Analyzing Marks & Spencer's Business Operations: A Case Study

This case study examines the business operations of Marks & Spencer, a major multinational retailer. It explores key functions such as risk management, innovation, workforce investment, customer reach, and product quality. The report provides a brief overview of Marks & Spencer, including its mission, vision, aims, and objectives. The core of the study evaluates the company's operational management decisions, focusing on production, supply chain, logistics, location strategies, quality control, and human resources. Each area is analyzed to understand its impact on profitability, customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage. The study highlights the importance of effective decision-making in these areas for the long-term success and sustainability of the business. The analysis emphasizes the interconnectedness of these operational elements and their collective contribution to Marks & Spencer's overall performance in the retail market.

assessment-case study

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
EXPLAINATION OF MAIN FUNCTIONS OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS .........................1
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MARKS AND SPENCER.............................................................2
EVALUATION OF COMPANY'S OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT DECISION:
PRODUCTION, SUPPLY CHAIN, LOGISTICS, LOCATION STRATGEIES, QUALITY
CONTROL AND HR..................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Operations and management defines as a effective term which reflects the several
practices of business practices that are useful to create an efficiency within attaining targets in
the business organisation. This term is concerned with transferring the inputs and workforce to
the goods and services for enhancing the profits and sustainability of business enterprise. This
term includes planning, organising and supervising of production, manufacturing of products and
services so that outcomes can be gained in positive manner. This assessment is based on Marks
and Spencer company that is one of the largest multinational retailing company that deals in all
over the globe with several range of products and services with their own brand name. The
company brings quality, value within clothing, food, home ware segments so that more and more
customers are to be attracted towards it in all over the globe. This report undertakes the
explanation of several business operations functions within the Marks and Spencer. It also
includes the evaluation of company operation management decisions that are highly based on
several terms which are production, supply chain, logistics, strategy, quality control and also the
HR so that targets and objectives are to be attained successfully and efficiently (Lin and et. al.,
2018).
MAIN BODY
EXPLAINATION OF MAIN FUNCTIONS OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
The business operations and functions of the company is to carry out the business practices in the
corporate market effectively and efficiently to maintain its survival. As Marks &Spencer is said
to be the company of carrying great business with a strong brand in the corporate market. The
different business operations of the company are as follows : Managing the risk : The company 's main business operation is to manage the risk
factors of the company. As the effective risk management is essential for the company to
achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the company(Rawat and et. al., 2019). Innovative ways of working : The company constantly focuses on making the
innovations in the ways of working in the company. As it is necessary to work with
innovative ideas in the company, so that company can be able to gain the competitive
advantage towards the competitors in the corporate market.
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 Investing in the workforce : The company carry its business practices through its
employees and the workers of the organisation. Soi it is the role duty and responsibility
of the company to invest on its employees and workers so that they can be able to work
with full of their efficiency (Świderski, Jóźwiak and Jachimowski, 2018). Reaching to the customers :The operation of the company is to reach out to the
customers through different ways and communication channels. So that the customer 's
needs are identified and according to that their needs can be fulfilled by the company.
 The product : The role of the company is to keep ensuring the quality of the products
and services that they are offering to the customers. There main focus is keep ensuring
and checking the quality of the products regularly (Dahmani and Yebdri, 2020).
The functions of the Marks and Spencer are as follows:
 To deliver the qualities products to the customers.
 To generate the revenues by constantly making sales of the products and the services.
 To deliver the quality value for the shareholders through accountable businesses.
 To carry the retail business practices effectively and efficiently in the corporate market.
 To make its own integrated effective team of the company so that the business practices
are carried by efficiency and effectiveness in the market.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MARKS AND SPENCER
Marks and Spencer is one of the British multinational retailer that deals in clothings,
home products and the food products. It is one of the largest retailer of UK. The company runs
its business practices in nearly 300 stores in its home markets. The company also operates and
owns its stores in different parts of the countries in the global world. The company has vision to
be standard against which the companies are offering. As the company to deliver a unique and
creative products and services to the customers so that their brand loyalty can be increased. The
mission statement of the company is to make a aspirational quality that can be accessible to all
the customers. The main focus of the company is to serve the quality products and services to the
customers. The aims and objectives of the company are as follows:
 The aim of the company is to have employee orientation in the company. As being a
developing company it is essential for the company like Marks and Spencer to have
employee orientation in the company so that the company's employees and the workers
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are able to work in the organisation with a clarity of roles that they have follow for the
smooth running of the business practices of the company.
 The organisational aim of the company is to deliver the quality products and services to
the customers. The company 's objective is to focus on the product and the service quality
so that company can be able to earn goodwill for the company.
 The company 's gross sales objectives is to provide the plentifulness of the product and
services for the betterment in the gross revenues for the company.
 The main objective of the company is to deliver the quality contents so that the brand
image of the company can be maintained in the corporate market and the company and
that company can maximize its profits through effective.
 To maintain an adequate amount of supply chain and logistics in the retail the market so
that customers do not find any difficulty in purchasing of the products and services for
them.
 To serve the society by carrying out the corporate social responsibilities.
 To keep focusing on the innovation by making changes in the products and services
according to the customers demand and choices.
 To provide the products and services to the customers at the affordable prices to increase
the level of customer satisfaction towards the company (Kindaichi and Nishina, 2018).
EVALUATION OF COMPANY'S OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT DECISION:
PRODUCTION, SUPPLY CHAIN, LOGISTICS, LOCATION STRATGEIES, QUALITY
CONTROL AND HR
It is very essential to evaluate the operations management decision for developing the
profits and revenues to a longer period of time and attracting the large base of customers so that
high growth and development can be enjoyed in their survival that helps in gaining competitive
advantage within business industry. In case of Marks and Spencer, management team can highly
focus on examine the areas of operations for generating maximum profits and revenues. This
analysis helps in taking the decisions relate to benefits of organisation (MARKS AND
SPENCER GROUP PLC SUMMARY OPERATIONAL REVIEW, 2021). To evaluate the
Marks and Spencer operation decisions several terms are to be included in which making
decision play an essential role to attain the success. These terms are to be followed below:
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 Production- This term is linked with the creation of goods and services within the
organisation that are essential to attracts the number of customers. It is to be evaluated
that decision related to production are based on supply and demand of Marks and
Spencer, that affect the decision making of operation management. The objective related
to higher profits are to be attained by producing the products that are suitable for
company. In this operation management of Marks and Spencer focus on analysing issues
and opportunities so that improvements can be done effectively. It is evaluated that firm
operation management ensures the design for getting the high level of output that are
useful for gaining profitable advantage.
 Supply chain- In terms of this strategic decision, Marks and Spencer operation
management ensures that supply chain can highly supports business strategies. Marks and
Spencer supply chain is highly effective and innovative that can leads to productivity. For
instance- In this manager of Marks and Spencer can focus on decisions based on supply
chain that helps in targeting the markets. In their supply chain department information
can be flow appropriately by using online medium so that efficiency can be maintained.
In this management team can ensure to regular monitoring the supply chain activities so
that problem can be solved effectively that can adds the strength in success of
organisation (Campos-Guzmán and et. al., 2019).
 Logistics- This term includes the supply chain process strategic decision within Marks
and Spencer that are to be evaluated for enhancing profits and revenues of company. In
this Marks and Spencer operation management can focus on implementing the cost
effective decision that can effectively flow the information related to packaging of goods
and material. In this firm can highly focus on warehousing the products so that
customers are to be attracted effectively.
 Location strategies- Locations are the essential part of strategic decision in operation
management. Efficiency of locations are the objective in strategic decision. In this Marks
and Spencer can highly focus on reducing the production and transportation cost so that
customers get the products and services effectively and firm proficiency can also be
maintained to high extent. For example – Marks and Spencer production hubs are highly
proximal in nature within retailing market. In this company avoids to plan their operation
in those locations that includes political and cultural issues because it will highly affect
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the operational productiveness. Adopting this approach is highly effective to processes
the business operation effectively and efficiently (Peng and et. al., 2019).
 Quality control- In terms of this strategic decision within operation management of
Marks and Spencer. In this manager of the company can highly focus on satisfying the
needs of customers by fulfilling their expectation related to quality of the products. In this
Marks and Spencer includes the approach related to improving the quality standards
within operational activities for satisfying the customers requirements. For example- In
this manager of Marks and Spencer adopts the threshold for defeats that are related to
production operation. And it can be fulfilled by proper market research so that standards
related to qualities can be maintained. To maintained productivity corporate and local
standards are to be include4d that support the decisions of operation management of
company.
 Human Resource- This strategic decision area within operation management
representing the sufficiency and availability of work force that supports the whole
business operations. Efforts within operational area are highly supports the Marks and
Spencer to improve their culture and values due to this overall performance are to be
efficient. For instance- Operational management of Marks and Spencer are focus on
ensuring the job design to manage overall corporate culture for supporting the
proficiency and productivity within business enterprise. In terms of organisation
perspective Marks and Spencer operational management can directly focus on
influencing the human resource capacity and also financial performance of concerned
business firm.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that Marks and Spencer is one of the leading
retailer in the global market. In the above report the case study is taken up to explain the
different retail business activities of the company which carries the different functions and the
business operations of the company. A brief description is mentioned about the company with its
aims and objectives of serving the quality products and services to the customers and creating the
goodwill for the company by mentioning its mission and vision of the company. An evaluation
and analysis of the case study is taken up in which Marks and Spencer 's operation management
decisions are briefly explained with the supply chain management, logistics with the different
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location strategies and various quality controls methods and human resources workforce of the
company is explained so that the company can be able to work effectively and efficiently.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Campos-Guzmán, V. and et. al., 2019. Life Cycle Analysis with Multi-Criteria Decision Making:
A review of approaches for the sustainability evaluation of renewable energy
technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 104. pp.343-366.
Dahmani, S. and Yebdri, D., 2020. Hybrid algorithm of particle swarm optimization and Grey
Wolf optimizer for reservoir operation management. Water Resources
Management. 34(15). pp.4545-4560.
Kindaichi, S. and Nishina, D., 2018. Simple index for onsite operation management of ground
source heat pump systems in cooling-dominant regions. Renewable Energy. 127.
pp.182-194.
Lin, S. and et. al., 2018. Risk identification and analysis for new energy power system in China
based on D numbers and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory
(DEMATEL). Journal of Cleaner Production. 180. pp.81-96.
Peng, H.G. and et. al., 2019. Investment risk evaluation for new energy resources: An integrated
decision support model based on regret theory and ELECTRE III. Energy conversion
and management. 183. pp.332-348.
Rawat, T. and et. al., 2019. Impact assessment of electric vehicle charging/discharging strategies
on the operation management of grid accessible and remote microgrids. International
Journal of Energy Research 43(15). pp.9034-9048.
Świderski, A., Jóźwiak, A. and Jachimowski, R., 2018. Operational quality measures of vehicles
applied for the transport services evaluation using artificial neural
networks. Eksploatacja i Niezawodność. 20.
Online
MARKS AND SPENCER GROUP PLC SUMMARY OPERATIONAL REVIEW, 2021
[Online]. Available through: <https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-
releases/archive/2004/12072004_marksandspencergroupplcsummaryoperationalrevie>
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