Managing a Business Project: Sainsbury's Digital Transformation

This business report investigates how Sainsbury's, a leading UK superstore chain, has managed digital disruption and transformation. The report, divided into four key sections, begins by establishing project aims and objectives related to digital technology's impact on Sainsbury's business activities. It then conducts small-scale research using both qualitative and quantitative methods to gather relevant data. Subsequently, the report analyzes this data, providing recommendations and conclusions. Finally, it reflects on the value gained from the project and its effectiveness in supporting organizational performance. The project management plan covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources, with work breakdown structures and Gantt charts providing timeframes for completion. The research employs qualitative and quantitative methods, and the analysis uses appropriate tools and techniques to support recommendations. The report concludes with a reflection on the project outcomes and the decision-making process.

Unit 6- Managing a successful business project
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Contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................3
About the company..................................................................................................................................................4
LO1..........................................................................................................................................................................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............................................................................................................................................................7
P3. Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide timeframes and stages for completion......9
M1. Produce a comprehensive project management plan, milestone schedule and project schedule for
monitoring and completing the aims and objectives of the project........................................................................14
LO2........................................................................................................................................................................15
P4. Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods appropriate for
meeting project aims and objectives......................................................................................................................15
M2. Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of different research methods applied.................................................19
D1. Critically evaluate the project management process and appropriate research methodologies applied.........20
LO3........................................................................................................................................................................21
P5. Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques.................................................................21
P6. Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of research and data analysis to draw valid and
meaningful conclusions..........................................................................................................................................29
M3. Evaluate the selection of appropriate tools and techniques for accuracy and authenticity to support and
justify recommendations........................................................................................................................................30
LO4........................................................................................................................................................................31
P7. Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning and
performance............................................................................................................................................................31
M4. Evaluate the value of the project management process to meet the stated objectives and support own
learning and performance.......................................................................................................................................32
D2. Critically evaluate and reflect on the project outcomes, the decision making process and changes or
developments of the initial project management plan to support justification of recommendations and learning
during the project...................................................................................................................................................33
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................................34
References..............................................................................................................................................................35
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Introduction
The main theme of this business report is that how the businesses have coped with the major
challenges of digital disruption and transformation. This unit will assists in investigating the
market and business environment and for developing the digital strategy effectively and
efficiently. Digital technology supports the large quantity of data and information to be
flattened on the small storing device. In this report, the researcher has selected Sainsbury’s
which is the second leading chain of a superstore in the UK. The reported study is divided
into four tasks. The first task is related to the establishment of project aims, objective and
timeframe based on the theme. In the second chapter, a small-scale research will be done for
information gathering and data collection. The third task will present the project and suitable
recommendation and conclusion will be presented in a systematic way. The last task will
enlighten the value increased from the project and its efficacy to support the supportable
organisational performance.
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About the company
Sainsbury’s is well-known as the second biggest sequence of superstores in the UK. It was
founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury. This company has become the leading grocery
retailer in 1922.
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LO1
P1. Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario.
Theme- “how digital technology has transformed business activities of Sainsbury’s”
Background of study
The digital technology has made a vast difference in the organisation as well as society. In
the present time technology is the only factor which is growing rapidly. Each and every
department of an organisation is changing in an appropriate way as this is due to the adaption
of new and innovative technology. The technology contributes towards the improvement of
the quality of goods and services. Technology has brought about quality as well as
effectiveness in the business activities. Technology can be divided into various factors such
as cloud computing, social media, mobile technology, artificial intelligence and internet of
things. There is perhaps no field organisation which has not been affected by technology
(Bartleby.com, 2016). It has been analysed that too much dependence on technology can be
responsible for hampering the work. The major advantage of digital technology within the
organisation is the improvement in profit and productivity rate. With the implementation of
new technology, the organisation will be able to connect with the new technology. The
management of Sainsbury’s has adopted different technology for the improvement of
business activities. This assists in improving the profitability and manufacturing rate of the
organisation. It is important that the development sector of Sainsbury’s needs to analyse the
digital market on daily basis. This can be done by doing a survey in the marketplace
(Bartleby.com, 2016).
Aims
The main aims of this research project are as follows:
 To develop a business plan for improving the organisational activities.
 Manage the business activities.
 To analyse how the digital technology assists in renovating the business activity.
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 To maintain an effective relationship with the potential as well as a target customer
for knowing their needs and demand.
Objectives
 To identify the factors that help in the transformation of business activities.
 To evaluate the impact of digital technology.
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P2. Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk, and resources.
Project management is the application of various knowledge, skills, tools, and project
activates to meet the stakeholders need and expectations from a project. Project management
is such a task which helps the organization to effectively handle projects, to define the project
and plans are made as per the projects. Project management plans are helpful in allocating
right resources at right time. It also helps in the lead a team and communicates all. In this task
here is an example of Sainsbury regarding the impact of digital technology on the business
activities.
(Figure 1 – Project management)
(Source- Ellis, 2014)
Here are some aspects which are helpful for the business project management-
Cost – cost is the pre-estimation of money that will need to complete the project. Cost
includes the cost of resources, labour rate, risk and cost of allocating the work. Without doing
pre-analysis of budget none of the work done properly or may be done with over budget.
Scope – the scope of a project is related to the end result of the project and the work and the
activities which are required to produce them. The scope of any project explains the various
requirements which are important for the project. In our example of Sainsbury, the scope of
digital technology is that what will be the impact of the new technologies which are used in
the project and identify that this is beneficial for the company or not (Freidi, 2014).
Time - it is the project manager's duty to ensure that the scheme is completed on time and
define the time period for every activity of the project.
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Quality – quality plans defines the quality level which is acceptable to the consumers mostly.
Quality management helps the manager to determine the quality of the product and services
which are served by the organization.
Communication - communication is the key element of every business. Communication has
to be effective so that all the information related to the project delivery to the stakeholder
properly and management knows every problem and the query about the project.
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P3. Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide timeframes and
stages for completion.
Work breakdown structure- The work breakdown structure helps in defining the work that
is essential in order to manufacture the product or services for the customer. It is simply
signified as a graded sector of the project into different areas. It helps in evaluating the aims
and scope of the project along with the responsibilities of different members.
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Project goal
Planning Implementation Completion of project
Collection of
data
Develop blue
print
Selection of
technique
Analysis Monitoring and
controlling
Testing

Action plan
Activities Starting date Ending date Duration (In
days)
Description
Planning of
project
01 March 2018 05 March 2018 5 days In the first step,
planning and
research topic is
identified. It is
one of the
essential steps of
the plan. It is
important that
the organisation
needs to plan
each and every
step under the
guidance of
research expert.
Their ideas and
responses will
be helpful in the
completion of
the project.
Develop a
blueprint for
the research
06 March 2018 09 March 2018 4 days After the
planning of the
project, the
management of
Sainsbury is
required to
develop
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blueprint in
order to
complete the
project in an
effective and
efficient way.
Collection of
required
information
and data
10 March 2018 16 March 2018 7 days After the
development of
blueprint, the
researcher needs
to collect data
and information
as per the
decided steps of
the project.
Implementatio
n
17 March 2018 24 March 2018 8 days After the
collection of
data, it will be
implemented as
a product or
service. The
management of
Sainsbury’s is
required to
check out the
steps of the
project (Kerzner
and Kerzner,
2017).
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