Managing a Business Project: Digital Technologies in Marks & Spencer

This project analyzes the implementation of digital technologies within Marks & Spencer (M&S), a major UK retailer, focusing on the impact of technologies like cloud computing, AI, and IoT on their operational activities. The project outlines aims, objectives, and timeframes, including a project management plan covering cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources. A work breakdown structure and Gantt chart provide a visual representation of the project's timeline and stages. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including questionnaires and interviews, to assess the impact of these technologies. The project also identifies and addresses potential risks and challenges encountered during the implementation process, offering recommendations for improvement and enhanced utilization of digital technologies within M&S.

BUSINESS MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Task 1.........................................................................................................................................4
Task 2.......................................................................................................................................14
Task 3.......................................................................................................................................19
Task 4.......................................................................................................................................29
Reference List..........................................................................................................................31
Appendices...............................................................................................................................32
Appendix 1- Questionnaire......................................................................................................32
Appendix 2- Project Logbook..................................................................................................32
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Introduction
Digital technologies have been a revolutionary force that has helped numerous organisations
enhance their operations to be more efficient, and achieve better market competitiveness. In
this assignment, the effects of the implementation of digital technologies in an organisation
operating in the UK have been analysed. The organisation chosen for this assignment is
Marks and Spencer, a retailing giant in the UK. The technologies implemented by them in
their workplace, and the effects of them upon their daily operations have been evaluated
using appropriate methods, based upon which recommendations have been forth, to help
them address the gaps in their implementation of digital technologies implemented by them.
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Task 1
LO1 Establish project aims, objectives and timeframes based on the chosen theme
P1-Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario addressing the chosen tile
as specified above.
1. Project Definition
The technologies are modifying and updating at a rapid rate. With the advancements in
technology, the business functions and operations are also changing. It is important for
business firms to keep upgrading and implementing new technologies so that they are able to
sustain thin the competitive environment. Marks and Spencer is one of the most popular
retailers of UK (Marksandspencer.com, 2018). The company provides quality products and
service to their consumers. This project deals with the impact of the digital technologies such
as Cloud computing, Artificial intelligence, internet of a thing and more on the operational
activities of M&S. the ways by which digital technologies are contributing towards providing
competitive edge to business retailers will be explored in this project. The project will explain
the time scale that will be required for each activity with the help of work breakdown
structure. The importance of the technologies will be evaluated in the project.
Problem Statement
Problem statements are the insufficient information or descriptions helps in understanding the
need of the project in the place. Thus, the study will be conducted in order to gain
information regarding the drawbacks that are faced by the organization due to the digital
technologies. The importance of the technological advancement for the business firm will be
analyzed in detailed and brief manner.
Project Strategy
The project strategy will help in providing guidance towards the success of the project. The
strategies that are being referred include schedules, project planning, control and closing the
project management. The process of strategic planning plays a vital role in creating both short
as well as long-term plans that helps in increasing the success rate of achieving all the
objectives of the project (Andersson, 2016). The project plan will help in setting appropriate
deadlines for the tasks so that the project can be completed within the stated timeframe. The
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lacking areas of the project can be monitored with the help of strategic management. This
will help in working on the lacking details so that the project outcomes can be enhanced.
Project Objective
The objective of this project have been listed below-
 To understand the various advancements those are being used by M&S
 To analyze the impact of different technological advancements on the business as well as
operational activities of M&S
 To understand the issues or challenges that was encountered by the management of M&S
while dealing with technologies.
 To provide accurate recommendations that can be beneficial for the management of M&S
in order to overcome the challenges or issues.
P2 – Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time,
quality, communication, risk and resources for the chosen project
Cost and Activities of the Project
Activities Cost Time (Hours) Cost/hour (£) Total Cost (£)
Recording the
collected data
13 7 91
Analysing the
gathered data
78 9 702
Finalise the cost
of the project
12 8 96
Contacting digital
solutions
22 12 264
Drafting the
report
52 10 520
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TOTAL 1673
Table 1: Cost and Activities of the Project
(Source: Created by the learner)
Deliverables
The project deliverables are the measurable performance that indicates the quantity as well as
quality of the intangible and tangible services that have been mentioned in the plan. This
project will analyze the impact of various technologies that are used by M&S. The impact of
those technologies on the business performances of the company will be studied (Chow et al.,
2014). The analysis will helps in understanding the outcome of the research and will assist to
acquire all the states objectives of the research.
Project Scope Statement
Included Scope
The scopes that have been included in this project and will assist in achieving the mentioned
objectives of the project have been discussed below:
 The time scale of the project will be monitored with the help of a well-organized work
break down structure.
 The project will provide a detailed plan regarding the steps that will assist in completing
the project
 Recruitment of efficient team members will help in completing the project
Excluded Scope
The scopes that have been excluded in the present project have been mentioned below:
 The description of various activities that made the utilization of digital technology
difficult
 The study will exclude irrelevant employee engagement in the processing of the project
management.
Success Criteria
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The success criteria of this project lie in understanding the impact of the technologies on the
operation of M&S. This will be done with the research data that will collect and by
conducting an interview wand survey with the managers and consumers of the organization.
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Live Risks
Sl.
no.
Date
Identi
fied
Owne
r
Risk Type of
Probab
ility
Imp
act
Leve
l
Impact
on the
Project
Actions
to
reduce
risks
Triggers
and
Actions in
case of
risk
1. 9th
July
2018
Mana
ger
Lack of
knowledge
regarding
the
technologi
es among
the staff
members
low Hig
h
Inefficien
t
utilizatio
n of
technolog
ical
advance
ments
Providi
ng the
employ
ees with
effectiv
e
training
Trigger
Lack of
adequate
training
and skills
among the
employees
Actions
Arranging
a proper
training
program
for the
employees
2. 10th
July
2018
Mana
ger
Communic
ation
Low Hig
h
Ineffectiv
e
cooperati
on
between
the
employee
s
Providi
ng
approp
riate
training
Triggers
Diverse
cultures
and
different
languages
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Actions
Improvin
g the
communic
ation and
encouragi
ng
interactio
n among
the staff
members.
Table 2: Live risks
(Source: Created by the learner)
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Expired Risks
No
.
Date
Identifi
ed
Owner Risk Happene
d?
Impac
t
(L,M,
H)
Effect
on
Proje
ct
Risk
Reducti
on
Actions
Propose
d &
Actual
If it
happened:
Triggers &
Actions
Proposed &
Actual
1. 16 –
July-
2018
Manag
er
Financi
al
issues
Lack of
proper
funding
mediu
m
High Making
effective
plan
about
the
project
budget
Triggers
Lack of
proper
planning
Actions:
Identificvati
on of
different
resources
that cvan
help in
propert
allocation of
the bsudget.
Table 3: Expired risks
(Source: Created by the learner)
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P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide timeframes and
stages for completion with reference to the chosen project.
1. Implementation Plan
The plan is the method of technique that will be used in order to complete the different
activities of the project. The work breakdown structure that will be developed will consist of
the activities and the specific time scale within which those activities will be completed in
order to achieve the objectives of the project. A Gantt chart will be generate that will provide
graphical representation of the time scale within which the project will be competed.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Tas
k
Details of the Activities Start date Time Duration
(Days)
End Date
Evaluating the
implementation of digital
technologies in Marks and
Spencer
12-08-
2018
51 02-10-2018
1 Creating an evaluation
scheme
12-08-
2018
15 27-08-2018
1.1 Informing the employees
about the project plan
12-08-
2018
9 21-08-2018
1.2 Determining the potential
advantages of the
technologies implemented
21-08-
2018
4 25-08-2018
1.3 Final planing for the
project
25-08-
2018
2 27-08-2018
2 Evaluating the benefits of
implementing digital
technologies in Marks and
Spencer
27-08-
2018
13 09-09-2018
2.1 Collection of survey and
interview data
27-08-
2018
5 01-09-2018
2.2 Evaluation of collected data 01-09-
2018
3 04-09-2018
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2.3 Devising strategy for
analysis on the basis of the
gathered data
04-09-
2018
5 09-09-2018
3 Researching methods of
analysis to suit the
organisational needs
09-09-
2018
9 18-09-2018
3.1 Analysis of the digital tools
in context of the
organisational need
09-09-
2018
4 13-09-2018
3.2 Devising post-
implementation plans
13-09-
2018
3 16-09-2018
3.3 Allocating the available
financial resources to
different project groups
16-09-
2018
2 18-09-2018
4 Implementation phase 18-09-
2018
14 02-10-2018
4.1 Delegating responsibilities
to different project team
members
18-09-
2018
7 25-09-2018
4.2 Executing the prepared
plan
25-09-
2018
2 27-09-2018
4.3 Evaluating project success 27-09-
2018
5 02-10-2018
Schedule (Gantt Chart)
Gantt Chart
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