BAM4009: M&S's Organizational Structure & Digital Internationalization

This report delves into Marks & Spencer's international expansion strategies, highlighting the role of its organizational structure and the impact of digital technology. It examines how M&S has leveraged digital advancements to broaden its global reach, including the development of new websites and partnerships with tech firms. The report also discusses the organizational structures employed by M&S, including hierarchical and flat structures, and how these have evolved to meet the challenges of international competition. The analysis concludes that M&S has successfully navigated its international expansion through strategic use of digital technology and an adaptive organizational framework, enabling effective decision-making and enhanced market presence. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and study resources for students.

top16015 BAM4009

TABLE OF CONTENT
 INTRODUCTION
 OVERVIEW
 INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
 THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF M&S
 IMPACTS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON
INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION
 The organizational structure is the system which outlines the certain activities which
are directed towards the goals of the organization for achieving them.
 International expansion is the strategy which helps the business in the entering the
marketing the international market.
 For this project the chosen organization is Mark & Spencer which wants to expand its
business in the international business.

OVERVIEW
 Marks & Spencer which is also abbreviated as M&S is a
British multinational retailer which has been specialized for
selling clothing, home products and food products.
 This organization was founded in 1884 by Michael Marks
and Thomas Spencer in Leeds.
 This organization is very well-established in UK with a
great brand name for its clothing products which can help
the business in the asserting the exclusive nature of luxury
of the food and beverages.

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
 M&S has expanded its business in the global environment
with the help of the expansion of its 50 new websites for the
international market.
 This organization has expanded its business in more than
100 countries.
 It helps the business in the enabling many customers to
work for the organization.
 This organization is UK based organization meaning that in
UK it has been able to develop its brand name very well.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
 There are different types of organizational structure which
an organization can follow for its international expansion.
Hierarchical structure :
 It is that types of structure in which the employees are
grouped and assigned to a supervisor.
 This is one of the most common type of organizational
structure through which the employees are group according
to their roles and functions, geography or the as per the
different services provided by them.

CONTUNUE..
Functional Structure :
 In this organizational structure the organization is divided
into different groups which is divided into different groups
through roles, responsibilities and specialties.
 For such organizational structure the departments are able
to trust their employees which have the skills and expertise
for supporting the goals.
 The benefits of such an organizational structure are,
 • It helps the business in the establishing and
defining the clear roles and expectations of the employees.

CONTINUE..
Flat organizational structure :
 In the flat organizational structure most levels of the middle
management are considered to be removed when there are
little separation of the staff levels of employees from the
upper management.
 In this organization the employees are given more
responsibilities which is considered to be helpful for the
business in the usual hierarchic pressures for the
supervision of the organization and its production.

THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
OF M&S
 The organizational structure followed by M&S a multinational
British retailer for clothing is considered to be the illustration of
the concept which helps the business with hierarchical structure
and the being effective for the chosen structure.
 Due to the increase in competition which this organization has
faced in the last few years due to international expansion.
 Previously this organization utilized an organizational structure
which resembled the hierarchical structure but was not able to
be achieved its objective with the help of this structure.

IMPACTS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
ON INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
 The development of technology is considered to be the
facilitation of the globalization which affects the technological
progress of the organization.
 It can be said as the main force which drives the globalization.
 It can be said as the technological breakthroughs which compel
the business for becoming a global increase in the economy of
scale and market size.
 The technological advancements help in the reduction of the
costs of transportation and communication across nation.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY USED BY
M&S
 Marks & Spencer has invested very heavily in the new
software's for the improvement of the sampling process which
helps in the reduction of the waste.
 This organization has partnered with many technological firms
such as First Insight and digital solutions firm Optitex.
 This has helped the organization with leverage of its product
testing. Such soft-wares allowed the organization in supporting
the digital workflow for the creation of the sustainable
sampling process and increase in the market speed.
 Apart from all these technologies the organization has felt the
necessities of introducing certain technologies due to the
Impacts created by Covid-19 pandemic.

USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS BY M&S
 Marks & Spencer has used the digital technology most in offering
double the reach of sales in 100 countries.
 Having online operations in multiple countries has allowed the
business to be effective in its operations.
 This has also allowed the business in the radical digital
transformation of the organization practices programming in the
retailer with launching 46 flagship websites in the new markets.
 This has also provided the business significant push into the
international market for the online e-commerce which comes after
the M&S overseas that has lifter the organization performance in
the international market with 75%.