Effective Problem Solving and Organizational Strategies: M&S Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of problem-solving techniques within the context of Marks and Spencer (M&S). It begins by identifying workplace issues such as discrimination and conflicts, and their psychological impacts. The report then examines critical thinking and innovation as aids for employees. The analysis extends to influencing factors like political, economic, social, and technological elements, with a focus on their effect on M&S. A letter to a line manager illustrates the impact of environmental factors. Furthermore, the report describes employee behaviors, categorizing them into task performers and organizational citizens. Finally, it explores the advantages and disadvantages of selected information technology, concluding with recommendations for effective problem-solving and management strategies within the organization. The report emphasizes the importance of addressing conflicts and fostering a positive work environment to enhance employee performance and overall business outcomes.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Description of problem and its effects on the psychologically on human health.............1
1.2 Analysis of the key steps of the critical thinking and how critical thinking and innovation
can aid employees at workplace.............................................................................................2
PART 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Identification of the key influencing factors to the corporation.......................................4
2.2 Description of the letter to line manager about the impact of environmental factors on the
organisation............................................................................................................................5
PART 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Description about the employee's behaviour and its types...............................................6
PART 4............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Explanation about the advantage and disadvantage of the selected information technology
................................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
In an organisation, there are various kinds of problems arises on daily basis which can
influence employees as well as organisation performance. These issues can negatively affect the
productivity and outcome of the business (Acker, 2012). Thus, it is very important for
management to analyse and address these issues by implementing effective techniques and
strategies. The present report provides the detail knowledge and understanding about several
kinds of techniques and strategies to solve the work based problem with respect to Marks and
Spencer (M&S). It is one of the most leading retail company in the UK which deal with high
quality of customers’ goods and services. Furthermore, factors that influence organisation
performance like political, economic social, culture and technological have been also addressed
in this report.
PART 1
1.1 Description of problem and its effects on the psychologically on human health
Organisational conflicts and workplace conflicts is a state of disorder which arise by the
actual and perceived opposition of needs, value and interest between the people at the workplace.
As per the given scenario, in Marks and Spencer, the major workplace problem is discrimination
among the employees at the time of appraisal and promotion. Management of the company do
not properly focus on the employee's efficiency, handwork and contribution. Company provides
effective appraisal to male candidates because it assumes male employees are more efficient as
compared to female and company provides promotion to only male candidates. Due to this
discrimination, female employees are demotivated and their efficiency has been reduced.
Another major issue which arisen in the company is workplace conflicts among the workforce as
they do not agree for work under the team or in collaboration (Agarwal and et.al., 2012). As
employees are not agreed to work together due to which conflicts has been arisen at the
workplace. This thing creates negative environment in the company so as employees are
demotivated and profitability is also decreased. As Marks and Spencer's employees are suffering
from two major issues that is discrimination and workplace conflicts. Discrimination issue is a
major complex issue which influenced entire workforce performance and productivity.
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In an organisation, while discrimination and workplace conflicts arise among the
workforce then employee's performance and productivity can negatively influence. Problems at
the workplace can affect psychologically on the human health. Due to this issue, stress and
frustration can arise in the individual (Arnulf and et.al., 2014). They do not focus on their work
because their mental level may down so as they cannot generate innovative idea and solution of
the organisational problems. Some time, organisational conflicts and issue can hugely influence
on the human health through which they cannot enjoy their personal life.
1.2 Analysis of the key steps of the critical thinking and how critical thinking and innovation can
aid employees at workplace
Critical thinking is very important for human being by which individual can generate the
innovative and creative idea and thoughts. The person who involves in the critical thinking can
easily find out the solution for complex problems because their mental level and strength is much
better from other people. In a simple word it can be said that critical thinking is a self-directed,
self-disciplined, self-monitored and self-corrective thinking through which individual can easily
generate the critical idea and thoughts (Bae, Song and Kim, 2012). In the corporation, it is very
important for employees to engage with critical thinking by which they can enable to generate
the innovative idea, thoughts and solution of the problem. Work based problem can easily solve
with help of critical thinking because it has two components that is a set of information and
belief generating and processing skill and the habit based on intellectual commitment of using
those skills to guide behaviour.
At the workplace, by help of critical thinking and innovation, manager can easily tackle the issue
and problem related to work based (Cardy and Leonard, 2011). As per the given situation in the
Marks and Spencer, there are major problems related to the work place conflicts among
workforce and discrimination. Thus, in this complex and simple problem, manager of the
company can implement several techniques and tools which are as follows-
 Use Five why's- By implement this technique, critical thinking and innovative idea and
solution can generate by manager. In this method, major five stages included such as
assemble a team, define the problem, ask the first why, ask why for more time, know
when to stop (Five why's, 2017). By implementING these techniques, manager can easily
access the actual issue and find out the creative and innovative solution.
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 Constructive controversy- This is another technique for implement solution of the
problem at the workplace. Constructive controversy involves deliberative discussion
aimed at creative problem solving (Controversy Dynamics, 2017). In this technique,
debates can be included for finding out the final solution of the determined problem at the
workplace.
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Illustration 1: Use Five Why
(Source: Five why's, 2017)

PART 2
2.1 Identification of the key influencing factors to the corporation
Business environment consists with several macro and micro factors that affect
organisational performance. In the macro environment includes various components such as
political, social, cultural, economic, environmental etc (Chiaburu, Diaz and Pitts, 2011). In the
context of Marks and Spencer, various factors can influence organisational performance and
business decision making. Following are impact of element upon the organisation- Political- Political factor is related to the governmental interferences as it includes the
imposed regulation, rules, code of conduct, taxation policies etc that affect Marks and
Spencer business decision as well as performance. For instance, in the UK, Marks and
Spencer have to pay the tax according to set standard of government. Furthermore,
company have to follow other regulation and rules related to business which developed
by UK government. Social and cultural- This factor is related to the customer tastes, preferences, choice,
culture, region, social value, occupation, income level, education etc. With respect to this,
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Illustration 2: Controversy Dynamics
(Source: Controversy Dynamics, 2017)

Marks and Spencer have to consider this factor at the time of taking business decision
because it may largely influence performance of the company (Dextras-Gauthier,
Marchand and Haines III, 2012). Moreover, the company should focus on the taste,
preferences, choice, culture etc of customer for making high level of profitability and
market share in the competitive business environment. Economical- Economic factor can influence Marks and Spencer in large manner because
in this includes interest rate, inflation, recession etc. While financial crisis occurs in the
country, then it may affect the prices of product and services (Farndale, 2014). In
addition to this, it can affect the wages, salary, profitability and revenue of the company.
 Technological- This factor can hugely influence the performance of the Marks and
Spencer because while any technological changes occur in the UK then cited venture
have to make updates accordingly. This may lead the huge capital investment for
business entity.
2.2 Description of the letter to line manager about the impact of environmental factors on the
organisation
December 27, 2017
Mr John Lesser
Line manager
Marks and Spencer
1290 Lessor land, Town road UK
Dear Sir,
As our corporation is one of the most leading retail in the entire UK retail industry. As per the
market data it has been assessed that our company have gained effective profitability and
market share as compared to other rivals in the market. Being a marketing assistant, I have
effectively analysed the business environment and its surrounding factors which affected Marks
and Spencer in large manner. As per the audit of business environment, I have found that
Political factor can affect the cited venture policies, practices and business strategies because
UK government have developed high rate of tax policies through which financial performance
has been influenced. In addition to this, economic factor can also affect Marks and Spencer
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performance. Financial crises have however led to more price sensitive consumers and Marks
and Spencer required to work on with the market flow. On the other hand, social and cultural
factor also influence the performance of cited venture as Baby Boomer are now mostly retired
and no longer the prime consideration. Interest in the organic and green produce require
rethinking which brands to push. In addition to this, technological factor can also influence
cited venture because Marks and Spencer have strong social media and online presence so it is
well placed to capitalise on this revenue. Due to changing technologies, company have to make
changes accordingly. Thus, it can be said that macro business environment factors have
influenced largely to the Marks and Spencer so it is very important to develop such strategy to
overcome the negative impact of these factors.
Thank You for reviewing my application, should you have any question you may reach me any
time in the Marks and Spencer.
Best Regards
Marketing assistant
XYZ
PART 3
3.1 Description about the employee's behaviour and its types
In an organisation, employees play a very crucial role in order to attain the business
objective. In the absence of employees, firm cannot attain its objective. It is very important for
management to make employees satisfy and motivate so as they can retain in the company for
long time. Employees behaviour can positive only in that situation while they are happy and
satisfy with company and its practices (Ghosh, 2015). Employees behaviours is defined as an
employees' reaction to a particular situation at the workplace. Employee should behave sensibly
at workplace not only to gain the promotion and appreciation from other but also to maintain
healthy working culture and environment. Employees needs to adhere to the rules, regulation,
principles of the workplace. Major there are two types of employees such as organisational
citizenship and task performer. The description of types of employee’s behaviour are as follows-
 Task performer- This kind of employees are those individuals who are well aware about
the roles and responsibility area and what they are supposed to do at the workplace. This
kind of employees set their target and strive hackwork for accomplish task with stimulate
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time period (Harwiki, 2013). They are very serious for their target as well as their roles
and responsibilities in the company.
 Organisation citizenship- This kind of employees generally adopt the helping nature and
they understand the organisation motives. If any team members are not able to perform
their task then they sit near with them and help them for higher performance and task
accomplishment.
As per the above discussion it has been analysed that there are various kinds of employee’s
behaviour in the company. It is very important for the Marks and Spencer to analyse and assess
the behaviours of employees and manage their accordingly (Hatch and Cunliffe, 2013). Marks
and Spencer can adopt the following techniques for manage the employee’s behaviours at the
workplace-
 Motivation- This is one of the technique for manage the employee’s behaviours at the
workplace. By adopting this technique, management can motivate and encourage
workforce for higher performance and productivity. In this technique, company can
provide monetary and non-monetary rewards to its employees through which they can
motivate for higher performance. In the monetary reward, company provides incentives,
fringe benefits, compensation, bonus, perquisites etc. This strategy assists to satisfy
employees financial needs (Hogan and Coote, 2014). On the other hand, in the context of
non-monetary reward, company provides effective appreciation, recognition, higher
responsibility, status, growth opportunities etc to employees through which they can feel
motivate and encouraged themselves. This technique can effectively help to management
in manage the behaviours of workforce.
 Open communication- This is another one of the major technique to manage the
performance of employees. In this strategy, all employees are free to share their view,
issue and suggestion about the existing practices and policies (Hsu, 2014). By help of
this technique, management can easily identify the actual issue, problem, conflicts,
requirement of employees so as management can deal with them accordingly. By open
communication, management can analyse the behaviours of employees and design the
practices and policies accordingly (Kolade, Oluseye and Osibanjo 2014).
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PART 4
4.1 Explanation about the advantage and disadvantage of the selected information technology
In an organisation, information technology plays a very crucial role by which business
performance and activities can become faster and easy. In every department of the corporation
like marketing, human resource, finance, administration, operation, accounts etc required
technology and many activities associated with department carried out with help of technologies.
The information technology provides firm an opportunity to increase working efficiency
and effectiveness. It also allows organization to make improvement in various system,
procedures and products as well as services. The information technology also facilitates faster
communication and helps manager in maintaining various essential information that can be used
by organization for fostering development and achieving success. It allows manufacturing unit to
increase its production capacity and output (Iqbal and Sharma, 2012). Information technology
enables manager to ensure effective as well as efficient utilization of resources. It helps business
entity in reducing the workloads and support employees in improving their working efficiency
and enhancing their performance at workplace. In the context of Marks and Spencer, it is one of
the most leading retail which deal with customers products and services. In various activities of
cited venture like manufacturing, promotion, marketing, operation technology helped in large
manner. Following are some advantage of technologies in the Marks and Spencer-
 Improved communication- In the Marks and Spencer, major advantage of the technology
is related to communication. As with help of information technology, communication
between various functional department and with customers become easy. By help of
social media and other various channels company can easily promote its product and
services in the market (Jafri, 2012). Furthermore, company can easily get touch with
customers by help of information technology.
 Business growth- Another major advantage of information technology is related to the
growth of business. With help of technology, various activities and operation of business
can become easy and fastest. By this, quality of production and business operation can
also become improved in the Marks and Spencer. Thus, it can be said that with help of
technology, company can enhance its quality and efficiency in the competitive business
environment.
Following are some disadvantage of the information technology
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 Huge capital investment- It is one of the most common disadvantage of information
technology because in order to implement the technology and update it, company have to
invest huge capital (Nantha, 2013).
 Dependency- This is another one of the disadvantage of information technology in the
Marks and Spencer (Jain, 2016). Due to the technology, management largely depends
upon it. Management can feel helpless if any of technological equipment, machinery and
tool fail to perform.
CONCLUSION
From this report it has been concluded that in the macro environment includes various
components such as political, social, cultural, economic, environmental etc. It is very important
for Marks and Spencer to analyse its business environment before developing the strategies and
practices. This has been also concluded that technology helps business entity in reducing the
workloads and support employees in improving their working efficiency and enhancing their
performance at workplace.
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Online
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Controversy Dynamics. 2017. [Online]. Available
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