Benefits and Drawbacks of Global Business Environment: M&S Study

This research proposal aims to determine the benefits and drawbacks of the global business environment, using Marks and Spencer as a case study. The study defines the concept of the global business environment, identifies the advantages of globalization for Marks and Spencer in achieving growth in the global market, and evaluates the challenges the company faces while operating internationally. The research will use both primary and secondary data collection methods, including questionnaires and literature reviews, to gather relevant information. The proposal outlines the research philosophy (interpretivism), approach (inductive), design (descriptive), and data collection techniques. The study also addresses research ethics, limitations, and a timeline for the research activities. The literature review explores the concept of the global business environment, the benefits of globalization for Marks and Spencer (such as greater access to talent and improved brand image), and the challenges faced (including cultural differences and legal landscapes).

Research
Project

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: “To determine the benefits and drawbacks of global business
environment. A study on Marks and Spencer.”
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or
hypothesis) “To determine the benefits and drawbacks of global business environment. A
study on Marks and Spencer.”
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to
learn how to do? What do you want to find out?):
 To determine the concept of global business environment.
 To identify the benefits of globalization for Marks and Spencer in attaining growth at
global market.
 To evaluate the challenges faced by Marks and Spencer while operating business at
global level.
Research questions
 What is the concept of global business environment?
 What are the benefits of globalisation for Marks and Spencer in attaining growth at
global market?
 What are the challenges faced by Marks and Spencer while operating business at global
level?
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Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying, personal
interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):
The primary rational motive behind chosen this study is to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks
of global business environment on organisational activities of Marks and Spencer. It help
investigator in increasing their skills assist them in creating valuable judgement within the
investigation. It support learner in improving their skills in this specified area through which
they can easily undertake same research in future time of period. By this, researcher may easily
overcome from the issues associated with globalisation and its welfare for organization.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Concept of global business environment
As per Grant, (2016), global business surroundings refers to the surroundings in certain
sovereign countries along with exogenous to the home environment of business organisation.
As it directly influence overall decision making activities and resources that use within the
firm for generating market share from its competitors. Primarily, it consider several factors like
economic, tax, cultural, legal, technological and political that affect performance of the
organization at global place. Therefore, it is crucial for company to analysis as well as measure
the global environment before expanding their operational activities that help them in attaining
opportunities to attain larger success at international level. By this, organisation may capture
customers attention by serving them better quality services. It may support them in attaining
competitive edge from its competitors.
Benefits of globalisation for Marks and Spencer in attaining growth at global market
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According to Gutierrez, Boukrami and Lumsden, (2015), while company operate their
activities at global level then they get diverse benefits that support them in improving their
brand image from its competitors. In context of this, Marks and Spencer going global and also
get various advantages are as follows:
 Greater Access to talent: When M&S extend their operations then they get
opportunities to invite new talent within the company which help them in effectively
operating or running their operational activities. As it assist in increasing the
possibilities of setting their competitive image at global market place. If workers are
talented and well skilled in company then Marks and Spencer easily improve their
brand image and also capture larger marker share from its competitors.
 Improve brand image: At global market, every customers have to access to the best
quality of services from the company. That's why Marks and Spencer focus on their
products quality and also add some values to make it more attractive. By providing best
quality of products to number of customers according to demand, firm enhance their
brand image and grab customers attention as well.
Challenges faced by Marks and Spencer while operating business at global level
According to Herrera, (2015), It is crucial for business organisation to analysis global
business environment because when they globalise their business then they face various
challenges that may adversely impact on performance of the company at global market place.
In this regards, company also responsible for developing their positive image by delivering
quality services as per customers needs and provide them same to get their higher satisfaction
level. This will directly contribute in attaining higher growth level at competitive or global
market place.
 Cultural differences: One of the main challenge is faced by Marks and Spencer at
global level is unfamiliar cultures. This is the reason that some time company fail in
setting the way in which they interact with their stakeholders due to difference in their
culture. This will negatively impact on their brand image at global level. Thus,
company have to evaluate the culture of specified market wherein their globalise their
operations.
 The legal Landscape: When company crosses borders, legal regulations, laws, tax rules
and many more are totally different. This can be challenge for Marks and Spencer
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while running their business at global level. Thus, company needs to ensure that their
operations are always operating with the setted laws and regulations.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g research,
development and analysis of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical
analysis, tutor meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation, writing
the report):
How long
this will
take:
Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: _______________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Gantt Chart
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Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why? What
your areas of research will cover:
This section play a crucial role in undertaking a research activities in systematic manner. As it
help investigator to gather relevant information about research topic and area as well. For this,
investigator implement Saunders research onion.
Research philosophy: It consider two philosophy such as interpretivisim and positivism.
These are effective but for this research, interpretivisim philosophy will be used by
investigator as it help in evaluating the collected data in effectual way.
Research Approach: Under this, inductive and deductive research approaches are there which
may help in gathering relevant data. As per this research, inductive research is used because it
assist in assembly detailed information about the research topic in an effective manner.
Research Choice: It consider two type of research choice such as qualitative and quantitative
research by which researcher can gather applicable data and towards the investigation topic.
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Qualitative research: This type of method help in developing better understanding about
human behaviour, the way people feel and think. As it provide detailed data about the study
area that support in attaining valid results. Quantitative research: It is related to the faced and
numerical data that can be easily measured as it includes logical based, mathematical and
statistical technique through which data can be gathered (Lazzarini, 2015).
Research design: It includes an appropriate structure of plan that assist researcher in managing
research activities in well structured manner. It includes three type of research design like
descriptive, exploratory and experimental. For this research, investigator will use descriptive
research design that help in providing in-depth evaluation towards the research activities and
topic as well.
Sources of data: This is related to the different sources that help investigator to gather relevant
data and information. As it includes Primary method: It is one of the important method in
which information collected through first hand resources that help in taking right and
appropriate decision at the end of the research (Lacy and Rutqvist, 2016). The main aspects of
this methods are questionnaire, survey, interview and many more. All these are help in
collecting relevant data and information towards the research topic and area as well. Secondary
method: This is also considered as a process of gathering information from different sources
like books, journals, articles and many more. By this researcher easily attain positive and
reliable outcomes. For this research, researcher will use both primary and secondary method
through which investigator can easily draw a valid conclusion.
Data collection techniques: It is important for researcher to select appropriate technique to
undertake the research activities in an effective manner. Mainly, it includes various technique
such as questionnaire, interview, survey and many more. In current research, researcher will
use questionnaire to investigate or collect relevant data and information towards research topic.
Research sampling: It is a process of selecting sample size from huge population with the aim
of gathering relevant data and information about benefits and drawbacks of global business
environment. Mainly, it is based on probabilistic and non- probabilistic methods. For this
research, investigator will use random sampling method to select sample size of 40 who are
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employees of business organization.
Research Ethics: It is important for investigator to carry out research activities in ethical way.
Mainly, it is based on three principles such as anonymity, confidentiality and informed
consent. All these are needs to be implemented by researcher while undertaking research
activities in successful manner.
Research Limitation: While undertaking research, investigator face various limitation related
with the investigation is formulating research aims and objectives, Implementing data
collection methods, selecting sample size, scope of discussion and many more. All these are
directly impact on the overall research activities in negative manner.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another
qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date
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Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data
collected form human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing their
research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if
incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully with your
unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your research project is due to
commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
“To determine the benefits and drawbacks of global business environment. A study on Marks
and Spencer.”
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
l Interviews Yes No
l Questionnaires Yes No
l Observations Yes No
l Use of personal records Yes No
l Data Analysis Yes No
l Action Research Yes No
l Focus Groups Yes No
l Others (Please specify) :
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Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults:
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
Respondents are employees who selected through random sampling method.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
Through E- mail
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made
clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
Consent of participants are collected in the written form which is authentic for research.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions
that do not wish to answer?
Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed
consent to be observed.
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief explanation
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of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a brief
summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data
Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher access to the data and personal information.
During the research:
Researcher
Where will the data be stored?
In computerised form
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
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Will data be kept for use by other researchers? Yes No
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical concerns? If
so, please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise because
of your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may
include, but are not limited to the following :
l Informed consent.
l Potentially vulnerable participants.
l Sensitive topics
l Risk to participants and /or researchers
l Confidentiality/anonymity
l Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
l Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer,
sharing, encryption, protection).
l Reporting
l Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics Policy:
Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical issues that
may arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to your tutor and also attach to the Research
Proposal when submitting to Turnitin.
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