management
Cost Management
Q4) Is it required for Marks and Spencer to implement innovation?
Agree
Disagree
Q5) What kind of reaction will be faced by Marks and Spencer after bringing this new
development?
Positive
Negative
Q6) What is the major reason for company to adopt technologies within the working
environment?
Gaining attention of customers
Developing revenue
Enhancing Market Share

Q7) In this modern era which is the most preferred method for doing business?
Online Marketing
Traditional marketing
Q8) Any suggestions for implementing digitalisation in a better and effective manner.
TASK 3
P5 Data analysis and Interpretation
Q1) Does the implementation of digital technologies are beneficial for Marks and
Spencer?
Frequency
Yes 16
No 4
Q2) What are the major benefits of applying technologies at work place? Frequency
Expansion of Business 6
Easy business operations 5
Increasing sales 4
Enhancement in production 5
Q3) In which term digital technologies are effective in organizations growth? Frequency
Time Management 10
Cost Management 10
Q4) Is it required for Marks and Spencer to implement innovation? Frequency
Agree 11
Disagree 9
Q5) What kind of reaction will be faced by Marks and Spencer after
bringing this new development?
Frequency
Positive 18
Negative 2
Q6) What is the major reason for company to adopt technologies within the
working environment?
Frequency
Gaining attention of customers 10

Developing revenue 4
Enhancing Market Share 6
Q7) In this modern era which is the most preferred method for doing business? Frequency
Online Marketing 15
Traditional marketing 5
Q8) Any suggestions for implementing digitalisation in a better and effective
manner.
Theme 1: The implementation of digital technologies is beneficial for Marks and Spencer.
4
Yes
No
Interpretation:
As per the above given graph it has been concluded that the implementation of digital
technology is beneficial for each business enterprises and in this modern era organizations are
widely concern on implementing digital equipments at work place. 16 out of 20 people are agree
with this statement and remaining people are not satisfied with the same.

Theme 2: The major benefits of applying technologies at work place.
Expansion of Business
Easy business operations
Increasing sales
Enhancement in production
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
6
5
4
5
Series1
Interpretation:
According to the given chart it has been evaluated that technologies plays vast role in
business organisation, there are various benefits of applying digital technologies such as
enhancement in production, increasing sales, making business operations easy and expansion of
business at large scale.