Successful Business Project: Digital Technology Impact on M&S

This project report investigates the transformative impact of digital technology on business activities, focusing on Mark and Spencer (M&S), a major UK retailer. It begins by outlining the aims and objectives, including examining both positive and negative impacts of digital technology on operations and functions, analyzing M&S's performance in a competitive market, and determining the importance of digital technology for achieving organizational goals. The report details a project management plan incorporating costs, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources, along with a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project implementation. It also presents small-scale research using qualitative and quantitative methods, followed by data analysis and recommendations. The report concludes with a reflection on the value of the research, the decision-making process, and any changes in the initial project management plan. Desklib provides access to this and other solved assignments for students.

Unit 6: Managing a Successful Business
Project
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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4
Part 1...........................................................................................................................................................5
P1 Devise clear aims and objectives of your project................................................................................5
Problem statement...............................................................................................................................5
Project strategy....................................................................................................................................5
Objective.............................................................................................................................................6
P2 Produce a project management plan incorporating: costs, 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
Project implementation plan................................................................................................................9
Work break down the structure............................................................................................................9
Gantt chart.........................................................................................................................................10
M1Produce a comprehensive project management plan........................................................................12
Part 2.........................................................................................................................................................14
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives..............................................................................14
M2 Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the different research methods you have applied to your
project....................................................................................................................................................18
D1 Critically evaluate the project management process and the research methods used.......................19
Part 3.........................................................................................................................................................20
P5 Analyze your research and data using appropriate tools and techniques..........................................20
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of research and data analysis to draw valid
and meaningful conclusions..................................................................................................................25
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning and
performance...........................................................................................................................................26
M3 Evaluate your selection of appropriate tools and techniques for accuracy and authenticity to support
and justify recommendations.................................................................................................................27
M4 Evaluate the value of the project management process and use of qualitative research to meet stated
objectives and support own learning and performance..........................................................................28
D2 Critically evaluate and reflect on the project outcomes, the decision-making process and changes or
developments in the initial project management plan............................................................................29
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Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................30
References.................................................................................................................................................31
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Introduction
It is very difficult for every business organisation to survive in a digital technology environment.
The company needs to manage and control its functions as well as operations in a well-structured
manner for which they require4d to adopt high technology that reduces workload from
employees. This project report is based on Mark and Spencer which is the largest retailer in the
United Kingdom that offer high-quality products and services to its customers. This organisation
provides a wide range of goods like food products, clothing, and home products. With the help of
high digital technology company is able to fulfill the market requirement and customer’s demand
in an effective way that enhances their level of satisfaction. For achieving high growth and
success it is essential for the company to focus on the high technology and latest techniques in
the production procedures. The organisation takes help of research for identifying current needs
and demand of customers. It is highly important to create aims and objectives for the research
that help in overall project work. There are various methods and techniques available in markets
like Gantt chart and work breakdown structure which has been analyzed in this report that is used
by the investigator for managing entire project activities. In this report, several methods of
research have been examined such as qualitative as well as a quantitative method that helps in
creating suggestions and recommendation for future.
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Part 1
P1 Devise clear aims and objectives of your project
Topic- How digital technology has transformed business activities, e.g. marketing, operations,
HR, and accounting.
Background
With the help of high digital technology company can easily increase its profitability and
productivity. The digital technology influence positively and negatively on operations and
functions of the business organisation. In the project plan, it is necessary to understand all the
problems and issues in a proper way for developing a suitable solution. This will help
management to control project plan in a most appropriate way that provides better outcomes.
There are various different departments in Mark and Spencer because it produces a wide range of
products like clothing, luxury food products, and products to its customers. By taking help of
digital technology company can provide innovative, unique and high-quality goods at low prices
(Acaps, 2012).
Problem statement
Different type of issues and problems has faced by the company while implementing digital
technology in the required improvement area in the workplace. Employees do not have technical
knowledge due to which they are not aware of the advantages of digital technology within the
organisation.
Project strategy
The project strategy is to evaluate the impact of digital technology on business activities that
help in achieving set aims and objectives effectively. It is necessary for management to
understand the need for technology in a different department like HR, accounting, Marketing and
production of the organisation for improving function. With the help of project strategies
organisation can attain high growth and success.
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Aim
The main aim of the project is to examine the importance of digital technology for improving
business activities and operations to achieve high-profit margin.
Objective
 To examine both positive and negative impact of digital technology on operations and
functions
 To analyse the Performance of Mark and Spencer in the competitive market environment
 To determine the importance of digital technology for achieving set goals and objectives.
Cost, performance and time objectives
There are various aims and objectives have been set by the investigator for this research study for
achieving set goals and objectives. It is necessary for research to set proper time, cost and
performance standard for the research so that entire project activities will be performed
accordingly. For example, 3 month time is taken by the researcher by setting a budget of £ 20000
which helps in completing research in a suitable way by reducing wastages (Kukhnavets, 2016).
Research question
 What is need of digital technology in business practices?
 How can an organisation increase their level of productivity and profitability?
 How digital technology influence performance of employees and organisation?
The significance of the study
It is highly important for an organisation to achieve high profitability and also maintain long-
term survival in the large competitive business environment. With the help of study, oragnisation
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will understand both positive as well as negative impact of digital technology on business
operations and functions.
P2 Produce a project management plan incorporating: costs, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources
It is necessary for the investigator to give attention on project management plan which helps in
managing cost, quality, time scope, resources, and risk so that organisation can attain set goals
and objective effectively.
Time To achieve high profitability as well as
productivity it is important for the
organisation to set certain time period for a
specific activity. This will help in
completing the particular task in the set
time period.
Communication The organisation must convey developed
plans and strategies that help in
accomplishing set standard. It is the
responsibility of management to develop
proper communication process with
employees that help in resolving issues and
problems that arise in the workplace
(Nylen, 2015).
Scope Mark and Spencer gain high scope in the
large competitive business environment by
implementing digital technology in business
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activities.
Quality It is necessary to focus on the quality of
products in a proper way to achieve set
aims and objectives of the research project.
With the help of research organisation can
enhance the quality of goods and services.
Cost It is most important aspects which must be
controlled and managed by the Mark and
Spencer to attain high growth as well as
success. By using finance in a well-planned
way an organisation can avoid unwanted
and unnecessary activity which helps in
controlling operational cost.
Resources For achieving set goals and objectives it is
necessary to use available resources in a
well systematic way without doing any kind
of wastage and unnecessary activities
(Cameron & Green, 2015).
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P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide timeframes and
stages for completion
Project implementation plan
In the project implementation plan organisation execute planned strategies and plan in a proper
way which helps in achieving set goals and objectives. By using project implementation plan
organisation can carry research work in proper manner.
Work break down the structure
(Figure: Work breakdown structure)
(Source: Kukhnavets, 2016)
It is highly important for the researcher to use work breakdown structure for dividing work
activities into different parts that help in attaining set aims and objects of the research project.
With the help of work, breakdown structure researcher can perform all activities in a well-
planned way that avoids unwanted activities (Marshall and Rossman, 2014).
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Project schedule
Work/Time Start date End date Duration
Set research topic 2.4.2018 8.4.2018 1 week
Create aims of the project 9.1.2018 15.4.2018 1 week
Secondary research 16.1.2018 22.4.2018 1 week
Use primary research 23.4.2018 6.5.2018 2 weeks
Data analysis 7.5.2018 13.5.2018 1 week
Recommendation 14.5.2018 20.5.2018 1 week
Submission 21.5.2018 27.5.2018 1 week
Gantt chart
The Gantt chart is the systematic graphical representation of activities and takes that is to be
performed by the company for the set project (Bernardi, 2013).
Work/Time Week
1
Week
2 week 3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
WEEK
8
Set research
topic
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Create aims of
the project
Secondary
research
Use primary
research
Data analysis
Recommendatio
n
Submission
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M1Produce a comprehensive project management plan
It is necessary for Mark and Spencer to produces project management plan for implementing its
technology in business activities.
Identify practices: In the first stage, management identifies all project activities which must be
carried by the researcher for attaining better outcomes. With the help of cloud computing that is
systematic concept through which management can transfer all record and information related to
business activities.
Estimate needed time and resources: In this phase organisation estimate the required
resources and time to reduce wastages and unnecessary practices.
Examine resources: For achieving better outcomes and result it is essential for the investigator
to estimate the need for resources and the proper relationship between all project activities.
Estimate schedule constraints: In this stage, investigator take suitable action to overcome
various issues and problem-related to business activities.
Project control: It is the last phase in which researcher manage overall project management
plan to attain set aims and objectives (Crawford, 2014).
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