Research Report: Globalisation and Marks and Spencer Analysis

This research report examines the multifaceted impacts of globalization on Marks and Spencer, a prominent British multinational retailer. The report begins with a research proposal outlining the aim to determine the importance of globalization on welfare and economic development, using Marks and Spencer as a case study. A comprehensive literature review explores the concept of globalization, major challenges faced by businesses in a globalized environment, and the benefits globalization offers to companies like Marks and Spencer, including increased sales, access to lower labor costs, and an expanded product range. The research methodology includes a Gantt chart and work breakdown structure to manage the project effectively. The report analyzes the relationship between globalization and economic development, highlighting the interconnectedness of these factors. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, while recommendations suggest areas for further research, followed by a personal reflection statement. The report provides a detailed overview of the challenges and opportunities that globalization presents to businesses operating on an international scale, with specific reference to the experiences of Marks and Spencer.

RESEARCH
PROJECT

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................3
1.1 Research Proposal............................................................................................................3
Research aim and objective....................................................................................................3
Chapter 2: Literature Review..........................................................................................................7
2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................7
2.2 Literature Review.............................................................................................................7
Chapter 3: Methodology...............................................................................................................11
3.1 Research Approach.........................................................................................................11
3.2 Methodologies ...............................................................................................................11
Chapter 4 Data Collection and Analysis.......................................................................................13
4.1 Data collection................................................................................................................13
Aslam, M. H. and Azhar, S. M., 2013Firth, S., 2013Gangopadhyay, P., 2017Intriligator, M.,
20174.2 Data analysis...........................................................................................................15
Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendation................................................................................24
5.1 Conclusions....................................................................................................................24
5.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................................25
Chapter 6: Personal Reflection Statement.....................................................................................25
6.1 Reflect on the research methods used in project............................................................25
6.2 Consider research methods that could have been used..................................................25
6.3 Areas for further research (consideration)......................................................................26
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................27

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Research Proposal
Globalisation refers to interaction of economies with the medium of trade, import- export
and exchange of resources at global level. It has enhanced productivity and profitability of the
companies along with the enhancement of customer satisfaction (Benería, Berik and Floro,
2015). This research report is based on Marks and Spencer, a British multinational retailer
founded in 1884. This company is one among the renown retailer which offers its high quality
products at international level. It has been analysed that Marks and Spencer is offering its
products and services across the world which develop the interest of their management team to
understand actual scenario of globalisation. For this, they have conducted a complete research
on globalisation, its benefits and challenges which are faced by the company and might affect
its growth.
Research aim and objective
Research Aim
“To determine the importance of globalisation on welfare and development of economy”
A case study on Marks and Spencer
Research objective
 To identify the concept of globalisation
 To identify the major challenges of globalisation faced by business
 To evaluate the benefits of globalisation on Marks and Spencer
 To determine relationship between globalisation and development of economy
Research Questions
 What is the concept of globalisation?
 What are the major challenges of globalisation faced by business?
 How to evaluate benefits of globalisation on Marks and Spencer?
 What is the relationship between globalisation and development of economy?
Activities and timescales
Gantt chart:

It is considered as the bar chart which defines overall project schedule. This chart was
given by Henry Gantt in 1917. It includes all the activities of business organisation which helps
in planning, coordinating, tracking specific task of particular project. It can be said that
researcher are often using this chart in order to execute their research in effective manner
(Boserup, Tan and Toulmin, 2013). Along with this, it also helps researcher in meeting up their
overall task according to their required results.
Work Breakdown Structure:
Work breakdown structure is an effective system that divides overall project in small
section in order to organise them in systematic manner. It also helps in completing this whole
research with the helps of this division. As a result, it leads to finishing whole project effectively
within the preset time frame.

Chapter 2: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
A literature review is the detailed information which is collected from various sources
like books, journals, scholar papers, newspapers etc. in order to find out detailed information on
the similar topic for the purpose of identifying relevant result for this (Behrends, Park and
Rottenburg, 2014). In this, researcher often collects information from various secondary sources
that contributes in gaining true information. In relation to this research, researcher have adopted
books, journals, online articles for collecting information on globalisation, its benefits,
challenges, relationship with development of economy. All of them are described below in
literature review in detail.
2.2 Literature Review
Concept of globalisation
According to point of view of Robertson, (2012) it can be said that globalisation refers to
restructuring and interaction between nations for different purposes. These purpose of
interaction may be related to culture, customers, products, services, governmental transaction,
import export etc. As per the thoughts of authors, it can be said that globalisation is a integration
of societies, economies etc. for main purpose of business transactions. It also includes flow of
ideas, technologies, capital, goods, people, services and finance. It has been analysed that
concept of globalisation was mainly generated with the thought availing products and services of
one to people another one (Decker and et. al., 2014). Globalisation has converted overall
scenario of business which were initially executed within the national boundaries but
furthermore with the changing business person have started performing their business activities
beyond their nation this have helped them in expanding their business at international level. It
has been evaluated that globalisation have increased number of growth of opportunities for
business organisation which contributes in the enhancement of profitability ratio.

Apart from this, author also believes that globalisation is not beneficial for businesses
but on other hand it contributes in enhancement of customers. It can be said that with the help of
globalisation organisation are now offering its products and services to customers who belongs
to other nations. This avails huge variety of products and services to customers which
contributes in meeting their desired production (Gunn, 2017). As a result, it satisfies customers
at highest level. In addition to this, it has been analysed that customers personally gives more
priority to those products who are imported as they feel connected to other culture too.
Globalisation have increased thinking criteria customer as they are now able to every product
which is available to other nations. It also creates demand of products and services in number of
nations that contributes in enhancement of its sales of organisation at international which
ultimately contributes in achievement of targeted goals and objective along with the profitability
ratio.
Major challenges of globalisation faced by business
As per the thought of Neil, (2018) it has been analysed that globalisation have enhanced
growth opportunity for business organisation but along with this it has created some major
challenges for the companies too who are operating at international level. It can be said
globalization has enhanced availability of resources for companies but addition of this, it has
also increased competence for them too (Clarke, 2013). This increased competition forces
companies to adapt latest tools and techniques so that they gain competitiveness. As a result, this
enhances additional expenses for companies that directly impacts over its profitability ratio.
According to evaluation some of the major challenges of globalization which are faced by
organization are described as below:
Unfamiliar culture: It is the main challenge which is faced by organization while
performing their business activities at international level. It can be said that companies have to
place additional efforts in international market in order to understand their culture as needs and
demand of its customers totally depends on it only. It has been identified that after identifying
actual needs and requirement only companies develop suitable product and service for them.
But, it is quiet difficult for the company as they are not familiar to new market as well as
behavior of customer (Crane and Matten, 2016). This makes it difficult for company to develop
new product for customers so that they could achieve their targeted goals and objective.

Organizational communication: Another issue which are faced by companies who
operates their businesses at international level is that they are not able to communicate to their
business areas which are operating in different areas. It can be said, it is difficult for companies
to communicate to their side businesses which exists in another countries. It has been evaluated
that its quiet difficult for organization to track, report, communicate to business related persons
as they are faces communication barriers.
Human resources: It has been seen that organizations have to focus on hiring new
employees while performing their business activities in new country as they have to execute
high level of business practices. It can be said that this is the major issues for organization as
they have to conduct various recruitment and selection programs which consumes time as well
as money of company. Along with this, it also engage available manpower in the hiring process
as they have to select best qualified and experienced staff who owns ability of performing
similar business activities (Dunning, 2014). In addition to this, another major similar challenge
that is faced by business organization is to finalize working staff within their budget.
Benefits of globalisation on Marks and Spencer
According to the thoughts of Intriligator, (2017) it can be said that globalisation has
enhanced business opportunities for companies who operates their business activities across the
world. It has been analysed that there are numerous of benefits which are achieved by business
organisation while performing business activities in international market. In relation to large
companies globalisation have not only improved their business practices at international level
but it has also improved their profit earning capabilities (Aslam and Azhar, 2013). As a result,
large companies successfully attains their targeted goals and objectives in international market
too. In relation to Marks and Spencer, the company have already entered into global market
which have helped them in enhancing their sales ratio as a result, it has contributed in
achievement of high range of profitability. Some of the major benefits of globalisation on
business large scale business organisation are described as below:
Increases sales and profitability: It has been analysed that globalisation have
contributed a lot to large scale organisation as they are now able to meet huge level of
customers. This helps them in meeting to new customers. It can be said that with the help of
globalisation Marks and Spencer is now able to enhance its sales by offering its products and

services to huge number of customers (Firth, 2013). As a result, with the increasing sales
companies are now able to generate high level of profitability
Low payable workers: Another benefit of globalisation on Marks and Spencer is that
this company is now able to hire low cost based workers for performing their business activities
at international level. For example: Large scale organisation hires its workers from those
countries where they labour rates are minimum. This helps the company in reducing its expenses
which are spend on employees in the form of their salaries.
Increases Product range: Globalisation have increased number of growth opportunities
for large scale retail companies like Marks and Spence. This opportunity can be seen in the
name of chances of increasing their products and services according to culture, need and
requirement of customers as they belongs to different location where taste and preference of
customer varies according to their job location (Gangopadhyay, 2017). It can be said that, while
expanding their business at international level, marketing team of Marks and Spencer gives extra
preference to local culture of operating country this helps in manufacturing their product
according to customer.
Relationship between globalization and development of economy
As per the thoughts of Alfaro and Johnson, (2012), it can be said that globalization and
development of economy are interrelated to each other and also shares the strong relationship
with each other. It has been analyzed that author personally believes that globalization have
impacted positively in economic development in developed countries. Whereas, it does not
contributes much enhancement in economic development of underdeveloped countries. It has
been observed that globalization has opened up various opportunities for developing countries to
improve their financial position by increasing number of job opportunities for their citizens.
This reduces unemployment level of countries as a result employees are now able to get job
according to their capability. This also helps them in satisfying their needs and desires within
native country only.
In addition to this, it has been analyzed that large scale organizations are giving more
preference to those countries where they can easily expand their business without facing much
problems. It can be said that these companies are mainly concern about availability of resources
as they will require them at extensive level during their expansion. Availability of resources also

helps them in setting up their business in effective manner with appropriate workforce (Boserup,
Tan and Toulmin, 2013). It has been observed that countries who owns high level resources
easily develops as large organization gives them importance because their business plan can be
easily executed their. As a result, with the successive growth of companies in new countries
directly contribute in the achievement of it is targeted goals and objectives with the increasing
profitability. This also impacts positively on the growth of economy of nation. This reflects clear
relationship between globalization and development of economic.
Chapter 3: Methodology
3.1 Research Approach
Research approach is a broad term which refers to a plan and procedure that consists of
steps including broad assumptions about data collection, analysis and interpretation. It is hence
based on nature of research problem being addressed. It is basically a method of conducting a
research on any given topic by using various methods like data collection, data analysis and
interpretation. Research approach is further classified into two major categories
Qualitative approach: Qualitative data approach requires an inductive approach of
analysis which implies that they develop a theory on the basis of data collected by researchers.
This approach involves a move from specific to general and so is known as bottom up approach
(Docquier and Rapoport, 2012). Qualitative researchers never base their research on
predetermined hypothesis but generate new data from various qualitative measures.
Quantitative approach: It is usually associated with positive paradigm. Quantitative
approach usually involves collection and conversion of data into numerical form so that
statistical calculations can be made easily and conclusions are also drawn. For this approach,
researchers usually follow more than one hypotheses.
3.2 Methodologies
Methodology refers to a set system of broad principles, rules and procedures from which
specific methods or procedures may be derived to interpret or solve different research problems
within scope of any particular discipline. A methodology is not a formula but a set of practices
and procedures. It is a strict set of principles which helps in conducting research or surveys. It is
a set pattern in which any task or activity is performed.

(1) Sampling: Sampling refers to a process which is used in statistical analysis and calculation
in which a predetermined number of observations are taken from a larger population. For
example, In this report, sample size of 30 people has been taken into consideration (Robinson,
2013). A sample helps in determining accuracy of any research that is conducted. Also it makes
a research activity manageable and convenient for conducting a research.
(2)Data analysis: Data analysis refers to a process of inspecting, cleansing,transforming and
modeling data with a goal or objective of discovering useful information, forming conclusions
and supporting in decision making process. Data analysis is also termed as a process of
extracting and retrieving useful information from any given data. It helps in data mining,
descriptive and predictive analysis, statistical analysis, business analysis and big data analysis.
(3) Cost access and ethical consideration:Cost is a value for money that is normally used
to produce or generate something (Stromquist and Monkman, 2014). It is also the
amount used to deliver goods or services and hence is unavailable for any further use.
Cost involved in carrying out research in this report is around 15000.
There is a ethical code of conduct to be followed while doing research and taking sample:
 Data collected should be true and fair.
 It should be free from any kind of bias.
 Data should provide a true and fair view about any given situation and should never be
misused.
 Data collected for a sample should not be used for any unfair or illegal activities and
should purely consider calculation activity.
Primary method: In this method of research, researcher collects information directly
from the customers as well as respondents in order to find out appropriate result. It includes
various types of methods that is interview, surveys, questionnaire, focus group etc. It can be said
that these methods of data collection are beneficial for companies as they are collected from
customers itself. This results in attaining true result which satisfy major aim of research for
which it is conducted.
Secondary method: In this method, investigator often collect information from
secondary sources like books, journals, articles written by another writer etc. It has been
analyzed that secondary research method are less time consuming and supports researcher in
finding out favorable result for research (Westwood and Phizacklea, 2013). It can be said that it