Assessing Digital Technology's Impact on Marks and Spencer's Business

This report examines the impact of digital technology on Marks and Spencer's business activities. It begins with an introduction to digital technology and its adoption by businesses, followed by an evaluation of research aims and objectives. The report includes a project management plan, Gantt chart, work breakdown structure, and discusses quantitative and qualitative research methods. It analyzes research data using analytical tools, provides recommendations, and concludes with reflections and references. The project aims to identify the effects of digital technology, acknowledge its benefits, increase the customer base, expand the business, create awareness of social media techniques, improve promotional strategies, and provide a competitive advantage. The project management plan covers cost, scope, time, quality, communication, resources, and risk. The research methodology section details research philosophy, approach, design, and strategy. This report, contributed by a student, is available on Desklib for academic use.

MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE – Impact of Digital Technology on business activities .......................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
P1 Evaluation of Research Aims and Objectives .................................................................1
OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................................................1
P2. Project Management Plan for Marks and Spencer's........................................................2
P3. Gantt chart and work break down structure....................................................................3
P4. Small scale research through application of quantitative and quantitative research
methods...................................................................................................................................5
P5 Analysis of research data by using analytical tools and techniques.................................3
QUESTIONNAIRE.........................................................................................................................4
P6. Recommendation and conclusion..................................................................................11
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................1
P7. Reflection........................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

TITLE – Impact of Digital Technology on business activities
INTRODUCTION
Digital technology is a vast field which is adopted by various organisations for increasing
the efficiency of their activities. Research paper will discuss effect of digital technology on
business activities of Marks and Spencer. It will define methods of research that can help in
getting accurate findings.
P1 Evaluation of Research Aims and Objectives
The aim of the project is to acknowledge the impact of digital technology on various business
activities of Marks and Spencer. Nowadays technology has been digitalised; every process which
is included in business can be accomplished with the medium of various electronic devices that
can lead to make it more proficient and useful for achieving their goals and objectives. It has
been observed that the social media has an influential effect on several commercial processes.
It led to increase the possibilities of getting success by providing access to huge audience
instantly which is a major benefit of using this technology Social media is considered as an
increasing trend which provides opportunities for expanding their business in the market and
providing them an option for making effective strategies which can be useful for future purposes.
Various social media techniques leads to an option for effective promotion of their products
among customers situated in nation or across boundaries. Therefore, with respect to time every
business should be made more profitable by adopting digital technology for performing related
activities
OBJECTIVES
 To identify the effect of digital technology on business activities of Marks and Spencer
 To acknowledge the benefits of digital technology
 To increase the base of customers
 To expand the business in local as well as global markets
 To create awareness regarding the use of Social Media Techniques
 To improve promotional strategies of Marks and Spencer
 To provide competitive advantage over competitors
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P2. Project Management Plan for Marks and Spencer's
Project Management Plan is a process which helps the management team of an
organization to produce an effective and innovative plan which can be beneficial to increase the
customer rate and growth. It helps to identify how the project is executed, monitored and
controlled, and closed within the company. It is very important to make a project plan before
implementing any step. There are various factors which help to constitute or build an impressive
plan for Marks and Spencer's, for example, cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk and
resources which are explained below as follows:
 Cost: To implement digital technologies in Marks and Spencer's store, it requires a
certain amount of cost to complete the task. For this, they need products like software
system in which they will operate, computers, etc. All these factors are important as it is
the basic requirement for a project plan (Heagney, 2016). Estimated cost which can be
required to implement these digital technologies is explained below :
Name Estimated Cost
Market research Expenses £150.00
Utility Bills £100.00
Software Installation £500.00
Salaries £2,000.00
Administration Expenses £150.00
Other £200.00
Total £3,100.00
 Scope: The scope of the project is needed to meet the stated objectives for a company.
What are the requirements of the company from the project should be clear. There is a
huge scope for digital technologies in terms of operations, marketing, accounting, HR,
etc. Marks and Spencer's will have a great opportunity as this will increase their sales
production. They can improve their marketing strategies using social media platforms
like Facebook and twitter. They can even promote their brand by making their own
website on the internet which will give all required information to their customers related
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to their products. They can make an application which will be user friendly (Fleming, and
Koppelman, 2016). It will make their customer to buy clothes easily. It will save a lot of
their time.
 Time: Time is the most important aspect in a management system to work in proper
order. To implement all digital technologies into a company, system specific time period
should be allotted to all staff members working there. This will ensure that every task is
completed in time and with quality work.
 Quality: Assuring project quality is a function which must be accomplished by a
company involved in projects. Planning Quality and Cost Effectiveness in a project must
take place at the concept stage. Checking whether the work is according to assured
standard has to be done the company only (Kerzner, and Kerzner, 2017).
 Communication: Communicating with all the required companies and members which
are linked with the project management plan should be done very accurately. Any
communication gap between can affect the whole plan of the company. Proper meeting
should be organized by the company to make members understand their work.
 Resources: To implement all digital technologies in company, it requires resources
which can help them in this process. For this, the most important resource is Human
Resource or HR. It will help Marks and Spencer's to recruit skilled and qualified
candidates who have a good knowledge of internet and digital technology. This will help
them to understand the entire process much better.
 Risk: There are so many risks which can arise during the implementation of digital
technologies in company. For example, company does not have enough resource to
complete the task, or they don't have skilled employee to work on these new
technologies. These can be a difficult task for the company to cope up with (Newton, R.
2016).
P3. Gantt chart and work break down structure
Project Plan
Task Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors Resource
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Mode Names
Auto
Schedul
ed
Planning Phase 53 days Mon
6/18/18
Wed
8/29/18
Project
Manager
Auto
Schedule
d
Set Objective 2 days Mon
6/18/18
Tue
6/19/18
Finance,
HR
Auto
Schedule
d
Identify Obstacles 5 days Wed
6/20/18
Tue
6/26/18 2 HR
Auto
Schedule
d
Identify Key Companies 3 days Wed
6/27/18 Fri 6/29/18 3 HR
Auto
Schedul
ed
Implementation Phase 22 days? Mon
7/2/18
Tue
7/31/18
project
manager
Auto
Schedule
d
Strategy Determination 4 days Mon
7/2/18 Thu 7/5/18 2,4 HR
Auto
Schedule
d
Drawing Financial Road
Map 4 days Mon
7/2/18 Thu 7/5/18 4 Finance
Auto
Schedule
d
Selection Of Appropriate
Technique 3 days Fri 7/6/18 Tue
7/10/18 3,6,7
Physical,
HR,
Finance
Auto
Schedule
d
Allocation Of Resources 5 days Fri 7/6/18 Thu
7/12/18 7 HR
Auto
Schedule
d
Review 4 days? Wed
7/11/18
Mon
7/16/18 8 HR
Auto
Schedul
ed
Testing Phase 5 days Tue
7/17/18
Mon
7/23/18
Project
Manager
Auto
Schedule
d
Testing Software 5 days Tue
7/17/18
Mon
7/23/18 10
Technical
manager
Auto
Schedule
d
Improvement Stage 6 days Tue
7/24/18
Tue
7/31/18 12
HR,
Finance
Auto
Schedul
ed
Monitoring And
Controlling 4 days Wed
8/1/18
Mon
8/6/18
Project
Manager
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Auto
Schedule
d
Removing Lacking Points 3 days Wed
8/1/18 Fri 8/3/18 10,12,13
Physical,
Finance
Auto
Schedule
d
Maintenance 4 days Wed
8/1/18
Mon
8/6/18 13 HR
Auto
Schedul
ed
Closing 17 days Tue 8/7/18 Wed
8/29/18
Project
Manager
Auto
Schedule
d
Closure 17 days Tue 8/7/18 Wed
8/29/18 16 HR
P4. Small scale research through application of quantitative and quantitative research methods
Research methodology helps in analysis of essential aspects that involves important
methods which is required to be managed by scholar for accomplishing research objectives
effectively (McNiff, 2016). These important methods involve different techniques that help in
collection of data and interpretation of relevant outcomes of study to determine results. These
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are various quantitative and quantitative methods that clearly determines scholar for completion
of research on impact of digital technologies on business activities.
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These important business research methodologies are mentioned below:
 Research Philosophy: It implies to beliefs of scholar on methods and ways through
which data about phenomenon will be collected and analysed effectively. It usually deals
with nature source and development of knowledge. There are usually four kinds of
research philosophies such as positivism, post positivism, pragmatism, Realism and
interpretvitism. In this context, scholar needs to collect data on impact of digital
technologies on various important business activities. Positivism research philosophy is
analysed as an important method for compulsion of various methods that needs to be
achieved by other methods (Toye and et.al.,2016). It adheres to views that only factual
business knowledge has been gained through observation and measurement. In this,
researcher has been limited with collection of data and interpretation in an effective way.
Interpretvitism philosophies have been effectively based on the naturalistic approach of
data collection such as interviews and observation. For completion of this project,
scholar has utilized interpretvitism philosophy of research which provides support in
collection of data and achievement of objectives.
 Research Approach: this is considered as appropriate framework that consists of
various important steps related with broad assumptions towards detailed method of
collection of data, its analysis and systematic interpretation. There are usually two kinds
of research approaches which are used by scholar for carrying out research such as
deductive and inductive research (Tight, 2016). A deductive approach is related to the
development of hypothesis which is based on existing theories and designing of research
strategy for testing of hypothesis. In this research, scholar will carry out research on
analysing the impact of digital technology and it will ten
 Research Design: It refers to overall strategy that scholar has selected for integrating
various essential components of research in coherent and logical direction. Further, it also
provides support in addressing research problems effectively (Mackey and Gass, 2015).
It mainly consists of a proper blue print of study which is used for collection, calculation
and analysis of important data. Research design has been classified in different types
such as descriptive, exploratory, conclusive and analytical research design that will be
used by scholar to conduct research appropriately (Mebius, Kennedy and Howick, 2016).
Exploratory research design has been used with a purpose of generating in depth analysis
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in accordance with situation. Descriptive aimed at analysis of current problems
throughout the framework of data collection which enables them to convey situation
more completely then it was not possible without application of this effective method. In
this context, Descriptive design has been used by scholar to analyse current research
problems and identify resolution through data collection. It is effective as it helps to
determine the characteristics and behaviour of sample population.
 Research Strategy: It is considered as a step by step plan of action that usually provides
direction to thoughts and efforts of scholar and provides ability to carry out research
appropriately and on specific schedule to achieve quality results and detailed reporting.
Inductive approach usually initiates with observations and theories which have been
proposed towards ending of research process as result of different observations (Wright,
and et.al., 2016). In this research, survey and questionnaire methods are used by scholar
in Marks and Spencer to analyse data on impact of digital technologies on their business
activities.
 Sampling: It is a process that involves calculation and mathematical analysis for
selection of an adequate sample size from selected population of individuals. Sampling
methods also provide support in selection of participants for collection of information and
data through questionnaire, interview or survey etc (Panneerselvam, 2014). Techniques
of sampling are classified within two categories such as probabilistic and non-
probabilistic sampling. In this research, scholar utilized simple random sampling which
is the purest and straightforward strategy of probabilistic sampling. 30 employees of
M&S have been selected by scholar for this method. The main purpose behind selection
is that it will remove biases from process of selection and it will result in effective
representative samples.
 Data Collection Methods: An appropriate framework is used to gather data from all
important and relevant sources for identification of research problems, testing of
hypothesis and evaluation of proper and effective outcomes (McNiff, 2016). In this
research, there are mainly two kinds of data collection such as primary and secondary
method. Further, Scholar in this research has utilized both methods for collection of data
because it is effective in gathering both quantitative and qualitative data which helps in
making research more reliable. In primary method, Questionnaire is formulated and
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transferred to 30 employees for analysis of their view towards impact of digital
technology on business activities. Secondary data is gathered by scholar through analysis
of relevant articles, journals, literature, magazines, newspapers and books which are
already published.
 Data Analysis: It is also important process which is used for evaluation of data by using
analytical as well as logical reasoning for examination of each components of data
collection (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault, 2015). In this, data from different sources will
be collected, reviewed and analysis is done to formulate some sort findings or conclusion
(O'Leary, 2017). Percentage analysis method is used by scholar in this research for
interpretation of data and response of sample size. Graph and charts are also created to
clearly determine outcomes of research and helping user to understand results properly.
Data will be presented in percentage in order to make research more reliable and valid.
 Ethical Consideration: It implies ethical principles and values that needs to be
considered while carrying out research and collection of data (Neuman, 2013). In this
research, Proper consents from employees and their supervisors must betaken by scholar
to provide them clear information about research. Respondents were allowed to skip
questions if they not found it correct or face any problem in answering questions.
Information taken from secondary materials is properly cited by scholar.
P5 Analysis of research data by using analytical tools and techniques
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QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Do your company’s promotional activities include Social Media Techniques?
Yes
no
Might be
2. How much contribution does Digital technology has in your business activities?
Below 20%
Between 20%- 50%
Between 50%-80%
Above 80%
3. What kind of benefits you observed while implying Social Media technology in your
business activities?
Increase in sales
Competitive Edge
Effective Promotions
Customer attraction
All of the above
4. Among the provided choices, how many types of digital technology you have adopted
Cloud Computing
Social Media Techniques
Information System
Other
5. Do you find any disadvantages related to adopting digital system in the business?
Yes (mention)
No
6. Digital technology has lead to create _____ impact on the business.
Positive
Negative
Neutral
7. What are the other aspects which you discovered after adopting digital technology in the
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