Managing a Successful Business Project: Marks & Spencer Report

This report delves into the realm of project management within a business context, specifically focusing on the impact of digitization on organizations. It uses Marks & Spencer as a case study, examining the company's digital strategies and their effects on various aspects of its operations. The report covers the aims, objectives, and time frame of digitization, project management planning, work breakdown structures, and Gantt charts. It also includes small-scale research using qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze market trends, customer behavior, and the effectiveness of digital initiatives. The report provides recommendations based on the research findings, reflecting on the challenges and successes of implementing digital strategies. It underscores the importance of factors like cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk management, and resource allocation in project management. Overall, the report offers insights into the strategic importance of digitization and its role in shaping the future of business, particularly within the retail sector.

MANAGING A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Aim, Objective and time frame of digitalisation .............................................................1
P2 Project Management Planning for Marks & Spencer.......................................................2
P3 Work breakdown and Gantt Chart for time frame of stages of completion of project. . .4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Small scale research using qualitative and quantitative method. ....................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P5 Research and data by using appropriate tool and techniques............................................8
P6 Recommendation about the research. .............................................................................10
TASK 4 .........................................................................................................................................11
P7 Reflection .......................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
LOGBOOK....................................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Digitisation has become an important tool for small scale organisation to systematically
manage their business operations with technical tools for making their work smoother and easier.
It provides a way through which information are converted and transferred in digital form. Its
main focus in increasing quality of product and transfer to a large group of people (Zott and
Massa, 2011). Through effective use of digital transmission technology and latest software
company can increase their reach to all over the world. Marks & Spenser is a renowned company
dealing in clothing, luxury food and home products. Company was founded 1884 and have
succeeded over the years with implementation of new and innovative ideas in their business
policy. This assessment will bring out detailed discussion about role of digitisation and their
impact on business activities on organisation.
TASK 1
P1 Aim, Objective and time frame of digitalisation
In recent business activity in all over the globe digitalisation has become an important
factor for increasing growth and range of organisation in business market in other sense
digitisation has increased opportunity to start new ventures and business activities. Digitalisation
has given opportunities to different small scale organisation and entrepreneurs to start their
business through digital platform. Due to increase of sales these organisation they have turned
out to be flagship killer to larger company (Stokes, 2010). Marks and Spenser has also adopted
digitalisation that will aid them to increase their dominance in retail business.
Aim and objective of research – Main objective of organisation is adoption of best
strategies and infuse innovative ideas and technique in business activities. This study shows that
how different organisation are very keen to increase their business in market. This assessment
focus on defining how digitisation will shape up future business market and a way company
accept those challenges to sustain in competitive market. Marks & Spenser must have certain
objectives and increase by adopting potent objectives in their business activities. Several
objectives and aim of company in business market are as follows.
 Analyse and predict effect of digital marketing in firm and its on society (Cavusgil,
2014).
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 Generation and implementation of innovative ideas in activities and planning performed
in business for better outcomes
 Using latest and innovative software for smooth functioning of business activities and
for analysing them.
These objectives and aim can be attained by collecting details about business by
conducting different surveys and and researches (Wilson, 2010). The collected data then are
observers and different policies are made accordingly. Best way to increase business activities by
formation of questionnaire regarding strategies and and impact of digitalisation on company.
 How putting sales activity on e- commerce website will help Marks & Spenser in
future businesses activities ?
 Haw can this effect social culture and people of different geographical boundaries ?
 What innovative ideas they can implement to increase productivity of their product?
These questionnaire will aid enterprise to plan better for future business prospective by
understanding need and wants of people.
Initially Marks & Spenser is being hosted on Amazon platform. But recently they have
planned to increase their business activity by putting their products on own e-commerce
website. They have done quite good in initial stage and planned to invest more on doing business
through digital platform. By the end of 2017 company has increased their revenue in their
products e.g. in UK Food ( 5649 pounds), UK – General Merchandise (3792 pounds ), Owned
business (866.3 pounds ), International franchise (314 pounds). This positive rise of business
activities is due to more potent use of digital platform.
Digital platform gives a vast opportunity and potential for company of different
company. By adopting and planning efficient business strategy Marks & Spencer can increase
their growth immensely in future business market.
P2 Project Management Planning for Marks & Spencer
For succession of an organisation planning and implementing gives them great
opportunity to be succeed in future business prospective (Teece, 2010). Planning aids better
allocation of resources, producing maximum output from minimum resource planning and
increase probability of success and positive outcome in productivity and sales of different
products in organisation. Planning also helps in managing different factors in an internal
organisation. It helps in effective management of workforces and utilise their potential. It is also
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used to make certain policies and guidelines that allows organisation to adopt ethical approach in
both internal and external factor of business activity. Planning in recruitment and planning
process will aid organisation to adopt right policies and strategies in hiring and recruitment
process. Decision in regard to project management and making policies will help company to
decrease chances of risk and uncertainty in business activities (Ainin, 2011).. There are several
factors that can be considered in planning activity for generating better output from business
activities are mentioned below:
Cost – Finance is a major factor for sustainability of business in market. A company
cannot compete and grow and sustain against uncertain competitive business market. Company
cherished with better financial base can plan to invest in new geographical boundaries or
increase their production. Marks and Spencer are always fro(Ainin, 2011).nt runner in investing
in innovative ideas in their product and gain profit from market. This planning process of
company also includes financing and costing of project in their organisation. Over the years
Financial planing is one of a important factor the has helped organisation to invest and compete
in different geographical boundaries.
Scope- A project should have a scope to be a potent factor in an efficient organisation,
scope helps in understanding objectives and aim of organisation in business market. It plays a
very peculiar role in business activity by supporting and making better planning and adopting
effective process as per needs and demands of company (Porter and Kramer, 2011). Marks &
Spencer is a retail company that deals in clothing, food and merchandising, by implanting better
scope and planing in business activities it will help the to create loyal customer base towards
their products. This will aid in increasing their brand image in different markets.
Time- Scheduling and Timing is a very important factor in doing business. Better time
management are used to put project in defined time frame. This allows a company to
manufacture and increase their productivity in less time interval (Fitzgerald, 2014). Marks &
Spencer have a very proactive approach towards time. Feature of company is they are efficient in
better demand forecasting so that they can predict and and analyse future needs and interest of
customer and manufacture that in a suitable time frame. Maintaining this approach in business
they can innovate or re- engineer a product that makes stand apart and stand tall in market and
earn bigger chunk of revenue.
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Quality – This can directly influence business activity of organisation. A part form
manufacturing versatile items, company must focus on increasing quality of product, as the
company is a leading retailer in clothing and food they have been able to generate diverse items
with new features and maintaining values in their products. Company is entitled increase their
grass root of different market with digital mediums through different platform to reach
audiences.
Communication- This turns out to be important prospect in business activity. For
increasing base of organisation different destination company need different effective
communication medium that aid them in exploring nee destination and reaching out to new
customer in business market (Peppard and Ward, 2016). In internal factor of an organisation
company is vital cog, it is used in maintaining better coordination, reduce conflicts between
employees and make them goal oriented. (Ainin, 2011).
Risk – Competitive business market have both risk and uncertainty in business market.
An enterprises can only succeed in having better counter planning against risk. Company can
understand this and make efficient approach in dealing against it (Dezdar, 2011). Marks &
Spencer is having threat against many small scale organisation and entrepreneurs, these people
tends to decrees productivity of organisation by providing products at more reasonable rate. So
company must have certain plan to deal with these kind of situation.
Resources- This is another factor for increasing growth of a company. For dominating a
business market an organisation must have proper resource and resource planning so that they
can sustain in business.
P3 Work breakdown and Gantt Chart for time frame of stages of completion of project.
Work breakdown means dividing a task into different stages for better planning and
reducing pressure from employee. This process contains hierarchical tree structure that suggest a
potent way for management of a business. This can help organisation tom design certain plan and
skills to increase their productivity by efficient planning about their products. They can use this
task in distribution of work among employees based on their potential, skills and knowledge,
behaviour, attitude (Laudon and Laudon, 2016). Keeping employees in positive frame of mind is
necessary for uplifting intent of organisation in terms of goal setting and increasing their
effectiveness. Manager has to play important function for effectively dividing work among
different employees for achieving desired goals and objectives of organisation. Marks &
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Spencer keep on monitoring efficiency and capability of their employees and make plans for
improving skills and knowledge by organising several programmes. For example Marks &
Spencer is training their company to develop and increase potent of their e- commerce website
do to compete against international retailers like Amazon, Alibaba etc.
Gantt Chart is turned out to be an efficacious tool that used to put information in the form
of graphical representation. There are different organisation tend to implement Gantt Chart for
distributing work according to skills and efficiency of organisation. Through proper
representation of data organisation have manager to increase their potential by controlling
several business activities and attend their objectives and goals (Hotho and Champion, 2011).
Marks & Spencer have always believed in analysing and surveying their business through Gantt
Chart so that for evaluation of different activities performed in their organisation and simulate
planning and strategies for future prospective(Dezdar, 2011)s. There are several tools and
techniques that helps in increasing efficiency of their product by increasing their qualities.
Testing and analysis of products and their sustainability are also possible through Gantt Chart.
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TASK 2
P4 Small scale research using qualitative and quantitative method.
Researches and survey plays vital role for an organisation for better understanding
different prospective in internal and external market. It will help organisation to understand
about needs, expectations, values, competitors, strategy, demand, efficiency of product etc.
Company can plan effectively plan to fulfil demand of customers (Bonnet, 2014). Research can
also be used to determine behaviour and attitude of people towards company's product. Through
collecting feedbacks and wishes of people organisation can plan in a efficient way. Though
research is time consuming technique but it helps in realising and analysing different factors and
entity that will help company to grow in an organisation. Several tools and techniques are present
in market that help an company to analyse different element of their business activity.
Qualitative research – These researches are completely based on collection of historical
data that have some quantity and are collected through historical mode. This helps in
identification of attitude and behaviour of people that are collected thorough different technique
that include perception, experience, wishes, surveys and experience for better solutions. Several
data and informations are collected through name, religion, work ethics, satisfaction level,
company services and current market strength of that geographical areas. (Dezdar, 2011)
Quantitative research – In this activities data are collected in numerical form that is
based on activities and performance of market and customers. Plotting these factors on graph
will help organisation for study of business activities (Hotho and Champion, 2011). Marks &
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Spencer have framed specific department for collection of data and analysis their performance in
business activities. Mathematical and statical data are used in research projects that are used in
better analysis and understanding of data.
Sampling – It is an integral part of business research and analysis of data. In this process
a small section or amount of data is being collected from a large sample and information are
collected on the basis of that activity. This process is determined through collection of samples
and feedbacks from customers and analysis on the basis of that (Eid, 2013). Different company
used to perform sampling process time to time to understand presence and performance of their
product in market place and analyse and rectify if problems arises in their products. Research
activities can collect better outcomes of sample size by analysing through graphical
representations of various questionnaire. Company can have modification of their products based
on outcomes. This will intimately increase dominance of organisation over other competitors.
Questionnaire
Name:-
Gender:-
Resident :-
Age:-
Q1. Will digitalisation help in increasing sales and productivity of Marks & Spenser ?
A. Yes
B. No
Q2. Is implementation of digital technology in retail sector fruitful ?
A. Yes
B. No
Q3. Do you agree that e- commerce website will increase growth of Marks & Spenser ?
A. Yes
B. No
Q4. Does implementation of digital technology has affected performances of Marks & Spenser
negatively?
A. Yes
B. No
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Q. 5 Give your own views on digitalisation
TASK 3
P5 Research and data by using appropriate tool and techniques
Q1. Will digitalisation help in in increasing sales and productivity of
Marks & Spenser ?
Frequency
A. Yes 25
B. No 5
Findings – By analysing above question it is being concluded that digitisation is turned
out to be an important tool for development of Marks & Spenser. 25 out of 30 people agreed that
adopting digital technology well help business to grow in future prospective.
Q2. Is implementation of digital technology in retail sector be fruitful ? Frequency
A. Yes 20
B. No 10
8
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
25
5
Column C

Findings- From the finding of above graph it is being concluded that digital technology
is future prospective in retain business. As of now people 20 people out of 30 agreed to use
online shopping in their day to day like. 10 still have doubts that can be due to changes in
geographical and demographic differentiation.
Q3. Do you agree that e- commerce website will increase growth of
Marks & Spenser ?
Frequency
A. Yes 22
B. No 8
Findings- Marks & Spenser is regarded as a fast growing organisation for over a
century. By investing in formation in their own digital organisation they are able to increase their
9
Internet Pamphlet
0
5
10
15
20
25 22
8 Column C
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
20
10
Column C

base in maximum geographical area . 22 out of 30 people are in favour of using digital platform
for shopping of products.
Q4. Does implementation of digital technology has affected
performances of Marks & Spenser ?
Frequency
A. Yes 24
B. No 6
Findings- People are more fond of using digital technology instead of traditional one.
More and more people are finding it easy to use digital medium in their business activity. By the
following representation it is clear that barely 6 out of 30 are against it.
P6 Recommendation about the research.
By going thorough the research it is being concluded that Marks & Spenser is a business
organisation that deal in retail sector. They have planned to increase business activities through
digital platform. It can be termed as a better move because global business marketing is adopting
digital medium to increase their business. Marks & Spenser has adopted business strategy to
invest in e- commerce website that will be accessed through different digital platform. This will
increase their reach in different geographical market across the globe. Apart form this there are
certain recommendation and activities that will help organisation for overcoming their
weaknesses and increase their grass roots in business market. Some of them are as follows
 Company must plan to organise training and development process for increasing
knowledge of people about the market activity. For example they must train their
employee to work on digital platform for marketing and sales activity.
10
Modern technology
Traditional technology
0
5
10
15
20
25
24
6 Column C