Analysis of Marks and Spencer Business Project Management Report

This report analyzes the project management of a business project, focusing on Marks and Spencer's expansion strategy in a globalized market. It delves into the aims, objectives, and the project management plan, including cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources. The report incorporates a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart for time management and task organization. It also includes small-scale research utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods to understand the impact of multinational organizations on the business environment. Furthermore, the report offers recommendations based on the research and data analysis, providing insights for M&S to navigate the challenges of international expansion. The report covers various aspects of project management, research methodologies, and strategic recommendations, providing a comprehensive overview of the project's lifecycle and findings.

Managing A Successful Business Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
P1 Discuss the aims and objectives of the project......................................................................3
P2 Project management plan.......................................................................................................4
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide time frames and stages.................7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................9
P4 Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative methods................................9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................12
P5 Research and data using appropriate tools and techniques..................................................13
P6 Recommendations as result of research and data analysis..................................................21
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................21
P7 Reflection ............................................................................................................................21
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23

INTRODUCTION
Managing of projects includes planning and organising of company's resources so as to
completing a specific task, event or duty which is related with project. Apart from that,
Globalisation is an activity of desegregation and physical phenomenon among organisations,
national authorities and individuals in across globally. This process is rapidly growing in market
because globalisation assists to each firm in enhancing its market share along with increasing in
productivity. Taken firm for this assignment is Marks and Spencer which is a British
multinational retailer and was founded in 1884 at London. Company engages in retail sector and
offers various products like food, home, clothing etc. Present document will define about
purpose and aims of report along with projection management plan and its several features like
time period, range, quality, hazard etc. Small scale investigation along with qualitative and
quantitative methods will also covered in this task. At last, some recommendations will also
provided to company that helps them in overcoming the effect of international firms on the
business concern surroundings of multitude destination.
TASK 1
P1 Discuss the aims and objectives of the project
Background of the expansion project- Globalisation is a process in which company
expands their business operations at global level. In addition, expansion can be in form of ideas,
products or cultural aspects etc. Globalisation provides both kind of impact within a business
environment such as positive or negative. In form of positive, globalisation increases
employment opportunities to the large number of people which automatically supports economic
development of nation. It also encourages other firms to adopt advanced technology in their
workplace so as to earning more profitability in future. In an business environment, globalisation
not only increases the wealth of people but also improve standard of living of individuals.
Whereas, negative aspects of Globalisation is that, it increases inequality in the income of
individuals due to which a wide gap between rich and poor people is occurred in business
environment (Alfaro and Johnson, 2012). In order to identifying the effect of international
organizations on business concern surroundings of concourse destination this investigation is
interpreted into consideration.

Background of Research project – Each organisation wants to expand its business
operations along with market share and customer base in the sector in which it deals. Term
globalisation is helpful for this because it helps the different organisation of the world to work
together so that their profitability can be increase in marketplace. Chosen firm for this report is
M&S who wants to make globalise their business so that they can take advantage of first mover
in those nations where no retailer of clothing products is operating its business. For this, a
researcher has been hired by M&S so as to identifying the factors of globalisation which can
impact positively or negatively on their operations during expansion.
Purpose - Main purpose of this investigation is to identify the effect of international
firms on business concern surroundings of host destinations.
Title of Research – How Do multinational organisations impacts on the business concern
situation of host destination. A country, region, city ?
Aim- “To determine the impact of Marks and Spencer on business environment of UK”
Objectives
 To acquire the knowledge regarding the concept of business environment
 To identify the impact of M&S on business environment of UK
 To examine the interrelation between impact of M&S and Business environment of UK
Research Questions
 Are you aware regarding the concept of business environment ?
 What type of impact posses by M&S on business environment of UK ?
 Is there any interrelationship between impact of M&S and business environment of UK ?
P2 Project management plan
Project management plan is defined as a conventional or structured representation that
states that how will task will be carried out, determined and obsessed. In addition, it is a blue
print that consider all criterion, period of time lines etc. which are helpful for investigator in
completing project as per the given deadlines. Through developing an effective project
management plan, managers of project can easily conduct all project activities along with
eliminating the errors. This will be helpful in successfully completion of project (Baylis, Smith
and Owens, 2017). There are four stages of project management in which Project managers of
M&S have to carried out their activities so that their business operations would be expanded
effectively in marketplace. These stages are briefly explained as below:

Initiating- It is the first step of model in which managers have to determine nature and
scope of project because if these are not clearly identified by project managers then it will leads
the project towards failure. This stage includes determination of goals, components, negative
factors, financial analysis and SWOT analysis which are done in order to execute the project
effectively.
Planning- In it, project managers of M&S have to start planning for project which
includes estimation of time, cost, resources and other components. Planning before starting of
project is essential because it helps in identifying risk factors which can affect the projects in
negative manner along with estimates the amount of funds that is required in order to conducting
the task.
Monitoring and controlling- It includes measurement of each task actions and
multivariate like value, attempt and range etc. In M&S, this phase is important because with the
help of it unessential activities will be identified and removed which leas the firm towards
optimal utilising the resources.
Closing- This stage is based on two factors in which first one is related with market
report that provides results that M&S have successfully expanded their business operations or
not. Second one is related with measurement of input, tools and techniques and outputs during
the project ( Bhabha, 2012). After measuring all these factors, management can easily close their
project.
There are some other aspects of project management plan which should be consider by
project managers so as to completing the project effectively. These aspects are briefly explained
as below:
Cost- This is one of the important aspect which should be considered by project
managers of M&S because it will support them in executing their business concern trading
operations effectively. Therefore, it is very essential for project managing director of M&S
to allocate the funds so that any kind of difficulty during expansion wouldn't be faced by
them. In context of this, Project managers of M&S have estimated the amount of £30000 for
making expansion of their business. Whereas, researcher have demanded £5,500 for
carrying out all activities of research effectively.
Scope- It defines overall purpose of project in marketplace. In reference with this
project, it will discuss how M&S is impacting the business environment of UK. As company

wants to expand their business operations then there will be higher employment
opportunities to the local people which leads economic development in nation. Apart from
that, through executing this research researcher will be able in understand the effect of
transnational firms on the business concern surroundings of multitude destinations which
will be helpful for them in conducting further research programmes. Therefore, it can be
said that scope of project is very wide for both company and researcher.
Time- It is also an important aspect because without considering this, project will
leads towards failure. In context of this project, project managers of M&S have to set a
specific time period so that all project activities should be executed properly which results in
achieving desired results in future. For completing the project, management have estimated
a time period of 4 months whereas, researcher have demanded 6 weeks so as to completing
the research programmes (Boulouta,and Pitelis, 2014).
Quality- In order to carrying out the project activities, this is the main responsibility
of project managers to guide and support their teammates so that valid outcomes will be
received in future period. Higher efforts and contribution of staff members not only enhance
the quality of work but also supports the M&S in its expansion. Whereas, researcher should
use qualitative methods in execution of research so that reliable results will be provided to
managers of M&S at the end of research.
Communication- It is an important aspect because without this project manages of
M&S couldn't communicate with its teammates which leads the project towards failure.
Therefore, it is very crucial for project managers to apply effectual transmission of
abstraction like e-mails, seminars, conferences in their internal environment so that
teammates will understand their duties and performs accordingly. Whereas, researcher
should also use effective channels of communication like online surveys, questionnaire, e-
mails, phone calls for taking opinions from the respondents.
Risk- Shortage of time and funds along with outdated technology are some risks
which can affect the project and research activities negatively. Therefore, it is necessary for
project managers of Marks and Spencer to consider these factors effectively before starting
the project so that any kind of problem wouldn't be determined by them during expansion.
Whereas, researcher should make all arrangements effectively so that valid results will be
accepted at the end of investigation.

Resources- This is an essential aspect of project management plan because without it
desired outcomes can't be obtained by project managers of M&S. This aspect includes
human, technological, financial resources which are essential for carrying out each project
and research activities effectively. Main resources which are identified by researcher are
adequate amount of funds, advanced tools and technologies etc. that will provide effective
support in completion of research programme in desired manner.
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide time frames and stages
Gantt chart- This is an effective method or tool which is used by firms for completing
the activities of project effectively. In addition, it also helps the project managers in identifying
each task of project with the help of visual presentation. In this, each activities of project are
segmented in several parts and are displayed on a visual chart. This chart includes start and end
dates of each project activities which helps the project managers in completion of project within
the given time-frame. As M&S wants to make expansion of their business operations then
project managers have duty to write each activities related with the project on this chart so that
all activities would be done in given time-frame. This chart not only supports the project
managers in completion of project but also it increases the productivity of organisation ( Clark,
2014).

Work breakdown structure- This structure is used by project managers when they have
to execute several complex activities in a specific project. This is the process of segmenting and
sub dividing each task of project into smaller components so that activities would be managed
and desired results will be received in the given deadlines. It is mainly used for understanding
the project activities in detailed manner. This method also prove beneficial for M&S because
through this, they will be able in expanding their business operations without facing any
difficulty.

TASK 2
P4 Small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative methods
Small scale investigation is an effective enquiry of study of substantial which helps
the investigators in identifying reality and ambit towards new terminate. Therefore,
investigator have duty to utilize suitable acts for executing research programmes effectively.
There are mainly two kinds of investigation methods which are used by researchers in order
to conducting research programmes. These methods are given as below:
Qualitative method- This research method is a scientific method of observation which is
used by researchers in order to collecting non-numerical data. In addition, it is a research method
that mainly focuses on gathering the data through open-ended questionnaires or conversational
communication methods like interviews, one to one method etc.

Quantitative method- It is a systematic investigation method in which researcher have
to collect numerical and statistical data. In addition, quantitative research can be defined as
explained phenomena which is interpreted after collecting numerical or statistical figures. After
collecting numerical and statistical informations they have to interpret this data in understandable
manner so that valid outcomes can be provided at the end of research ( Khan, 2015).
Data Collection - This is a method which is used for collecting informations and
data related with a specific topic of research. There are mainly two kinds of data collection
method which are given as below:
Primary- In this kind of data collection, researcher have to collect the data which is
fresh in nature and never used before by anyone. This method is used by researchers so as to
gathering reliable and valid informations for research programme. For collecting this type of
data investigator can use questionnaire, one to one interview methods etc.
Data sampling - This is a process of statistical technique that is used for analysing or
manipulating data subset for determining trends in a sample of large population. In this report,
random sampling method is used by researcher for collecting information and have selected 50
respondents who provide entire view of population.
Apart from that, primary method of data collection is used in form of questionnaire by
researcher and open-ended questionnaire is formed by researcher in order to gather valid
informations for the topic of research.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Age:
Gender: Contact No.-
Address:
Q1) Are you aware regarding the concept of business environment ?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What type of impact posses by M&S on business environment of UK ?
a) Positive
b) Negative
Q3) Is there any interrelationship between impact of M&S and business environment of
UK ?

a) Yes
b) No
Q4) How MNCs influences the business operating at local level in UK ?
a) Positively
b) Negatively
Q5) How MNCs provide supports in improving the economic growth ?
a) By generating employment opportunities
b) Payment of taxes
Q6) What methods can be used by M&S for enhancing their market share in UK ?
a) By increasing quality of products
b) Using effective kind of promotional channels
Q7) Which of the following element of business environment influences most to MNCs ?
a) Internal factor
b) External factor
Q8) What are the advantages that MNCs receives after globalising their business in new
business environment ?
a) Enhancement in customer base
b) Increasing sales and revenues
Q9) What kind of potential risks can be faced by Multinational firms while operating at
global level ?
a) Instability of government
b) Economical fluctuation
c) Advanced technology
Q10) Recommend some suitable suggestions
Secondary- This method is used when researcher have a short time of period for
conducting the research. This kind of data collection consumes less time and cost in
gathering of reliable data and informations. Investigator can use different sources for
gathering the information such as published books of authors, magazines, websites etc.

TASK 3
P5 Research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
It is very necessary for researcher to bring correct meaning of data that has been gathered
through the respondents. In addition, it is important to analysed the collected data because
with the help of this, they will be able in providing right conclusions at the end of research
programme. Interpretation of above questionnaire is given as below:
Data analysis
THEME 1: Aware about the globalisation concept
Q1) Are you aware regarding the concept of business
environment ?
Frequency
a) Yes 40
b) No 10
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
40
10
Frequency
Knowledge regarding the concept of business envrionement
Opinion
Interpretation: It is intelligibly seen from the above graph that most of the chosen
responder are having decorous cognition about the misconception of business environment. Out