How Businesses Cope With Digital Disruption: M&S Case Study Report

This report analyzes Marks & Spencer's response to digital disruption and transformation. It begins with an introduction to the challenges and opportunities of digital technology, followed by a detailed project management plan, including cost aspects, scope, timeframes, quality control, and communication strategies. The report includes a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart for project tracking. It explores both qualitative and quantitative research methods used to gather data, including questionnaires and interviews with M&S customers and employees. The report examines the outcomes of digital transformation, the challenges faced, and provides recommendations for future strategies. It concludes with a reflection on the value of the research undertaken and references relevant sources.

MANAGING A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Aims and objectives of project..............................................................................................1
P2 Project management plan with cost aspects, scope, time, quality and communication risk..3
P3 Work breakdown and a Gantt chart to provide stages and time frames................................4
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods.................7
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
P5 Research and data using appropriate tools and techniques..................................................10
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendation........................................................................19
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................20
P7 Value of undertaking the research.......................................................................................20
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21

Title: “How businesses have coped with the major challenges of digital disruption and
transformation”
INTRODUCTION
Managing business in a successful manner is a vital aspect for business organisations in
order to attain objectives and targets. If business activities and operations will not be carried out
in a proper manner then it will restrict the company from gaining competitive advantage over
rival companies. Business project is an operation which is classified in accordance with its
content and purpose (Bakker and et. al., 2011). These are initiated so that business objectives can
be aligned with business strategy in a desired manner. This assignment is based on Marks &
Spencer which is a Britain based multinational retailing company dealing in luxurious home
product, clothing and food product. Company is founded in 1884 and headquartered in
Westminster, London, UK. This report will cover aims and objective for the project along with a
project management plan. Also, Gantt chart and work breakdown structure is prepared to track
the activities of project. Different research methods and data analysis are mentioned. At last,
recommendations are given and reflection on value while performing research is carried out.
TASK 1
P1 Aims and objectives of project
Digital technology posses considerable impact on business operations. Even if an
organisation is large or small scale, digital technology will provide intangible and tangible
benefits. This will allow the firm to satisfy the demands of customers along with achievement of
expected objectives in a desired manner. Marks & Spencer is a UK based retail organisation
which specialises in providing food items, home accessories and products, branded clothes for
men, children and women. Organisation was founded by Michael and Thomas in the year of
1884. Company is listed on London stock exchange and at present successfully operating more
than 1000 stores in UK. Out of all outlets in UK, more than 600 outlets only sells food products
and items. It is a multinational organisation which is serving at global context. In present
scenario, company is employing around 81,000 employees worldwide.
Background of the research
Digital disruption is referred to the change which occurs when a new business model and
digital technology impacts the the value of existing good and services. Digital transformation is
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defined as transformation of organisational activities and business operations to leverage the
opportunities of digital technology. It will benefits the company in enhancing their revenues and
profit desirably. In this regard, M&S is going to investigate the development, implementation
and design of business project in digital business environment. Company is going to use digital
technology so that time consuming and difficult activities can be performed in a simplified
manner. Computer software application, IT, networking and internet services are some digital
technology that can be adopted by M&S to improve their organisational productivity (Den
Hertog, Van der Aa and De Jong, 2011).
Purpose of research
The main purpose behind this project is to enhance the skills and knowledge of researcher
about digital media, disruption and transformations at a broad level. This will help the researcher
in enhancing its professional skills regarding implementation of digital media within business
organisations. Also, this project will allow the researcher to manage work in a timely and
organised manner which will be an advantage at personal level.
Topic: “How Business has cope up with the major challenges of digital disruption and
transformation: A case study on Marks & Spencer”.
Aims: To identify the ways by which business organisation cope up with the major challenges of
digital disruption and transformation: A case study on Marks & Spencer”.
Objectives:
 To identify the outcomes received by M&S after digital disruption and transformation?
 To analyse the challenges faced by company while implementing digital transformation?
 To identify ways through which M&S can use digital disruption in solving their issues
and problems?
Research questions:
 What outcomes are received by M&S after digital disruption and transformation?
 What are the challenges faced by company while implementing digital transformation?
 What are the ways through which M&S can use digital disruption in solving their issues
and problems?
P2 Project management plan with cost aspects, scope, time, quality and communication risk
Project management plan is defied as an approved and formal document that explains the
manner in which a project monitored, executed and controlled. It can either be a detailed
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document or summary which involves subsidiary management, baselines and other required
documents. It will benefits M&S in managing their project in a timely and organised manner.
Cost- I t is one of the important aspect that should be considered by the managers of
M&S while implementing digital technology at their workplace. It is referred to the total
amount of funds which are required for executing the project. Project manager should
consider this aspect so that effective results would be attained in future period. For
implementing digital technology at workplace, managers of M&S have estimated an amount
of £12000 whereas, researcher have demanded an amount of £1000 so as to carrying out the
research in an effective manner (Dutta and Bose, 2015).
Scope- It states overall purpose of project for organisation. In reference with the
taken project, it will discuss scope of digital technology in achieving growth and success of
organisation. In this context there is a wider scope for M&S because with the help of using
digital technology they can fulfil the needs of customers easily which leads the firm towards
sustainability and growth in market. Apart from that, adoption of digital technology will also
help the managers of M&S in making strong customer base at marketplace. Whereas,
through executing research on this topic researcher will be able in understanding the
importance of digital technology in enhancing the performance of businesses.
Time- This is also an important aspect because without time management any activity
can't be accomplish easily which can leads the organisation towards failure in market. In
reference with the taken project, researcher have made appropriate plans and for completing the
project activities they have demanded a time period of 25 days. Whereas, project managers of
M&S have estimated the time period of around 10 weeks so as to implementing digital
technology in their workplace.
Quality- For carrying out the project, it is the prime responsibility of project
managers to ensure that implementation of digital technology will enhance the quality of
workers due to which goodwill and brand image of firm would be increased in marketplace.
Whereas, researcher will use qualitative method so as to executing the research activities so
that better conclusion can be constructed at end of research.
Communication- This is also an effective aspect because without this team members
of project will not understand their responsibilities which leads project towards failure.
Therefore, it is very important for project managers to use oral communication method so
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that project would be completed within pre-determined time period. Whereas, investigator
should also use effective channels of communication like e-mails, message, phone calls etc.
so as to taking views and suggestions from the respondents for completing the research in
given time-frame.
Risk- Risk is uncertain and can occurred at any time so it is very essential for the
project managers of M&S to consider this aspect so as to eliminating this from the project
activities. There are various risk which are related with project like lack of funds,
inefficiency of team members, mismanagement of time and so on that should be considered
by project managers while carrying out the project (Fisher, 2011). Whereas, researcher can
face risk of shortage of time or unskilled team members in execution of research activities.
Resources- In order to execute research activities, various resources are needed by
investigators like manpower, tools and technology, finance etc. so as to achieve desired
outcomes in given time-frame. Whereas, project managers of M&S should arrange resources
like human, financial, technological etc. so that any difficulty wouldn't be faced in
implementation of digital technology at workplace.
P3 Work breakdown and a Gantt chart to provide stages and time frames
Work break down structure: WBS is a tactics by which a multi-step and complex
project is carried out in a simplified manner. In this method, complex project activities are
divided into small manageable tasks so that required project operations can be carried out in a
fast and efficient manner. It is a hierarchical tree structure which outlines the entire project and
divide it in small parts. This will benefits M&S performing complex project activities in a timely
and proper manner.
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Gantt chart: It is a bar chart which illustrates schedule of a project in a precise manner.
It is most common and appropriate way by which project activities, tasks and events are
displayed against time. On left side of the chart, a list of activities is mentioned and on top of it a
suitable time scale is provided. It will benefits M&S in visually representing their initiated
project activities in accordance with time (Fisher, 2011).
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TASK 4
P4 Small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
There are different methods to perform a research. With the help of these methods,
researcher will be able to gather required information in an appropriate manner. In this regard,
some research methods are defined below:
Qualitative research method
It is a primarily exploratory research which is used to acknowledge underlying
motivations, reasons and opinions. It helps in providing insights into issues and helps in
developing a hypothesis or idea so that research can be carried out in a desired manner. It
includes semi-structured and unstructured techniques to collect data. Common methods in this
regard is individual interviews, observations, focus groups etc. Moreover this method is designed
in a way so that perception and behaviour of target audience can be understood in a proper way.
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Quantitative research method
This research method is required to quantify the issues and problems with the help of
statistical and numeric data. It is utilised in quantifying opinions, behaviours, attitude and other
variables in a proper way along with generating results from large population. It uses measurable
data and facts so that uncover patterns in research can be identified (Gebauer, Edvardsson and
Bjurko, 2011). It is a structured approach and involve data collection methods like surveys,
interviews, website interceptors, systematic observations etc.
Primary method
Primary research method is defined as first-hand and factual account which is written by
an individual that is part of study. In this research, raw data is collected and gathered information
is not published in any book, journal or online sources before. This method is time consuming
and expensive. It involves questionnaire, interviews and observations.
Secondary method
In this research method, data and information which is previously collected is used to
analyse data. It is based on using information which is collected with the help of primary
research. As the data available in secondary research is already summarised, analysed and
interpreted, researcher is required to choose those data which will be relevant in context with
research (Kaiser, El Arbi and Ahlemann, 2015). Here, data is collected with the help of
reports, encyclopedia, journals, books and internet.
To conduct research in an appropriate manner, researcher is needed to develop a
questionnaire where relevant questions about research will be asked. It is a research tool that
includes a series of questions so that required information can be collected from respondents . To
gather relevant data and information, researcher is going to select 50 respondents on random
basis. These respondents are the customers and employees in M&S. Questionnaires are less
expensive as compared with surveys and less time consuming as compared with interviews. It is
a structured form to collect data and respondents are chosen on random basis. Perception of these
respondents is treated as the perception of entire population.
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QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Age:
Q1. Do you understand the concept of digital disruption and transformation?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2. Do you think digital technologies will bring profitability for M&S?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3. Which digital technology will benefit business organisations in performing complex
task in a simplified manner?
a) Virtual Reality
b) Hybrid Wireless technologies
c) IT software and applications
Q4. Which digital technologies can provide assistance to M&S in attaining desired growth
and success ?
a) Cloud technology
b) E-commerce
c) Internet of things
Q5. Do you think digital disruption and transformation will bring difficulty for M&S in
performing their business activities?
a) Yes
b) No
Q6. Will digital transformation maximises satisfaction level of consumers of M&S by
providing more standardised services?
a) Yes
b) No
Q7. What barriers can be faced by M&S in adopting digital disruption and
transformation?
a) Shortage of funds
b) Lack of digital advancements
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