Managing a Successful Business Project: M&S Digital Technology

This report outlines a project management plan for Mark & Spencer (M&S) focusing on the role and impact of digital technology in transforming business practices. It details project aims and objectives, covering aspects like cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources within the context of digital technology. The report includes a work breakdown structure, a Gantt chart for project scheduling, and discusses qualitative and quantitative research methods used to gather data. It analyzes the research findings, provides recommendations, and evaluates the project outcomes and decision-making processes. The report also reflects on the value of the research in meeting stated objectives and personal learning and performance, concluding with a comprehensive overview of the project's contributions to M&S's digital transformation.

Unit 6
Managing a successful business project

Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................4
Task 1.............................................................................................................................................5
P1 Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario:.........................................5
P2 Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time,
quality, communication, risk and resources in the context of digital technology at
M&S:............................................................................................................................................7
P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide a time frame and Stages
of completion of the proposed project management plan............................................................9
M1 Produce a comprehensive project management plan, milestone schedule, and
project...................................................................................................................................12
Schedule for monitoring and completing the aims and objectives of the project at
M&S:......................................................................................................................................12
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research
methods appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives........................................13
M2 Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the different research methods you have
applied to your project........................................................................................................15
D1 Critically evaluates the project management process and appropriate research
methodologies applied.......................................................................................................16
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................17
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques........................17
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of research and data
analysis to draw valid and meaningful conclusions...........................................................20

M3 Evaluate the selection of appropriate tools and techniques for accuracy and
authenticity to support and justify recommendations....................................................21
D2 Critically evaluate and reflect on the project outcomes, the decision making
process and changes or developments in the initial project management plan to
support justification of recommendations and learning during the project....................23
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and
own learning and performance.............................................................................................24
M4 Evaluate the value of the project management process and use of qualitative
research to meet stated objectives and support own learning and performance.........26
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................27
References...................................................................................................................................28

Introduction
The organization Mark & Spencer explores digital edge transform processes, business
models, and the customer experience by exploiting the comprehensive digital
connections between systems, people, places, and things. Any company large or small
can use this digital technology to create a winning edge for its business and perhaps, its
industry. The report will discuss the aspects of cost, scope, risk, and resources under
the framework of digital technology. The report will also determine the most decent form
of organizational structure, plans, and procedures so that project plan can be proficient
successfully. Furthermore, it will cover the project schedule and research work for
appropriate monitoring and completing the aims and objectives of the project
management plan under M&S digital technology programme. The report will explain
qualitative and quantitative research methods for meeting the desired results. Moreover,
the next task will produce the project outcomes and project management processes,
and the major changes or developments of the initial project management plans.

Task 1
P1 Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario:
The foremost objective of conducting a research work is the clear understanding of the
problem and its proposed solutions.
Research Topic: Role and impact of technology in the transformation of business
practices and activities.
Background of the company
Mark &Spencer is a UK based company formed in 1884. It is a public limited company
and most of its operations are managed by the government only (Martinelli & Milosevic,
2016). The founders were Sir Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. It is the key player
in the British retail industry. With the passage of time and regular tear and dear, now the
company is looking for the advancement in its operations and core business activities
(Cameron & Green, 2015).
(Figure: 1 M&S)
(Source: My customer, 2016)
Area of concern or the problem statement
As the company is looking for the updation in technology, it is trying for the effective
implementation of technology in the organization and spread a positive word of mouth
and aware and educate employees about the advancement of technology in the
company (Cameron & Green, 2015).
Proposed project strategy
To deal with the above-mentioned problem that is effective technological
implementation and employees aware, an in-depth research project would be carried
on. For this purpose, a systematic step by step analysis would be carried on with
diverse data collected from different sources.

Objectives of the study
Digital business helps in analyzing the various uses of technology and profit being
earned by the organization M&S (Nylen, 2015). It helps in creating new values related to
the satisfaction of the customers, capabilities of the organization and business models
being used in the organization.
Over the course of the project, tools and systems are being designed to meet the
objectives;
 Increase ease of use and utility of digital services and platforms that support
periodic participation in the M&S community.
 Build an adhesive digital ecosystem that defines M&S’s use of web and social
technologies. The ecosystem should reflect M&S’s traits of open collaboration.
 Create a new platform to move on different and diversified operations, and take
control of proper online store to expand the E-commerce arena.
 Start dealing operations with a new mindset along with the hiring of experts and
putting them on the board directly ensuring a consistent customer experience.
 Establish the organization structure to fully realize the digital vision.
 Place a distribution channel to bring orders from a variety of depots around the
world, and invest in an efficient distribution network.
The aim of the study
The aim of the study is to analyze the role and responsibility of the technology and is
used in business operations and activities.

P2 Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time,
quality, communication, risk and resources in the context of digital technology at
M&S:
Project management plan
The project management is made to handle the difficulties and problems which arises
after the implementation of the plans to make different projects. It provides a blueprint
for the study by describing the plan for the whole project work and study. It provides a
basic roadmap to be followed for the completion of the research (Crawford, 2014).
(Figure: 2 tripe constraints)
(Source: By Author)
 Time
The projects can be for longer and shorter period of time. All the tasks are being
provided by a number of steps which are being covered in the projects. The projects
include a lot of hard work and skilled employees. Moreover, the work can be completed
within the time limit if the employees include skilled, talented and experienced persons
(Crawford, 2014). Time is a crucial factor in the digital technology which is intractable.
 Cost

Cost is the initial expenses being incurred by the organization in manufacturing the
product and services. The project manager has to take care of the cost to be kept low
so that profit can be increased. The budget is being made accordingly and develop
along with the implementation of the plan at low cost (Kerzner, 2013). Fixed and
variable costs are used in making out a plan. Resources are used which are purchased
at minimum cost and effectively used to manufacture a productive product and services.
 Scope
The scope of the project is to fulfill the targets and aim of the organization. The scope of
the organization must be clear and understandable by the employees and staff
members. The team must make an effective plan and implement them with the help of
digital technology (Jung, et. al., 2012).
 Resources
Resources are the available set of assets and particulars which are used for the
completion of a task or activity. It can be human resources, financial resources,
managerial resources and any other type of resource which is required for the
completion of the task (Kerzner, 2013).
 Risk
It is the presence of probability or the chances of failure of the research and other
activities. It can be minimized but cannot be escaped.
 Quality
It is the degree of reliability of the activities and the task in the research. A
standard form and structure have to be used to meet the quality.
 Communication
It is the necessity of the project to convey and communicate the findings and
data so that proper analysis can be done for overcoming the action problem and
devising solutions for it (Martinelli & Milosevic, 2016).

P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide a time
frame and Stages of completion of the proposed project management plan.
Work Breakdown Structure
The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a hierarchical subdivision of the work between
the members of project team. The work breakdown structure (WBS) also defines the
work which is distributed at various levels in the organization. In order to produce the
products or services the work is divided into various parts and at different managers and
employees. This is also a part of project management. The WBS includes planning,
cost, proper allocation of resources at various levels, effort estimation, and scheduling
of the stages (Kukhnavets, 2016).
(Figure: 3 work breakdown structure)
(Source: Commons, 2016)
Project schedule
It involves the time element and allocation of time required for different activities and
tasks.

Task/activity Start date End date Specified duration
Selection of topic 1 March 2018 3 March 2018 3 days
Defining objectives 4 March 2018 6 March 2018 3 days
Resource allocation 7 March 2018 13 March 2018 7 days
Secondary research 14 March 2018 18 March 2018 5 days
Primary research 19 March 2018 23 March 2018 5 days
Data analysis 24 March 2018 28 March 2018 5 days
Outcomes and
recommendations
29 March 2018 31 March 2018 3 days
The above-mentioned table shows a detailed time allocation for a different set of
activities.
Gantt chart
The above mentioned Gantt chart shows the time allocation for the activities in the
research work.
Project completion process

The stages which are used in for the completion of a plan are termed as a project
completion plan.it has different step by step process which is needed to be followed for
the successful completion( Larson and Gray, 2013).

M1 Produce a comprehensive project management plan, milestone schedule, and
project
Schedule for monitoring and completing the aims and objectives of the project at
M&S:
In the organization, project teams intuitively talk about milestones schedule. The
individuals are from the detail of the project tasks, the more likely they can focus on the
big dates in the project, like with transparent deadlines and dependencies (Larson and
Gray, 2013). Project milestones are fixed points in time that worth flagging to keep the
project moving forward and reserved. Begin with the project management plan and
milestone schedule, the aims and objectives of M&S are building a digital ecosystem,
create more digital platforms.
Milestones schedule
 Milestone 1- from 1 to 3
 Milestone 2 from 4-6
 Milestone 3 from 7-13
 Milestone4 from 14-18
 Milestone5 from19-23
 Milestone 6 from24-28
 Milestone 7 from29-31
TASK 2