Identifying the Impact of IT on M&S Performance and Productivity

This report investigates the impact of information technology (IT) on the performance and productivity of Marks & Spencer (M&S) within the UK fashion industry. The introduction highlights the significance of IT in modern business operations, particularly in the fashion sector, emphasizing its role in managing information and improving overall company performance. The research aims to identify the impact of IT implementation on M&S, focusing on developing a foundational understanding of IT in the UK fashion industry, determining the benefits of IT implementation for M&S, analyzing the challenges faced during IT implementation, and exploring effective solutions to overcome these challenges. The literature review provides a comprehensive overview of IT in the fashion industry, including its role in enhancing efficiency, supply chain management, and customer communication. It also discusses the benefits of IT, such as improved operational efficiency, streamlined communications, and better customer experiences. The report also explores the challenges of IT implementation, such as security concerns and the need for flexibility. The research methodology and findings are presented, followed by an analysis of the results, conclusions, and recommendations for M&S. The report emphasizes the importance of IT in achieving competitive advantages and maximizing profitability in the fashion industry.

Business and Management

Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
Research aim...............................................................................................................................1
Research objectives.....................................................................................................................2
Research questions .....................................................................................................................2
Rationale of research...................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................2
Knowledge regarding the information technology in context of UK fashion industry...............3
Information technology helps M&S within UK fashion industry in gaining of benefits............5
Challenges or issues that may be face by Marks & Spencer while implementing information
technology...................................................................................................................................7
Effective ways by which Marks & Spencer can easily eliminate the challenges associated
while implementation of information technology.......................................................................8
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................9
RESULTS FINDINGS..................................................................................................................13
ANALYSIS OF RESULT/ FINDINGS ........................................................................................24
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................26
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................28

Title: To identify the impact of implementing information technology on performance and
productivity of an organisation. A study on M&S within UK fashion industry
INTRODUCTION
Information technology is referring to the study, development, design and also support or
management of computer based information system. It is used to solve organisational problem on
a larger scale. Mainly, it is an equipment that used by business organisation with the aim of
handling all information in an effective manner. Also, it has been found that information
technology impacts on company's performance in different ways. In context to fashion industry,
proper management of information technology is one of the significant factor that contributes in
smooth functions of company in over the world. Furthermore, every activities of modern society
are linked with IT applications as it includes management of networks that support company in
implementing organisation activities in an effective manner (Berman, 2015). In addition to this,
IT brought radical changes within the functioning activities of fashion design professionals. This
can be improving the overall performance of business organisation by managing their activities
effectively. Current research is based on M&S, is a famous business organisation that operate
their business in retail industry. It is specialising in offering clothing, food products and home
products in market place. Company was founded in 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas
Spencer. As, it is fashion retailer so that information technology is one of the important part.
This will help in managing all the activities of company and also manage entire information
though which organisation can easily improve their overall performance level. This research
topic provide assistance to company in developing its positive brand image at market place. In
this, communication is major advantage that drive information technology as it helps in
communicating with large number of customers and at the same time also maintain their
necessary information. With the assistance of this, organisation can maximise their profitability
level.
Research aim
“To identify the impact of implementing information technology on performance and
productivity of an organisation. A study on M&S within UK fashion industry.
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Research objectives
 To develop basis idea about the information technology in context of UK fashion
industry.
 To determine the benefits that may be gain by M&S within UK fashion industry while
implementing information technology.
 To analyse challenges that would be face by M&S while implementing information
technology.
 To explore ways by which M&S can easily overcome challenges that are associated with
implementation of information technology.
Research questions
 Explain knowledge regarding the information technology in context of UK fashion
industry?
 How information technology helps M&S within UK fashion industry in gaining of
benefits?
 What are the challenges or issues that may be face by Marks & Spencer while
implementing information technology?
 What are the effective ways by which Marks & Spencer can easily eliminate the
challenges associated while implementation of information technology?
Rationale of research
One of the main purpose of undertaking current investigation is to evaluate the impact of
implementing information technology on performance and productivity of an organisation. It is
also carried out for personal and professional interest of researcher. This study provides them
assistance in enhancing their skills and knowledge that contributes in attaining better career
growth (Chuang and Huang, 2018). By this study, company also acquire detailed information
about how information technology support organisation in developing productiveness at market
place.
LITERATURE REVIEW
In undertaking investigation activities, literature review plays a critical role because it
summarised comprehensive study which is based on the previous investigation. It provides
detailed information through which investigator can easily take right judgement. Mainly,
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literature review is also based on the scholarly articles, books, journals and many other. With the
assistance of this, researcher can easily draw a valid conclusion at the end of the investigation.
Along with this, section of literature review is also including view point of different authors on
the basis of specified research topic that contributes in addressing particular issue present in
research.
Knowledge regarding the information technology in context of UK fashion industry
According to Dubey and et. Al., (2017), Information technology is an important aspect
within the company that refers to the electronically storing, receiving and transmitting of all the
necessary data which help business in enhancing their overall performance level. As per current
scenario, IT play a significant role in the apparel industry because it help in making the task
easier and manageable as well. Along with this, fast fashion needs to change the working
activities and models of clothing manufacturing. As it is cluster of computer technology that
support business organisation in storing as well as providing accurate information to their
customers about its offering product and services. Furthermore, information technology also
includes both software and hardware part that manage all the necessary data. This can be
beneficial in improving the effectiveness of entire business operation. One of the main advantage
of implementing information technology is that it helps in resolving issues and provide them
assistance in smoothly running the business activities. In relation to this, IT department also play
a crucial role in handling different functions and also keep all the things systematically. As,
department of IT also able to automate and also create processes that is used for their day to day
activities. With the help of this business can continues to run their operational activities
smoothly. Basically, in fashion industry, the IT department is also related or aligned with the set
goals and objectives of company that transparent in its procedures in an effective way. It may aid
business to attain appropriate input that make overall performance more competitive.
In addition to this, every business organisation is concern for security and connectivity to
maintain a proper standard of services. In this IT is consider as a best activity that not only
resolve the challenges but also increase the possibilities of improving organisational activities.
Now a day's, information technology is a critical or significant part of textile and fashion
industry as it assists in attaining competitive organisational success. In order to get success in
market place, manager of company is responsible for focusing in synchronizing all the crucial
factor and at the same time also develop appropriate synergies of all the inside and outside
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organisational operations. This can be make entire activities and information more effective
through which company can run their business very smoothly. Due to increased competition in
market place, fashion industry take support of IT within the aim of enhancing as well as
improving their supply chain management. This can be beneficial in maximizing profitability
level of the company by serving best quality of services to its customers. Furthermore, textile
company also leveraging the power of technological activities that contributes in adding value
within the business. As information technology used for storing as well as managing their
information about the operational activities and customers. By this, firm can reduce the
possibilities of arising any kind of issues and obstacles in executing their functional aspects in
market place. In addition to this, supply chain management is also get enhanced through proper
information technology as it includes sourcing, procuring, converting and implementing all the
crucial logistic activities that used for eliminating the wastage and at the same time maximising
the profitability level at marketplace. It also leads to increasing the transaction speed by
managing and exchanging data in real time. The main advantage of information technology for
fashion company is that it reduces inventory or maximising sales volume by providing or
fulfilling customers’ requirements more efficiently. Without information technology and proper
system support may reduce the efficiency level as each and every activities or department
including HR, finance, communications, finance, sales and many more are depending with the
information system that provide a path in which operational activities can be done effectively.
Apart from this, in case fashion industry includes information technology within their functional
activities that it can easily protect the integrity of data and also keep it safe from any kind of
technological threats and challenges.
Apart from this, information technology is also used for implementing communication
with the assistance of network and email as it plays a significant role in interacting internally and
externally. As per modern scenario, organisation communication has been developed through
chats and Voice over internet protocol and telephones as well. It also includes appropriate
inventory management system that allow company to analyse as well as track stocks. With the
help of this, company can be maximising their efficiency level by including optimum utilisation
of resources at the time of manufacturing products and services. This is the reason that company
invest in technology that provide opportunities to attain competitiveness in market place.
Basically, information technology includes management of information system that used to
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automate as well as support business tasks activities that contributes in taking proper decision
within the business as it also implement to automate simple, routine task including word
processing, advanced process and many more. In this regards, information technology enables
business to execute as well as operate efficiently and profitably that provide assistance in
capturing competitive advantage from its competitors. Fashion industry have used software,
computer or transform of internet within their business to manage their day to day activities that
keep entire activities of efficient and effective as well. In this regard, technology has been forced
business organisation to remain flexible so that adopting entire new operations and better
advanced technological effectively. Use of information technology may also consist combination
of process improvements, reduction in cost, effective communications and appropriate quality
assurance that assist company to remain competitive and also get favourable advantage within
the company.
Information technology helps M&S within UK fashion industry in gaining of benefits
According to Donohoe, (2019), Information technology play a significant role in business
organization as it helps in managing as well as storing all the necessary information. In addition
to this, it helps company in making productive and at the same time also increase the
performance level. With the help of this, information technology company can save money and
also improve the customers experience, streamline communications that make proper managerial
decision making activities. This make organizational activities in improving customer’s
experiences that support in increasing the profitability level. In addition to this, IT also provide
assistance to company in expanding its business activities at global level and also allow staff
members to access information whenever and wherever they want. In context to fashion industry,
information technology is also used to communicate information to the customers. Mainly, this
type of technologies includes internet of things, artificial intelligence and many more. These are
play a crucial role in making all the operational activities more effective and smooth in nature. In
relation to this, there are some advantages of implementing information technologies for
business organisation which contributes in maximising the profitability level at market place. All
these benefits can be understood by following points:
 More efficient day to day operations: In fashion industry, another benefit of information
technology is to improve the efficiency of operations so that business organisation can
easily be completing their task activities in an effective way. This is possible with the
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help of enterprise software and centralised company data base. By this, organisation can
monitor inventory system and also at the same time also checks the real time level. In
addition to this, customer’s relationship management software is also effective that
automated sales and marketing task. This will lead in managing daily operational
activities that directly support in attaining competitive advantage from its competitors at
market area.
 Improved organisational communication: One of the important use of information
technology for business organisation is that it supports in communicating via different
platform including email, video chat, conferencing software, company intranets and
many more. In this context, IT also allow business to hold virtual meeting with their
employees and customers around the world without any kind of spending time and
money. One of the major advantage of information technology is to save cost of the
company because employees work remotely within the business.
 Better customer’s experiences: IT is considering as an important activity for business
organisation because it helps in making easier to give positive experience with the help of
improved customers services, effective e-commerce and easier customized. This can be
beneficial in improving customers experience towards the company and its offerings as
well. Information technology also being able to reach the customers as they conveniently
interact with company over its developed websites. For this, social media, email and
custom instant messaging services also used by business to communicate with their
customers. Along with this, IT is also beneficial in tracking customers previous
purchased through marketing software. By this, company can send customized promotion
to meet customers’ needs and wants. With the assistance of this, company also get
positive customer experience and at the same time also enhance their sales volume.
 Information technology and business decision making: In business organisation, the main
role of information technology is to make a proper decision that has been seen in tools
like ERP software and effective decision support system that directly contributes to
manager in improving the performance level. This type of system provides online
dashboard along with proper information towards company related with financial
performance, customers, marketing and sales volume. All these type of information used
by manager of company to decide that which kind of products is promote or stop selling.
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In this, information technology provides proper assistance to manager in analysing the
accurate decision.
Challenges or issues that may be face by Marks & Spencer while implementing information
technology
According to Godinho Filho, Ganga and Gunasekaran, (2016), In business organisation,
information technology is a crucial part in developing as well as implementing entire activities. It
also used for managing or storing huge data that help company in eliminating the issue of any
kind of threat. With the help of information technology, business organisation can communicate
with large number of customers. On the other side, it provides benefits to the company but also
having some drawbacks of information technology that faced by company in executing their
operational activities:
 Safety: It is considering as a major issue of challenges that company face at the time of
implementing information technology. In this safety or cybersecurity is major challenge
as company has amount of data, identities and personal information that they share and
interact daily. Due to huge interaction and sharing information, keeping all the data safe
and secure is become a challenge for company. If organisation fail in managing the same,
then negative image of the firm can be developing that may reduce its customer base.
 Accessibility: In business organisation, accessibility and availability is important because
it may improve entire operational activities in an appropriate way. Thus, it is significant
for business organisation to manage all the data accessible for higher authority so that
they can manager their entire necessary information. Without authority to access data,
company face issue in managing all the necessary information safe. Due to this, business
organization can create issue in accessibility that may put negative impact over the entire
activities of company.
 Strong Networks: It is crucial for business organisation to have strong internal networks
so that each and every activities of company can easily have completed without any kind
of issue or challenges. This is not only providing solutions to satisfy current necessities
but also focus over the future and technological advancement. Thus, company is
responsible for analysing or having strong network that can be effective for attaining
higher productiveness at market place.
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 System integration: In order to improve their performance, it is crucial to make sure that
all the different services, technologies and language are effectively integrating. Mainly,
implementing IT within the business is challenging activity as huge limitation and issues
are arising that reduce the effectiveness of organization. With the help of strong
integration of different technologies may also aid in improving the systems and also keep
all the necessary data safe and secure as well.
 Cost reduction: At the time of implementing information technology, cost reduction is
one of the fundamental aspect within the extrapolation of continuous technological
advancement in fashion industries. In this regards, manager of IT department is also
responsible for analysing as well as developing new technological solution. This may
assist in developing the overall performance of company without any kind of issue or
obstacles in implementing information technology.
Effective ways by which Marks & Spencer can easily eliminate the challenges associated while
implementation of information technology
According to Gunasekaran and et. Al., (2017), Implementing information technology is
not an easy task for company because it required proper management of all the necessary data
and information. The main focus of information technology is to manage day to day operational
activities that may support in developing overall performance of company at market place. In
addition to this, it is also significant for business organisation to analyse overall risk and its
management capabilities that may assist in eliminating the possibilities of arising any kind of
issue and obstacles at the time of implementing information technology. In relation to this, there
are some appropriate ways that can be used by business organisation to manage or eliminate the
issue faced at the time of implementing information technology are as follows:
 Practical steps to improve IT security: It is significant for business to maintain proper
IT security at the time of implementing information technology within the business
activities as it can be beneficial in protecting entire IT system and data as well. In
addition to this, business also use anti-virus and anti-spyware protection and firewalls
that contributes in developing smooth operational activities. It also includes some
appropriate ways to improve IT security within the company. These are follows:
◦ Keep passwords secure
◦ Provide proper training to staff in IT policies and procedures implement in business
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◦ Effectively understand the legal obligation for online business activities.
◦ Update software regularly
◦ Secure computers, servers and all the wireless networks
 Create a secure online presence: In order to eliminate as well as reduce the issue of
implementing information technology, strong online presence is one of the important
aspect for company. By this, company can easily assess the security of websites, email
accounts, social media profiles and online banking as well.
 Induction and IT training for staff members: Regardless of whether another
innovation professes to be "easy to use," workers actually should be prepared. Not every
person can take to new innovation so effectively, so a little help is expected to ensure
everybody's ready. Preparing new staff and existing staff according to organization's IT
arrangements and methodology. An enlistment can assist worker with feeling good and
comprehend their obligations and business rapidly. Offering help and preparing for new
representatives is a basic part of staff preparing. With the assistance of this technique
organization can Implement new programming inside a business which is significant
method of improving execution and beating the contest. Key changes to ventures and
markets imply that the manner in which associations work is getting more subject to
computerized advancements to meet client assumptions.
 Business insurance: Picking the correct protection cover is a significant piece of
overseeing business, as it assists with overseeing and diminish likely dangers. Being
uninsured or under protected is hazardous, as it opens to expected misfortunes if
something turns out badly in the business. Similarly, having some unacceptable sort of
protection can be a misuse of cash. Organization ought to consistently survey and update
protection, particularly when your business develops or changes. In spite of the fact that
occasionally it is unimaginable for a business to forestall or keep away from all IT
dangers and dangers. This makes business protection a fundamental piece of IT hazard
the executives and recuperation arranging.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology play a crucial role in undertaking an investigation as it provides
appropriate framework in which researcher is responsible for acquiring as well as analysing
relevant data and information on the basis of particular research and objectives (Le Bas, Mothe
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and Nguyen-Thi, 2015). In addition to this, it also includes various methods and techniques that
applied by investigator with the aim of collecting reliable data so that valid and authentic results
can be easily attained. This is the reason that researcher needs to select appropriate method for
carried out an investigation as it may beneficial in improving the possibilities of attaining
positive outcomes that make overall researcher more effective and valid in nature. In order to
gather accurate information, there are various methods which can be understood by following
points:
Choice of data: At the time of undertaking research activities, there are various choices
in-front of investigator for acquiring data towards the research topic. Thus, it is crucial for
researcher to select appropriate one so that valid conclusion can be drawn (O’Neill, Sohal and
Teng, 2016). Mainly, it is classified on the basis of two methods including quantitative and
qualitative research. Both are effective for carry out the research but for current investigation,
quantitative method is appropriate as it help in gathering data which is measurable in nature. In
context to this, it also used for analysing all the numerical data that can be effective in addressing
the research problem in an appropriate way. It deals with data that are numerical or also
converted into numbers to draw a reliable result at the end of the investigation.
Research approach: It is considering as an important activity that is related with the
appropriate plan and procedure that includes steps of broad assumption that used to collect,
analyse and interpretation of data. Basically, it is divided into two categories such as inductive
and deductive research approach. In this, deductive approach is used to test validity of all the
assumption and on the other side, inductive research approach is also contributing to emergence
of new theories. In order to execute this investigation, deductive research approach will be
applied by investigator that focus on evaluating data by developing hypothesis and convert into
observation test to accept the results. This is beneficial in gathering quantitative data that help
investigator in making appropriate decision within the research activities.
Research philosophy: While carried out the investigation, it is focus on dealing with the
sources and development of knowledge on the basis of particular research topic and area (Pakdil
and Leonard, 2015). Mainly, it is belief or a way in which data should be gathered, analysed and
interpretation data in order to draw a valid conclusion at the end of the investigation. It is divided
into two methods such as positivism and interpretivism research philosophy. As per current
investigation, researcher will apply positivism research philosophy because it includes the views
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