International Business Environment: Benefits & Drawbacks for M&S

This research project investigates the influence of the international business environment on the growth of Marks & Spencer (M&S). It explores the conception of the global business environment, identifying benefits such as access to new customers and talent, and drawbacks like overseas regulations and cultural differences. The study uses a qualitative research approach, including literature review, questionnaires, and analysis of M&S's expansion strategies. It examines the impact of global operations on brand equity, cost management, and logistical challenges. The project outlines research activities, timelines, methodologies, and ethical considerations related to participant consent and data security, aiming to provide a comprehensive evaluation of M&S's international business performance and future prospects. The research also considers the role of global business environment and its impact on the growth of the company.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: To evaluate international business environment's
benefits & drawbacks over growth of the business. Study on Marks &
Spencer.
Title, objective, responsibilities
Title: To evaluate international business environment's benefits & drawbacks over
growth of the business. Study on Marks & Spencer.
Research Questions:
 What is the conception of international (global) business environment ?
 What are the different range of benefits and drawbacks of international business environment ? What can be considered as the impact on Marks and Spencer's growth of global business
environment ?
Research Objectives:
 To understand the conception of international (global) business environment.
 To identify different range of benefits and drawbacks of international business environment.
 To evaluate the impact on Marks and Spencer's growth of global business environment.
Reasons for choosing this research project
The rationale of conducting this investigation is to identify, what benefits and drawbacks that a company
like Marks and Spencer faces while expanding it's business as global level. Basically, Marks and Spencer
and other international business organisations looks forward to grow among different nations, so that to
expand both profitability and productivity as well. Here, while expanding business at international level,
it has been found that Marks and Spencer goes through ample number of situations, where they carry
various benefits and drawbacks as well, that may impact upon growth of the business in both positive and
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negative manner.
Away with this, another reason for conducting the investigation on this particular topic is that to enhance
the knowledge level and skills as well of the investigator, in regards to global business environment and
their impact upon companies, that are performing business at international level.
Literature sources search
Conception of international (global) business environment
According to Bathelt, Cantwell and Mudambi, (2018), global business environment can be
considered as a concept in which many countries are involved where ample number of business
organisations performs operations in regards to earn profit and to improve image of the brand. This
basically stays enclosed with various elements like decision making over number of things like resource
use along with the firm's capabilities.
Away with this, it can also be said that global business environment consists with both external
along with internal factors, but the major element stays enclosed with external environment, which
consists with various factors like economic, social, political, regulatory, tax, cultural, legal, technological
and many more others. In present time, various business international firms like Marks and Spencer,
Tesco and many more are operating at global level. In order to grow, in much effective and efficient
manner, it is important for companies to keep their focus over cultural values, perceptions and
innovations that a country is dealing with, in order to sustain within the market for a longer period of
time.
Different range of benefits and drawbacks of international business environment
Based on the viewpoints of Christopher, (2016), global business environment is carrying
different range of advantages and disadvantages for firms that are dealing at international level and some
of these are mentioned underneath:
Advantages: Reaching new customers: Global business environment aid a company like Marks and Spencer in
reaching to the public and turn them into customers. Accessing new talent: Working in a whole new area or a nation, it can be said that a firm like
Marks and Spencer gets a chance to employee number of candidates, that may directly bring
innovations. Amplifying the brand: Expanding a company's business (Marks and Spencer) away from the
national country, would carry ample number of effects over brand equity and upon company's
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logo, name and so on.
 Lowering costs: Increase among both quantity and supplies, will help firms in lowering the costs
of products and services.
Disadvantages: Overseas regulations and rules: Global operations of a particular business organisation, in
present time has to deal with paperwork and every single nation and it's own tax and employment
laws, which may create issues for a company at the time of growing the operations at international
level. Handling logistics: This can be considered as unavoidable consequence for all the business firms
at the time of expansion is something, where logistics effectively plays an important role
considerations while expanding business.
 Cultural Differences: Another problem, which may impact negatively upon business firm's
profitability and productivity as well
Impact on Marks and Spencer's growth of global business environment
Basically, Marks and Spencer can effectively gain ample number of benefits or it may also deal with
various issues as well, while expanding business at international level. It has been found that, Marks and
Spencer would require to focus upon various external factors as these may impact negatively upon their
profit margins, and the company may also deal with decrease among brand level as well.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
There are various activities that involves in the time scale of the research in
respect to providing support to the research work. The essential activities are
associated as below:
 Introduction
 Aim and objectives of the Research
 Literature Review
 Research Methodology
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis
 Conclusion & Recommendation
 Submission of the project
How long this
will take:
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Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: _______________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Gantt Chart
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Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use
and why? What your areas of research will cover:
Methodology: This is being considered as one of the crucial section within the investigation, that
helps researcher in selecting the best approach in a short span, so that research could easily pull out
favourable outcomes.
Type of Investigation: There are quantitative along with qualitative research methods that can be utilised,
within an investigation. In present context, researcher has considered qualitative method as, it is most
suitable tool for conducting the appropriate theoretic model in regards to addressing the research topic
that has been taken into consideration.
Research Philosophy: In present context, range of philosophies like interpritivism and positiveism that
can be utilised by investigator. In present context, interpritivism is said to be the philosophy that will be
utilised by researcher in order to conduct the investigation.
Research approach: There are basically two type of research approach, one is deductive and second one
is inductive. Both approaches are useful for conducting the investigation, inductive can be considered as
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the approach, which is used because at help an investigator in identifying the impact.
Primary and secondary source: Within primary method, investigator will utilise the questionnaire where
respondents will be asked with a range of questions. On the other hand, if it is talked about secondary
methodology then, a range of elements like books, journals, Magazines etc will be utilised in a short
span.
Sampling: For selecting sample size out of total number of individuals, which specifically has various
methods and most of them that are utilised in regards to non-random and random methods. Both methods
help an investigator to select sample size but according to the topic non-random method used and
selected the sample size of 50 respondents.
References
Books and Journals
Christopher, M., 2016. Logistics & supply chain management. Pearson UK.
Hanson, D., Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D. and Hoskisson, R. E., 2016. Strategic management:
Competitiveness and globalisation. Cengage AU.
Bathelt, H., Cantwell, J. A. and Mudambi, R., 2018. Overcoming frictions in transnational knowledge
flows: challenges of connecting, sense-making and integrating. Journal of Economic
Geography.18(5). pp.1001-1022.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted
for another qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date
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Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants
or the use of data collected form human participants are required to gain
ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all
relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed
research fully with your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time
before your research project is due to commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
Title: To evaluate international business environment's benefits & drawbacks over growth of the
business. Study on Marks & Spencer.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :
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Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
Considering the use of random sampling method as a part of non-random sampling, 50 respondents will
be selected so that research can easily be conducted.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are
doing:
The whole information, will be provided to the respondents, where questionnaire can be considered as
the main and essential process which will aid them in giving entire detail about the research topic.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it
be made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at
any time?
Considering the questionnaire as the primal tool, the researcher will information from participants, just
when they will fill consent form.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting
questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues
arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for
their informed consent to be observed.
Yes No
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Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief
explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This
could be a brief summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with
the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher and the tutor will be having the access of data along with personal
information.
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
Data will be stored and recorded in computer system.
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
USB and Google Drive.
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
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