Project Proposal: Implementing Lean Six Sigma in UK Retail (M&S)

This project proposal investigates the implementation of Lean Six Sigma within the UK retail sector, specifically focusing on Marks & Spencer (M&S). The research aims to identify critical success factors influencing the implementation of Lean Six Sigma, understand the concept and usage of the methodology, and explore the challenges organizations face during its implementation. The proposal includes a literature review covering the concept and usage of Lean Six Sigma, critical success factors, and implementation complications. The research methodology outlines the approach, design, philosophy, sampling, data collection, and analysis methods. The project also includes a project plan, risk management strategies, and preliminary data analysis, culminating in conclusions, findings, and recommendations for effective Lean Six Sigma implementation. The research underscores the importance of continuous improvement, waste reduction, and customer satisfaction in the retail industry.

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Acknowledgement
I would like to express my gratitude towards manager of the company and all participants
who supported me in making this research successful. With the help of them I made this research
on the time. I also want to thank to my teacher who teach me that how to conduct research step
by step. I am highly indebted to M&S which is a major British retailer located in United
Kingdom, for their super guidance as well as constant supervision regarding this project. They
believed me and gave me a chance to conduct this research for accomplishing their pre
determined goals like determining success factors that can affect the implementation of Lean six
sigma process within their company. In addition, I would also like to thank to staff of the
company who gave me their time and attention in developing this project.

Abstract
This present research has been carried out on Marks and Spencer company operating in
retail sector. The reason for choosing this topic is that organization are now facing huge quantity
of wastage that affected the profitability and productivity of organization. The very first thing
when it comes to research methodologies or carrying the research study is the selection of
research methods on which the entire research will be based on. It ensured by the operation's
management that the strategies of Six Sigma methodology must be linked to the needs and
expectations of customers. Researcher also used qualitative methods for transforming
informations or data analysis. By supporting literature review study also concluded secondary
research factors which affecting the process of implementation besides, it better helps the study
to make the things more effectively consumed and better effective process.

Table of Contents
RESEARCH PROPOSAL...............................................................................................................1
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................1
BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................1
RESEARCH QUESTION, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.................................................................2
Research Aims:...........................................................................................................................2
Research Objectives:...................................................................................................................2
Research Questions:....................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................2
Theme 1: Concept and usage of Lean Six Sigma methodology.................................................2
Theme 2: Critical success factors affecting the implementation of Lean Six Sigma Approach
within organisation functions and operations in UK retail sector. .............................................3
Theme 3: Complication's organisation faced in the implementation of Lean Six Sigma
methodology................................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................5
PROJECT PLAN.............................................................................................................................7
RISK MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................11
Introduction to topic..................................................................................................................11
Overview of the company.........................................................................................................11
Problem statement.....................................................................................................................12
Importance of research..............................................................................................................13
Aims And Objectives.....................................................................................................................13
Rationale...................................................................................................................................14
Significance...............................................................................................................................14
CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................15
Theme 1: Concept and usage of Lean Six Sigma methodology...............................................15
Theme 2: Critical success factors affecting the implementation of Lean Six Sigma Approach
...................................................................................................................................................17

Theme 3: Complication's which organization face in the implementation of Lean Six Sigma
methodology..............................................................................................................................20
CHAPTER 3- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ..........................................................................24
Research methods:....................................................................................................................24
Research approach:...................................................................................................................24
Research design:........................................................................................................................25
Research philosophy:................................................................................................................25
Sampling:..................................................................................................................................25
Data collection:.........................................................................................................................26
Data analysis:............................................................................................................................27
Ethical consideration:................................................................................................................27
CHAPTER- 4 Data & Analysis .....................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
Thematic Interpretation....................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 5 DATA ANALYSIS ................................................................................................15
Conclusion & Findings.............................................................................................................15
Recommendation.......................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
TITLE
Implementation of Lean Six Sigma in UK retail sector: A study on Marks and Spencer.
BACKGROUND
Six Sigma is a business strategy that enables organisation to raise their profit by
optimizing of operation's, up-rising quality and get rid of waste. Lean Six Sigma is a method that
relies on a collaborative team efforts to improve the performance by systematically removing the
waste and reducing the variation and minimizing the variations (Sunder, 2016). It combines lean
enterprises or lean manufacturing and Six Sigma in order to eliminate eight kind of waste such as
defects, overproduction, waiting, not utilizing, stock excess, motion waste and excess processing.
By implementing this methodology organisation can better fulfils the neds of customers. Six
Sigma is not concise to removal of waste but it is encourages a continuous chain of
improvements.
M&S is a major British retailer located in United Kingdom. Company was founded in
1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. Company is mainly known for selling high quality
of clothes, food products and home products. Marks and Spencer is facing heavy loss due to
falling of customer base and corporate sales as in 2018, managers have announced that 14 shops
were getting closed and if things will not work, it may be reach to the closure of 100 shops.
Thus, in order to remove the waste and optimize the production process, Six Sigma
methodology is implemented to solve these kinds of issues (Costa and et.al., 2018). In addition to
this, organisations in retail industry is facing more issues like excess stock, overproduction,
waiting etc. that ultimately result in less customer satisfaction. So, with the implementation of
this approach, organisation can able to satisfy their customers by minimizing the cycle of waste,
improving the product and services delivery time along with reducing the level of inventory.
This research is highly beneficial in both corporate and academic sector. It creates values
of students who are learning and getting eduction and knowledge of Six Sigma philosophy and
organisation development and continuous improvement. On the other hand, this research is also
valuable for the corporate sector as they will get to understand the critical success factors for the
implementation of Six Sigma methodology within their operations (Jayaram, 2016).
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RESEARCH QUESTION, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Research Aims:
“To determine the critical success factors affecting the implementation of Lean Six Sigma
within organisation operation and functions in UK retail sector. A study on H&M”.
Research Objectives:
 To comprehend the concept and usage of Lean Six Sigma methodology.
 To determine the critical success factors affecting the implementation of Lean Six Sigma
Approach within organization functions and operations in UK retail sector.
 To identify the complication's organization faced in the implementation of Lean Six
Sigma methodology.
 To provide ways for the effective implementation of Lean Six Sigma Methodology.
Research Questions:
11 What is the concept and usage of Lean Six Sigma methodology?11 What are the critical success factors affecting the implementation of Lean Six Sigma
Approach within organisation functions and operations in UK retail sector?11 What are the complication's organisation faced in the implementation of Lean Six Sigma
methodology?11 What are the ways for the effective implementation of Lean Six Sigma Methodology?
LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme 1: Concept and usage of Lean Six Sigma methodology.
According to the Muturi and et.al., (2015) Six Sigma methodology is a tool and
techniques which is used to improve the process of manufacturing. This approach of continuous
improvement mainly relies on the collaborative efforts of team members in order to improve the
performance of the organization by systematically removing the waste as well as minimizing the
differences. The main purpose of using this approach is that is make sure the standard quality
and better customer satisfaction. The main intention of implementing or using this approach is
not only eliminating all those things which do not contribute to what customers is willing to pay
for. But Mason, Nicolay and Darzi, (2015) argued that, six sigma the processes and system of
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business minute to minute and generate huge amount of data that consumer huge amount of time
and makes the process highly complicated. However, Deblois and Lepanto, (2016) said that, lean
includes various types of principles and methods which are Kaizen knows for the principles of
continuous improvement depends of recommendations of employees; Kanban known for
customer demand “pull” the product through the process of production; TPM knowns as Total
productive maintenances is applied to minimize the equipment downtime; TQM, called as Total
Quality Management that relies on improving the quality of products and services; 5S;
Amending quality and raising efficiency through cleaning and getting things organized. These
are the principles which organization applied in Lean processes.
As per the findings of Wang, Yeh and Chu, (2016) six sigma aims to make the processes
and system of organization effective and efficient with -99.99996 percent free from defect.
Organisation used six sigma process is to reduce the defects as these are one of most see able
example of waste where this approach helps to define it that enable to meet the commercialized
specification. However, Albliwi and et.al., (2017) overproduction is also a big issues in
organisation operations where six sigma approach is used where goods are produced more than
demanded by the customers. Excess inventory affects the profitability of organisation so to
overcome this issues, organisation used this methodology for better management of inventory.
Even so, Shokri, Waring and Nabhani, (2016) said that six sigma approach requires skilled work
force separate because of minute to minute identification of defects in the operations. So, the
dedication of employees is hard to execute of its it implemented constantly.
Theme 2: Critical success factors affecting the implementation of Lean Six Sigma Approach
within organisation functions and operations in UK retail sector.
According the Lande, Shrivastava and Seth, (2016) Critical success factors are attributes
or activities which should receive attention and priority by management as they drive the
performance towards the growth and development. Lean Six Sigma approach is the best way to
amend the performance of the organisation by having the control on defects and wastage. There
are some critical success factors which are associated with the implementation of lean Six Sigma
approach within organisation (Critical Success Factors of Implementation of Six Sigma, 2018.).
The executive engagement is one of the critical success factor associated with the installation of
this methodology, it is quite important that executives or managers should have visible strategies
and consistence support as well as active role in communication along with rewards-recognition.
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Further, it is also important that there must be proper linkage of lean six sigma approach to
corporate strategies. It will bring more effective results if there is an effective alignment between
them. However, Lande Shrivastava and Seth, (2016) said that, distributing roles, responsibilities
and accountabilities, it is important to implement and install this philosophy within organisation
operations and functions. Everyone should understand their roles so that it do not create
confusion and bring productivity among them.
As per the views of Zhang and et.al., (2016) communication is another critical success
factors associated with Lean Six Sigma methodology. It is important to create and communicant
the human resource plan that directly and indirectly support the roles of Six Sigma methodology.
Human resource plans include that help in searching of skills, hiring and recruiting, training and
development. Plan will also help in defining and clearing the roles and responsibilities efficiently
to each member of the organisation. However, Laureano and Antony, (2017) stated that, it is also
very important to conduct regular meeting with staff members and communicate the success and
achievement in the customer satisfaction and sales increment. It is essential to communicate the
to the point factors about the methodology in each and every meeting held in the organisation.
Heizer, Render and Munson, (2016) said that projects is also said to be one of the critical
success factors which is important as organisation should have to establish a documented one
year Six Sigma project inventory and makes them refresh and update on regular basis.
Theme 3: Complication's organisation faced in the implementation of Lean Six Sigma
methodology.
According to the Shahid, (2015) There are some major complications that organisations
faced in the implementation of Lean Six Sigma methodology within operation's and functions. It
is quite important to overcome them on time because it affects the outcomes. Lack of leadership
commitment is one of the major challenge that organisation faced with the implementation of
this methodology. It is essential to have successful leaders for the installation of this
methodology and it enables to lead the system effectively. It is very crucial to adopt an effective
leadership style so that this methodology can be implemented with the same spirit. However,
Shinoda, (2018) said that incomplete understanding of Six Sigma Methodologies is another
issues that companies suffer with the implementation of this methodology. It has been noticed
that organisation run fast before understanding the detailed concept of the methodology because
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of the enthusiasm to reap the advantages of implementation of this particular methodologies.
Some companies only implement this model to impress there shareholders but it is fact that if Six
Sigma is introduced and deployed in the production process and system without proper
allocation and availability of resources, it suffers huge failure. In order to overcome this obstacle,
companies could make all the key resources available before and during the implementation of
Six Sigma Methodologies as well as it also required full fledged knowledge and understanding of
this methodology either by calling expert or any other option (Complication's organization faced
in the implementation of Lean Six Sigma methodology, 2018).
As per the findings of Shamsuzzaman and et.al., (2018) poor execution is another
challenges that companies faced in the effective implementation of Six Sigma Methodology or it
can be with any other implementation. Poor execution happens when there is not alignment
process improvement and goals of the company. It is will definitely bring negative result to the
company. So, it is essential to make the proper alignment and justification between the
improvement process or Six Sigma methodology and objectives of the firm.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Methods:
To make the research study fully organized, it is quite necessary to have the specific type
of research. Research methods are the tools and techniques used to collect the data for the
investigation. Quantitative and Qualitative are two methods (Bernard, 2017). The research
methods that is mainly concerned with the application of numerical, statistical data to solve the
research problems or collection of data is called as quantitative methods. On the flip side, the
research methods that deploys feelings, views, words and all non-quantifiable components
instead of any statistical tools is called as qualitative data. Researcher will opt qualitative method
for determining the critical success factors affecting the implementation of Lean Six Sigma
within organisation operation and functions in UK retail sector as it will provide in-depth
information.
Research Approach:
After the selection of methods of research, now researcher will look over the research
approaches, It is the logical process or techniques that consist of wide assumptions regarding the
comprehensive technique of collection, analysing and interpretation of data. There are mainly
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two types of research approaches which are inductive and deductive (Opie, 2019). The type of
approach that deals with the development of new theory which is developed from the collected
data is recognised as inductive approach and it is mainly associated with the qualitative type of
study. While, deductive approach is connected with quantitative type of research and it develops
hypothesis on the basis of existing theory. Research will opt inductive approach as it will bring
more effective outcomes in qualitative research study.
Data Collection:
After the selection of sample type and size, the process of data collection begins. The
process to gather the data regarding the subject matter is called as data collection process.
Primary and Secondary are two types of data collection. When data is first hand, fresh and
collected by the researcher own efforts is called as primary methods. For example, observation,
interview, survey etc. But when, data is duplication and based on past information and collected
from any other sources is called as secondary methods (Yeakley and et.al., 2016). For example,
books, articles, blogs, journals, diary, government publication etc. researcher will opt both the
methods for data collection as for secondary methods and will collect the secondary information
form books, journals and articles. The reason for selecting secondary method is that is very less
time consuming and readily available as well as it is very convenient mode of collecting the
information. Scholar will also ensured that the data collected must be from authentic and valid
sources.
Data Analysis:
The information or data collected is raw and it is not usable information for completing
the research. So, researcher have to clean, transform, synchronize the data to make them in
organized form and this process is called as data analysis. There are two methods Quantitative
and Qualitative for analysis of data (Mihas, 2019). Researcher will opt Qualitative methods for
data analysis where thematic analysis will be done. Researcher will prepared themes and than
support them with the view point of author.
Ethical Consideration:
PROJECT PLAN
Task
Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
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Research proposal 2 days Fri 7/19/19 Mon 7/22/19
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Aims and objectives 3 days Tue 7/23/19 Thu 7/25/19 1
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Literature review 5 days Fri 7/26/19 Thu 8/1/19 2
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Research methodologies
and Risk Evaluation 4 days Fri 7/26/19 Wed 7/31/19 2
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Data collection 7 days Fri 8/2/19 Mon 8/12/19 3,4
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Data analysis 4 days Tue 8/13/19 Fri 8/16/19 5
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Data interpretation 4 days Mon 8/19/19 Thu 8/22/19 6
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Finding and conclusion 3 days Mon 8/19/19 Wed 8/21/19 3,6
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Recommendations 1 day Fri 8/23/19 Fri 8/23/19 7,8
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Execute the plan 2 days Mon 8/26/19 Tue 8/27/19 9
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