Impact of Globalisation on Marks & Spencer: Research Project Plan

This research project plan investigates the impact of globalisation on the corporate structure and profitability of Marks & Spencer, a major multinational retailer. The plan outlines the rationale for the study, emphasizing the complex effects of globalisation on businesses. It defines the research aim, objectives, and research questions, focusing on the challenges and opportunities presented by globalisation. The plan includes a literature review that explores the existing research on the impact of globalisation on corporate structures, profitability, and challenges faced by companies like Marks & Spencer. It also details the research methodology, discussing qualitative and quantitative research approaches, data collection methods, and sampling techniques. The plan aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of how Marks & Spencer navigates the global landscape, addressing issues like competition, communication, and profitability, and suggesting strategies to mitigate challenges and leverage opportunities within the retail industry.

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Module Title:
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Module Code:
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Assessment Number:
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Assessment Word Count:
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Submission Date:
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This exercise is designed to make you able to plan research project for the area of
your interest. (Formative assessment)
Title/Topic: The impact of globalisation on the corporate structures and profitability of
on the large multinational retailer company, Marks and Spencer and the
major challenges they face.
Rationale/
Backgroun
d:
The term globalisation basically represent the process through which the
world is becoming highly and increasingly interconnected which has led to
massively increased level of international trade and enhanced cultural and
economic exchange. Thus, globalisation has created many positive as well as
negative impact on the business operation and structure. The enhanced
integration created by globalisation tend to ensure higher productivity level
and improved expansion and growth opportunity for a firm through leading
better opportunity of growth into various nation and parts of world (Gopinath,
2018). On the other hand, the globalisation is also creating many challenges
and issues for a company in form of enhanced competition from large
organization along with need for well-developed and coordinated company
structure to ensure effective communication and coordination at global level.
Therefore, current investigation is undertaken to analysis about the impact of
globalisation on the corporate structures of on the large multinational retailer
company for which the selected retail company is Marks and Spencer.
Rationale for the study
The selection of current research topic based on the impact of
globalisation on the corporate structures of on the large multinational
retailer company is seemed to be rationale and justifiable as
globalisation is a complex term which is beneficial as well as threating
for a business firm. Thus, it is important and vital to analysis the
overall impact of globalization on corporate structure to get a better
glimpse and understanding about the main advantages and challenges
R
esearch Project
Plan (Proposal)

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created by globalisation in a
business firm within retail industry. The current investigation is
significant as globalisation has created an open worldwide economy
which has enhanced the movement and transfer of people, goods,
services and technology over the nation which is creating many
significant changes and impact on a firm. Thus, creating and leading
out current investigation on Marks and spencer industry would
provide an improved insight about the key challenges like enhanced
competition, lack of communication, etc. which are created by
globalisation. Beside this, a glimpse of advantages and improved
expansion opportunity lead by globalisation is also provide which is
also significant and vital to have better understanding about the impact
of globalisation on corporate structure of a company.
Apart from this, selection of current research topic also seemed
important and vital from the personal view point of researcher as the
chosen topic is in accordance with personal interest and also meets the
academic needs and educational perceptive of researcher. Beside this,
current research project is also important and significant to bring
improvement and betterment in the managerial skills and interpersonal
skills of investigator along with improved understanding and
knowledge level which support better future growth and opportunities.
Introduction The term globalisation is mainly related with open interaction and improved
integration among economies and nations which has accelerated the
movement of people, goods, services, technology and jobs across and
beyond the domestic boundaries (Koziol, 2018). The current investigation is
lead out on Marks and Spencer which is a major British multinational retailer
with headquarters in London, England, and associated in selling of clothing,
home products and food products, mostly of its own label. The current
project is based on analysing impact of globalisation on the corporate
structures of on the large multinational retailer company. The use of
quantitative approach of research is made for current investigation under
which collection of data would be made with the help of questionnaire.
Aim of
the
Write an aim of the research
The main aim behind leading out current investigation is, “To identify the
impact and challenges of globalisation on corporate structure and

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researc
h
profitability of multinational retail
organisation”. A study on Marks & Spencer
Objectiv
es of the
research
Set out a few objectives in order to reach your aim.
The research objectives which are set out to reach and achieve set objectives
are listed as follows:
 To investigate the impact of globalisation over corporate structure of
Marks & Spencer
 To determine the challenges faced over corporate structure of Marks
& Spencer due to globalisation.
 To evaluate about the globalisation impact on the profitability of
Marks and Spencer.
 To analyses the ways in which challenges over corporate structure
can be mitigated by multinational retailers.
Literature Review
The impact of globalisation over corporate structure of Marks and Spencer
As per the view point of Foss, N.J. and Pedersen, T., 2019, globalisation is
having various impact on business corporate structure. Globalisation includes
different cultures, technologies and other factors that are required to be
implemented by organisation in order to plan leadership and structure of
organisation accordingly. There are some major impact of globalisation upon
corporate structure of Marks and Spencer, it has been identified that company
can face uneven distribution of profits, increased disparities in income in
developed countries and more. Along with this globalisation also allow Marks
and Spencer corporate structure to be more innovative while developing
dependable partner relationships. In addition to this, Marks and Spencer can
also have emphasised upon innovation based ecosystem through which they
can strengthen organisational growth pillar. Globalisation provides
organisation as strong corporate structure through which Marks and Spencer
can use large-scale technology by managing the external environment in an
effective manner (Lane, 2013).
Challenges faced over corporate structure of Marks and Spencer due to
globalisation
As per the view point of Toms, S. and Zhang, Q., 2016, there are number of
challenges faced over corporate structure of Marks and Spencer due to

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globalisation. In this company can
face challenge in terms of extensive planning in order to implement
technology and adopt external environment factors. Along with this company
can also faced challenges in terms of dynamic environment that include
factors like environmental, political, economic, cultural and social that have
direct impact upon the manner in which organisation manages and function.
Marks and Spencer corporate structure can also face challenges in terms of
dynamic increase in demand of customers and economy of scale. These
challenges not only impact corporate structure of Marks and Spencer in a
direct manner but also have indirect impact upon company production process
inputs, product development, research and design, distribution marketing and
after sales services (Koziol, 2018).
To evaluate about the globalisation impact on the profitability of Marks and
Spencer.
As per the view point Morgan, G., 2014., it has been analysed that
globalisation leads a positive impact on the profitability level of Marks and
spencer as it supported and leads to easy movement and transfer of goods and
people across the various nation. An analysis can be made out that easy
movement of people is helpful for Marks and spencer to have more skilled
and creative workforce at lower cost which plays a vital role in improving its
profitability. Beside this, improved expansion opportunity is also lead out by
globalisation for Marks and Spencer thus, lead to higher customer bade which
also improves its profitability level.
Ways in which challenges over corporate structure can be mitigated by
multinational retailers
As per the view point of Lasserre, P., 2017,there are various strategies
through which challenges over corporate structure can be mitigated by
multinational retailer. In this with the help of effective leadership organisation
can move towards inspiring and guiding individuals with an organisational
workplace structure in an effective manner. In this company can motivate
skills of individual by influencing them in effective manner. Effective

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leadership play a central role that
will allow multinational retailers to adopt the collaboration of culture and the
teamwork mindset through which different challenges of globalisation can be
overcome. With the help of competitive strategy and productivity and
qualitative services organisation with the help of taking advantage of
competitive strategy can customise the strategies in effective manner through
which challenges can be overcome in an effective manner. Multinational
retailer can also take advantage of technological innovation in order to add
economic output of company. It will help managers and leaders to transform
their resources into products and services in an effective manner (Kopnina and
Blewitt, 2018). With the help of this organisation can overcome challenges in
an effective manner. Along with this, multinational retailer by also taking use
of learning and knowledge management can adopt a knowledge-based
approach towards the functioning of business. With the help of this
organisation can create a learning environment and can encourage employees
to create innovative environment. This will not only allow organisation to
overcome the challenges but also facilitate them to satisfy customers in
effective manner as compared to other rivals.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hotho, J.J., Lyles, M.A. and Easterby‐Smith, M., 2015. The mutual impact of
global strategy and organizational learning: Current themes and future
directions. Global strategy journal. 5(2). pp.85-112.
Lasserre, P., 2017. Global strategic management. Macmillan International

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Higher Education.
Haque, M.Z. and Azmat, F., 2015. Corporate social responsibility, economic
globalization and developing countries. Sustainability accounting,
management and policy journal.
Toms, S. and Zhang, Q., 2016. Marks & Spencer and the Decline of the
British Textile Industry, 1950-2000. Business history review. 90(1).
pp.3-30.
Foss, N.J. and Pedersen, T., 2019. Microfoundations in international
management research: The case of knowledge sharing in multinational
corporations. Journal of International Business Studies. 50(9).
pp.1594-1621.
Morgan, G., 2014. Financialization and the multinational
corporation. Transfer: European Review of Labour and
Research, 20(2), pp.183-197.

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Researc
h
questio
ns
Or
Hypothesi
se
The research questions which would be analysed and evaluated through
current investigation on Marks and spencer are provided as below:
 What possible impact is lead out by globalisation over corporate
structure of Marks and Spencer?
 Which could be some possible change faced over the corporate
structure of Marks and spencer due to the globalisation?
 How globalisation impacts profitability of Marks and Spencer?
 What are the ways which can be used and adopted by a multinational
retailer to overcome and mitigate the challenges over corporate
structure?
Resear
ch
strateg
y:
What kind of research approach would you
adopt?
Qualitative There are two most company form of research approach which could be
applied and used by a researcher to perform and carry out an investigation in
more effective and vital manner as description and analysis of which is
provided as below:
approach Qualitative research approach- Qualitative form of research comprises of
expression of research findings and collected data in words which is mainly
used to have better and in-depth understanding about a concept based on the
detailed thoughts and experience of human being (Hsieh, and Chou, 2018).
The common method which are used and adopted by a researcher to perform
qualitative research consists of interviews with open-ended questions,
observations described in words, and literature reviews that explore concepts
and theories
vs
Quantitative research approach- This form of research approach is

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associated and related with an
objective nature of investigation which comprises of collection of data in
numeric form and also involves better presentation of facts through applying
various statistical graphs and charts (Kopnina and Blewitt, 2018).
A discussion and comparison about the qualitative and quantitative approach
of research is provided with the help of following table:
Basis Qualitative research
approach
Quantitative research
approach
Nature and
purpose of
research
This approach of research is
mainly used and applied to
have an exploratory
research in order to
establish a base and better
insight in the ley topic area
along with underlying
motivation and perception
of human being. Therefore,
use of qualitative nature of
research provides better
insight into set objectives
and leads to improved
qualitative evaluation and
conclusion (Koziol, 2018).
The nature of quantitative
research approach in
objective and numeric
which aim at only
measuring the incidence of
motivation and track data
over time.
Sample The sample size under the
qualitative approach of
research is small and narrow
which is not statistically
projectable.
The selected sample size
for quantitative form of
investigation is mainly
large and board which is
usually statistically
projectable.
Methodology Use of qualitative form of
research is based on
interpretivisim philosophy
along with inductive
approach to support the
analysis of in-depth and
The use of methodology
under quantitative form of
research approach consists
of positivism philosophy
which support a more
systematic and practical

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theoretical information.
Further, use of focus
groups, in-depth interviews
etc. are made for the
purpose of collection of
detailed information.
way of study. Further,
implication and use of
deductive approach is also
made which support better
testing and scanning of
numeric facts. Further, use
of surrey strategy is also
made under quantitative
form of research approach
(Lane, 2013).
Data collection Data collection under
qualitative research
approach is semi structured
and evolve over the course
of study.
Collection of data under
quantitative research
approach is made with the
help of highly structured
questionnaire which
comprises of a set of
questions related with
specific topic.
Data analysis Non-statistical and with the
use of thematic approach
The data analysis under
quantitative form of
research approach is
numeric and based on
statistical charts which
includes more effective
analytical charts and
graphs.
Report
Outcome
The findings of research
under qualitative approach
is directional in nature and
based on detailed analysis
of theoretical information
(Hsieh, and Chou, 2018).
The outcome of research
are mainly presented in
graphical form and
provides a more
measurable and specific
research results.
Quantitative Thus, on the basis of above discussion, use of quantitative research approach
is propped for current investigation on Marks and Spencer as it is justifiable
and appropriate to ensure better data collection in numeric form. Further, use

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of quantitative research approach is
also appropriate for current investigation to analysis the impact on
globalisation with the help of numeric set of information which ensures better
data presentation and analysis to achieve set objectives in a more vital way.
Approach
Primary/
Seconda
ry
Researc
h
How are you going to go about the research
With respect to current investigation on Marks and Spencer use of both
primary as well as secondary research has been made to ensures ample
amount of information and data to research a specific research result.
Primary Research- It comprises of collection of data directly from the
selected participants. Thus, use of primary research is vital and appropriate
for current investigation as it would ensure and lead to first hand and most
authentic form of data. The collection of primary data would be made with
the help of questionnaire which would be used as data collection instrument
for current investigation (Liuhto, 2019).
Secondary research- this form of investigation includes analysis and
interpretation of past facts and records. The use of secondary research is also
vital and important for current investigation on Marks and spencer as it
ensures better analysis of past facts and findings thus leads out a base and
effective framework for entire investigation and research work (Gopinath,
2018). Collection of secondary source of information would be made from
the scholarly article and online journals.

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Sources
of Data
There are two main sources of data i.e. primary and secondary sources from which
both are applied and used for current investigation. Primary sources would consist
of use of questionnaire for first hand data collection from the selected participants
where are secondary sources comprises of data collection from pre-exits books,
article and journal. The references and secondary sources from which the data
would be collected for current investigation are provided and listed as below:
Gilpin, R., 2018. The challenge of global capitalism: The world economy in
the 21st century. Princeton University Press.
Hsieh, Y. H. and Chou, Y. H., 2018. Modeling the impact of service
innovation for small and medium enterprises: A system dynamics
approach. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory. 82. pp.84-
102.
Ivanov, S. H. and Webster, C., 2012. Tourism’s impact on growth: the role of
globalisation. Annals of Tourism Research. 41. pp.231-236.
Ivanov, S. H. and Webster, C., 2013. Globalisation as a driver of destination
competitiveness.
Kopnina, H. and Blewitt, J., 2018. Sustainable business: Key issues.
Routledge.
Koziol, W., 2018. The concept of measurement and reporting of human
capital. In The Impact of Globalization on International Finance and
Accounting (pp. 311-318). Springer, Cham.
Lane, P. R., 2013. Financial globalisation and the crisis. Open Economies
Review. 24(3). pp.555-580.
Liuhto, K., 2019. Expansion or exodus: Why do Russian corporations invest
abroad?. Routledge.
Machingambi, S., 2014. The impact of globalisation on higher education: A
Marxist critique. Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology. 5(2).
pp.207-215.
Pauluzzo, R. and Shen, B., 2018. Impact of Culture on Management of
Foreign SMEs in China (Vol. 46). Springer.
Robinson, G. M., 2018. Globalization of agriculture. Annual Review of
Resource Economics. 10. pp.133-160.
Saud, S. and Chen, S., 2018. An empirical analysis of financial development
and energy demand: establishing the role of
globalization. Environmental Science and Pollution
Research. 25(24). pp.24326-24337.
Sifianou, M., 2013. The impact of globalisation on politeness and
impoliteness. Journal of Pragmatics. 55. pp.86-102.