Analysis of M&S: Ways to Improve Business Performance

This report presents an analysis of Marks and Spencer's (M&S) business performance, aiming to identify ways to improve it. It begins with an introduction outlining the project's aim and objectives, which include understanding M&S's current business performance, identifying contributing factors, and recommending improvements. The report details a project management plan, including cost, scope, time, quality, communication, and risk assessments. A project plan with a timeline and cost breakdown is provided, along with a work breakdown structure, Gantt chart, and network diagram. Small-scale research is conducted via a questionnaire given to M&S managers, and the collected data is interpreted thematically. The analysis includes current business performance, respondents' views, profitability, customer service, technology adoption, and online marketing. Recommendations are made for improvement based on the research findings.

MANAGING SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC..............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1) Project's aim and objectives..................................................................................................1
P2) Project management plan......................................................................................................2
P3) Project plan...........................................................................................................................3
M1) Comprehensive project management plan..........................................................................5
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................6
P4) Small scale research (Research methods and tools).............................................................6
M2) Accuracy of research methods..........................................................................................15
D1) Critical evaluation on project management process..........................................................15
LO 3...............................................................................................................................................16
P5) Analysis of research and specification tools for conducting survey..................................16
P6) Recommendations for project.............................................................................................17
M3) Tools and techniques for accuracy in project....................................................................17
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................17
P7) Reflection on own learning for project...............................................................................17
M4) Evaluation on project management process and own learning.........................................17
D2) Critical evaluation on project outcomes and justification of recommendations................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

INDEX OF TABLES
Table 1: Project plan........................................................................................................................3

ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1: Work Breakdown structure.......................................................................................4
Illustration 2: Gantt chart.................................................................................................................5
Illustration 3: Network diagram.......................................................................................................5
Illustration 4: Current business performance of M&S.....................................................................8
Illustration 5: Respondents' views on increasing business performance of entity...........................9
Illustration 6: Profitability and marketability of M&S..................................................................10
Illustration 7: Customer dealing services of M&S........................................................................11
Illustration 8: Technologies adopted by M&S...............................................................................12
Illustration 9: Online marketing provided by M&S.......................................................................13
Illustration 10: Critical evaluation on business performance of M&S..........................................14
Illustration 11: The best way to improve business performance of M&S.....................................15

TOPIC
“To identify the ways for improving business performance of organisation: A case study
on Marks and Spencer”.
INTRODUCTION
It is essential to analyse the current business performance of any entity by which different
ideas are generated for its improvement. It influences company's effectiveness and further
implementations at higher level. Present report is based on understanding several ways for
improving the business performance of Marks and Spencer (M&S). It is a wide spread retail
sector organisation of UK that provides groceries, food items and home products to a million of
people across the country. In this regard, project management plan for data collection and
identifying entity's actual performance are discussed. Including this, reflection on own learning
and performance as participating in project will be introduced. However, project plan and
management tools are understood in this assignment for appropriate decision making regarding
improving business performance of the entity.
LO 1
P1) Project's aim and objectives
Project is based on following aim and objectives as discussed below:
Aim of the project:
“To identify the ways for improving business performance of Marks and Spencer”.
Objectives of the project:
Following targets are determined for decision making regarding enhancing efficiency of
M&S:
 To understand the significance of analysing current business performance
 To identify several factors that contribute in the business operations of M&S
 To assess the ways for improving business performance of entity
 To recommend suggestions for project and considerations for managing business
operations
However, project aims to identify the ways in which business performance of M&S can
be maximized. Including this, factors related with project and managing business operations are
determined for the decision making regarding further implementations (Argirova and Ivanov,
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2015). Therefore, project can success effectively as for analysing M&S' actual business activities
and creating effective preparation for its development. The organisation is to be focus on
improve decision making process for new implementation must be used in overall development
in future time period.
P2) Project management plan
Project planning involves different tools for accomplishing the tasks and meeting goals as
cost incurred in project, time consumed for accomplishing tasks, quality of resources used in
business operations, assessing risks and so on (Bonnal, 2014). However, for project on
identifying ways to improve the business performance of M&S, project management plan and
different tools to be considered are as follows:
 Cost: Under this, cost incurred on business operations and for project is identified. For
instance: expenses incurred on advertisements, production and distribution of goods
(Demeulemeester, Kolisch and Salo, 2013). Therefore, appropriate decisions are made
regarding further business operations and for improving its quality services.
 Scope: This project is based on understanding the scope as identifying ways to improve
M&S' business performance. It generates a variety of ideas for increasing productivity,
profitability and marketability of the entity (Jiang and Klein, 2014). Including this, it is
effective to identify the actual business performance and appropriate decision making for
its further implementation.
 Time: Project is related with identifying the time consumed in accomplishing any
specific task in an appropriate time. Therefore, for recognising the actual business
performance of M&S, timing for all activities is determined.
 Quality: For project management plan, quality used in resources and materials is
analysed. In this regard, different ideas are generated for improving the quality of goods
and services of M&S (Kolesnikova and et.al., 2015). Similarly, it is effective for
developing the efficiency and effectiveness of organisation at higher level.
 Communication: For accomplishing tasks and project, it is essential to communicate the
project plan and strategies among workers involved in team (Lippe and vom, 2016).
Therefore, good understanding can be created among team members and they will
coordinate effectively to meet its goals.
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 Risks: It is considered that different risks are occurred for project such as fund, people,
resources, etc. However, lack of required fund and resources affect the success of project
adversely. Similarly, lack of coordination among workers involved in project remains a
challenging task for M&S.
 Resources: For any project plan, various resources are identified like people, finance and
materials for business operations (Lloyd, French and Crawford, 2016). Therefore, it is
needed to involve all these resources for project and implementing its activities. It will be
effective for analysing the actual business performance of M&S and improving it
efficiently.
All such factor is one of the most important part to improve current market needs or increase the
overall development in planning. In additions, expenses incurred on advertisements, production
and distribution of goods. On the other hand, risks are occurred for project such as fund, people,
resources, etc.
P3) Project plan
Project plan involves time schedule and determines timing for its tasks to be
accomplished in specific time period (Mir and Pinnington, 2014). Project plan for analysing the
current business performance of M&S is as follows:
Table 1: Project plan
Plan Activity Time frame Cost incurred
A Identifying project's aim 4 days 100
B Project planning 6-7 days 200
C Team building and work segmentation
among workers
3-4 days 100
D Data collection 10 days 1000-1200
E Data interpretation 5 500
F Cost calculation 2 days 100
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G Performance evaluation 5-6 days 400
H Taking feedback from workers 4 days 300
I Reporting 3-5 days 200
It is structured by work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for identifying the timing for
its tasks as mentioned below:
Work Breakdown structure: This structural framework is to demonstrate all project
planning as from start to its closer (Morris, 2013). In this regard, work breakdown structure for
the project is identified as:
4
Illustration 1: Work Breakdown structure

Gantt chart: According to this project plan structure, timing for accomplishing
determined tasks are identified. However, Gantt chart for the project plan is identified as:
Illustration 2: Gantt chart
Network diagram: This diagram shows all the activities of project which are interlinked
with each other (Olofsdotter and et.al., 2016). For project plan for identifying business
performance of M&S, network diagram is to presented as:
Illustration 3: Network diagram
5

M1) Comprehensive project management plan
Project management plan involves activities and tasks for analysing the current business
performance of M&S. On which, appropriate decisions are made regarding improving its quality
services of the entity (Robichaud and Anantatmula, 2015). In this regard, planning is created
systematically in context of cost incurred, time consumed and workers' performance in
accomplishing tasks, etc. However, all aspects and planning tools are identified for getting
success in project and improving business performance of M&S. Including this, how much cost
in to be incurred in business operations and what quality of resources are to be used recognised.
It is impacted on further implementations and managing business operations of the entity
effectively. Including this, workers' performance is also recognised by which work can be
segmented among them for project and meeting objectives effectively.
LO 2
P4) Small scale research (Research methods and tools)
For analysing current business performance, research is to conduct survey with 10
managers of M&S as for identifying their views. In this process, he selects them randomly by
which different ideas can be generate for further implementations (Project management, 2016).
However, he prepares a questionnaire consists of list of questions related to conduct survey. In
accordance to this, questionnaire is to be identified as:
QUESTIONNAIRE
(MARKS AND SPENCER)
Name:
Department belonged to:
Q.1 How is the current business performance of M&S?
 Good
 Increasing
 Neutral
 Decreased
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Q.2 In your opinion, is organisation's business performance getting increased?
 Yes
 No
Q.3 Comment on profitability and competitiveness of M&S.
 Increasing
 Neutral
 Decreasing
Q.4 How is customer dealing services of the entity?
 Effective
 Satisfied
 Adequate
 Decreasing
Q.5 Is there new technologies adopted in M&S for improving its quality services?
 Yes
 No
Q.6 How is online marketing of the organisation?
 Good
 Neutral
 Bad
Q.7 According to you, which of the following business is required to be improved for M&S?
 Quality of goods and services
 Online marketing
 Management of business operations
 Others
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Q.8 Suggest the most appropriate way for improving business performance of the organisation?
 Adopt new technologies
 Maintaining public relations
 Advertising products and services at maximum level
Any suggestion for enhancing efficiency of M&S.............
Data interpretation:
All collected data are identified thematically can be understood as:
Theme 1: Current business performance
Good 3
Increasing 4
Neutral 2
Decreased 1
Total number of
respondents 10
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