Project Report: Impact of Digital Technology on M&S Business

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of a project focused on the impact of digital technology on Marks & Spencer (M&S). The report begins with an introduction to the topic and outlines the project's objectives, aims, and research questions, followed by a detailed project management plan addressing scope, risk management, quality control, cost, time, and communication. The report then presents a Gantt chart and work breakdown structure to visualize the project's timeline and tasks. The research methodology includes qualitative and quantitative research methods, with a questionnaire used to gather primary data. The analysis of the research findings is presented using techniques and tools, including charts and interpretations of the data collected. The report concludes with recommendations for M&S and an evaluation of the value of undertaking the research to meet the stated objectives. The report also includes references to relevant literature.

Managing a
Successful Business
Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
P1 Objectives and aims of project...............................................................................................1
P2 Project management plan with time, cost, scope, quality, communication and risk.............2
P3 Gantt chart and work breakdown structure for complete the proposed project.....................3
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................5
P4 Carry out research with help of qualitative and quantitative research methods....................5
TASK 3 ..........................................................................................................................................6
P5 Use of techniques and tools for analyse research..................................................................6
P6 Recommendations to draw meaningful conclusion.............................................................13
TASK 4 .........................................................................................................................................13
P7 Value of undertaking research to meet stated objectives.....................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Technology is the factor which has changed the traditional process of business. Today
every enterprise use technology and various technical tools to execute its commercial activities.
This make the firm able to manufacture products as per the requirements of customers and better
satisfy their needs (Huizingh, 2011). This offer various communication tools to company to
interact with target customers. M&S a British multinational corporation based in United
Kingdom is taken under this report for study. Company deal in variety of products including
clothing, food, home products and many more. Enterprise wants to expand its business operation
with help of technique and at the same time wants to get whole control in its hands. Project
management plan through which manager can execute all activities in an effective ways is given
in this report.
TASK 1
P1 Objectives and aims of project
Technology offers a wide range of techniques and tools to enterprises which can be used
by them for achieving success and growth. All activities of small enterprises such as marketing,
accounting and promotion have been improved by advances in communication technology,
network and computer. In today’s era, all industries adapt the same on continuous basis to take
maximum benefit of technology development. One of the main benefits of technology is that it
supports organisation to operate effectively on daily basis. From laptop computers and
capabilities of internet, various web based applications, online file storage and transfer impact on
commercial operations of firm of different sectors (Bock, and et. al., 2012). Technology has the
potential to impact on commercial activities of business in both positive and negative way
depend on the objectives, goals, products produce by firm and how well the employees adapt the
technology. This has changed the way of conducting business of enterprises and support small
businesses to execute operations as per the level of large firms. Different types of technical tools
such as mobile devices, laptop and many more are used by small companies to get competitive
benefit. Implementation of technology should be considered by owners of small firms while plan
business operations to expand its activities (Inauen and Schenker-Wicki, 2011). This support
managers in carrying out its activities with effective use of technology available. Use of
technology helps organisation in accessing various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and
many more and this provides an opportunity to firm to interact with more individuals and
1

encourage them to buy company's product. All this enhances effectiveness of communication
process and increases the sales of company's products. Marks and Spencer (M&S) is a British
multinational retailer that deals in home products, clothing, luxury and food products. Company
has an effective channel of distribution. Firm launched M&S website which was hosted by
Amazon platform but now, company want to take control of its online business. This can be
achieved with the help of digital technology.
Aim: The impact of digital technology on business activity at Marks and Spencer
Objectives:
 To examine the impact of technology on implementation of business activities.
 To ascertain the requirement of transformation of commercial operations. To determine effectiveness of technology on communication process.
Research Questions:
 What is the impact of technology on implementation of business activities?
 What is the requirement of transformation of commercial operations?
 What is the effectiveness of technology on communication process?
P2 Project management plan with time, cost, scope, quality, communication and risk
Project management plan is known as written document that is prepared by firms for
completing a specific project. Before executing any activity related with a project, it is very
essential for enterprise to formulate this as it consists of information about time, communication,
scope and quality of project required (Dewa and Ren, 2011). As M&S wants to operate or
execute its activities with the help of technology so, preparing a project management plan is very
essential for the company. This supports and provides direction to manager to implement the
project in an effective manner. Further, this aids in completing the project in given time with
minimum cost. Absence of this plan creates delays, increases cost and decreases quality of
business activities. For operating with help of technology or expand business activities with
technology it is very essential for M&S to formulate a project management plan and given things
must be consider in that plan: Scope of project: Requirements and needs of individuals are changing on a fast speed as
improvement and development is taking place in technology (Amit and Zott, 2012) .
This enhances the scope of business operation of a firm. It encourages company to use
2

technology for add features in product and attract more individuals towards it. Overall
with help of technology, M&S can expand its activities online in an appropriate manner. Risk management: This is an inevitable element of every project. Whenever a firm carry
out a project, then various type of risk are associated with that. Identify and manage
major factors of risk is very essential for M&S. With this entity can serve more number
of customers. Quality control: Management of quality is another important of project management
plan. Technology support in expand business operations and develop new ways to
manufacture product (Horbach, Rammer and Rennings, 2012). In this, it is very essential
for firm to maintain the quality of its products as this supports in getting customer
satisfaction. In this way, M&S can operate effectively with online platform. Cost: For expanding business activities with the help of technology, M&S requires to
have sufficient amount of funds. This will directly increase sales and profits of company. Time: Completion of a whole project consists of various other activities and completion
of those activities in time is very essential. This saves both time and cost of entity and at
the same time, increases effectiveness of commercial activities.
 Communication: Effective channel of communication should be used at workplace. This
removes confusion from mind of employees and supports them in performing their roles
in an effective manner.
P3 Gantt chart and work breakdown structure for complete the proposed project
For achieving set goals and for draw meaningful, it is very essential that research should
be carried out in an effective way. For this, researcher remains liable to gather relevant data
related with the main topic of study (Chen, Chiang and Storey, 2012). An action plan can be
developed by manager to analyse and ensure completion of business operations. Various type of
research consists of different activities but the most common steps of a research are as follows:
 Identify and write down research objectives.
 Literature review
 Identify main research issues
 Define project scope
 Select a sample
 Develop research plan
3

 Analyse collected data with help of various tools
All these are the major steps that include in a research. Main topic of this study is to
determine the impact of technology on business activity of M&S. For drawing meaningful
conclusions, it is very significant for researcher to gather relevant data related with main topic of
research (Corsaro and et. al., 2012). For collecting primary data, it is required to choose a
sample from whole population and this can be done with help of random sampling. Further,
effective use of technology to operate online is important for company to have adequate amount
of resources.
All the given activities required to be executed in an effective way for achieving set
goals.
TASK 2
P4 Carry out research with help of qualitative and quantitative research methods
It is very important that research should be carry out in an effective manner as this
support entity in reach its set goals. Right tool, method and process should be adopt by
researcher (Kesharwani and Singh Bisht, 2012). Use of right method aid effectiveness in
research operations. Further this make it easy for the researcher to collect relevant data.
4

Quantitative and qualitative are the major methods of research, further, primary and secondary
method are the major tools to gather information.
In primary data researcher take help of interviews, survey and questionnaire to collect
opinions of respondents. This method is very costly and time consuming but at the same time
help in collect relevant information about the main topic of research. This method is used by
M&S to gather data and a questionnaire is used by firm.
Questionnaire
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Occupation:
Contact no.:
Email id:
Q1) Does use of technology impact on business activities of firm?
 Yes
 No
Q2) Does effective use of technology make the communication stronger among various
function of entity?
 Yes
 No
Q3) Does use of technology support expansion of business operations?
 Yes
 No
Q4) Is it essential for M&S to use technology in an effective way to get control over its online
business operations?
 Yes
 No
Q5) Use of technology impact on business operations in which way?
 Positive
 Negative
Q6) Do M&S have adequate amount of funds to expand business online?
5

 Yes
 No
Q7) What is the main benefit that will be gain by M&S after effective use of technology?
 Provide competitive benefit
 Increase sale and profits of firm
 Bring communication among various business functions
Q8) Does, it is essential for employees to adapt technology in an effective way for contribute in
success of firm?
 Yes
 No
Q9) Is this is right time for M&S to adopt technology?
 Yes
 No
Q10) Any recommendation for M&S related with use and impact of technology on business
operations.
Secondary method, in this researcher analyse the already collected information related
with topic of research. This method save both time and cost of company but fails to give fresh
data. In this newspapers, articles and books are use by researcher.
TASK 3
P5 Use of techniques and tools for analyse research
Every investigator require huge amount of relevant and valid data related with the main
topic of research for draw meaningful conclusion. Gathered data required to interpret in an
effective way so that managers can take right decision related with business expansion. Collected
information required to be interpret by M&S.
Theme 1: Technology impact on business activities of firm
Q1) Does use of technology impact on
business activities of firm?
Frequency
Yes 40
No 10
6

Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Interpretation: Given picture is indicating that 40 respondents said that technology
impact commercial activities of an enterprise. This provide an opportunity to entity to operate
with ease. Rest 10 individuals said that use of technology does not affect activities of a entity.
Theme 2: Technology make the communication stronger among various function
Q2) Does effective use of technology make the
communication stronger among various
function of entity?
Frequency
Yes 35
No 15
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
7

Interpretation: Above image is indicating that 35 out of 50 respondents support that
communication become stronger among various business functions with effective use of
technology.
Theme 3: Technology support expansion
Q3) Does use of technology support expansion
of business operations?
Frequency
Yes 46
No 4
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Interpretation: Given picture is showing that more than 90% respondents said that
technology support the expansion of business activities. Rest 4 said that technology does not
support expansion of business activities.
Theme 4: Use technology in an effective way is essential for M&S
Q4) Is it essential for M&S to use technology
in an effective way to get control over its
online business operations?
Frequency
Yes 38
No 12
8

Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Interpretation: Given picture is indicating 38 individuals summarised that it is very
important for M&S to use technology in an effective way for get a control over its business
activities.
Theme 5: Impact of technology
Q5) Use of technology impact on business
operations in which way?
Frequency
Positive 30
Negative 20
Positive Negative
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
9

Interpretation: From the given graph, it can be summarised that more than 50%
respondents said that use of technology affect business in positive way.
Theme 6: M&S have adequate amount of funds to expand business online
Q6) Do M&S have adequate amount of funds
to expand business online?
Frequency
Yes 40
No 10
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Interpretation: Given graph is indicating that 40 individuals said that M&S has adequate
amount of funds to expand its operations online. On the opposite of this 10 individuals said that
company do not have sufficient fund for online expansion.
Theme 7: Main benefit effective use of technology
Q7) What is the main benefit that will be gain
by M&S after effective use of technology?
Frequency
Provide competitive benefit 25
Increase sale and profits of firm 15
Bring communication among various business
functions
10
10