Case Study: Technology Solutions for Marks & Spencer's Challenges

This case study analyzes Marks & Spencer, a UK-based retail enterprise, focusing on decision-making challenges, collaboration, and crowdsourcing. The study identifies key challenges such as inability to identify market trends, lack of business self-services, and reliability of data. It then explores technology components like Decision Support Systems, GIS, and AI, and formulates a plan for technology implementation, including defining requirements, system feasibility, and prototype development. The study also addresses barriers to success within the organization, such as lack of communication and reluctance to change. Furthermore, it examines crowdsourcing beyond the firm, using Waze as an example. The paper covers the normative decision model, technology used, and the problems crowdsourcing overcomes, concluding with a discussion of objections and resistance to crowdsourcing for decision-making. This assignment, available on Desklib, provides a comprehensive overview of Marks & Spencer's business strategies.

CASE STUDY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Topic 2 Collaboration within the Firm............................................................................................1
1. Analysis of decision-making challenge(s) .........................................................................1
2. Technology Components ...................................................................................................2
3. Formulate a plan for implementing technology solution...................................................3
4.) What specific barriers to...................................................................................................4
success do you see in your.....................................................................................................4
organisation?..........................................................................................................................4
Topic 3 Crowdsourcing beyond.......................................................................................................5
the Firm...........................................................................................................................................5
1. Analyse in detail how in the normative decision model crowdsourcing is being used......5
2. Specify the technology and the key features used..............................................................6
3 Describe which conventional decision-making problems of distortions are being overcome
through crowdsourcing in the article......................................................................................7
4. In general, discuss and evaluate the objections and resistance to using crowdsourcing for
making decisions....................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Collaboration and crowdsourcing are major practices that will be taken in the
consideration by an organisation that will help to gain a good market share and meet operational
requirements of wide range of actions which support a good growth and development of
functions within an enterprise (Luzzini and et.al.2015).
The proper utilization of different actions and activities will help in effective growth and
operations in a better way. Besides this, it will help in better decision making and handling of
wide range of situations that supports a good growth of company.
For the report, Marks & Spencer has been taken as the cited enterprise. It is a UK based
retail entity. The report will cover various decision-making challenges faced by firm and
different technologies that are used to for it. An action plan will be formulated to meet the
implementation and barrier for organisation‘s success Besides this, the normative decision
making model has been discussed. The problem related to the crowdsourcing is also discussed
with objections and resistance to it (Biemans, 2018).
Topic 2 Collaboration within the Firm
1. Analysis of decision-making challenge(s)
The major decision making challenges that are taken into consideration by Marks &
Spencer to ensure better functioning and handling of operations and are as follows:
 Inability to identify market trends: This is major issue and causes organisation to lack
behind than its competitors in market. Marks & Spencer has to see through better
handling of business activities that will help in superficial management of actions
followed by firm. If an enterprise is unable to cope up with changes that are going in
market and make changes within the company accordingly, the firm has to see through
major losses in customer base and revenue generation (Stevens & Johnson,2016).
 Lack of business self services: Marks & Spencer has to look after better handling of
activities that will help in effective growth in operational capability of retail enterprise.
The organisation will look after good management of operations to see through effective
collection of data that will aid in better decision-making and help firm to explore data
areas and growth for company in a better way. Besides this, it paves path of furr analysis
of decision making in a better way.
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 Need of making use of proper information: the gathering of information sources is not
enough for better growth and development of an enterprise. Marks & Spencer should
have proper technology and sources to utilize the resources and data in order to generate
good information which will help in proper handling of trade activities and decision-
making process. It will also help organisation to get access to real time and practical
situation in market place that will support good growth and development of an effective
decision-making body within an organisation (Wong and et.al., 2015).
 Reliability of data: it is the major issue which is required to be looked after by
organisation and facilitates good growth and development of business activities that are
followed within organisation. It also helps in better management of business operations
and supports good rise in functional capability and meeting of targeted goals and
activities that are followed by an organisation. In order to facilitate a good and proper
decision-making process, the firm will look after the authentication and effectiveness of
data management process which will help in good rise in capability to decide the business
activities.
2. Technology Components
A vivid range of technological components and operations will be taken in consideration
by an enterprise that will help in improvement in decision-making. The utilization of various
technological systems will help in proper management of business activities that will be taken in
consideration by organisation. Some major technological systems that are considered by
enterprise for better decision making are:
 Decision support system: It is the combination of software, system and set up which
helps in the better collection of the data and aid in effective decision making that will aid
in effective management of the business activities and meeting of the targeted goals and
operations by the organisation (Stadtler, 2015). It helps firm like Marks & Spencer to
tackle and rectify issues which are not well structured and are required to be maintained
the operations of the organisation in a very effective way. It also involves the Group
Decision Support System (GDSS), which will help in proper management of actions and
effectiveness of different operations in various groups in better way.
 Geographical Information System (GIS): it is specifically designed to work with
spatial information related to a specific geographic location. This is a location based
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service and may vary from one place to another in a very effective way. It will help th e
retail enterprise to handle wide range of business operations that will facilitate good
decision-making (Ingram and et.al., (2015)).
 Artificial Intelligence (AI): with advancement in technology and for meeting of the
targeted goals and operations, the cited retail enterprise will look after the effective using
of the artificial intelligence tools and services that will help in better enhancement in the
operational capability of the business entity. The artificial intelligence will support firm
to gain a better increase in the capability of the enterprise that will aid in suitable rise in
functionality of the organisation. They will support in a better decision making process
by facilitating a deep data and information analysis.
 Expert System and Genetic System: The genetic and expert system is high level of AI
system that helps in good improvement in the compatibility and analysis of data within
firm to help in effective decision making and reaching conclusion. On the other hand, the
genetic system will help in analysis of the most fitting and suitable solution to a business
problem that supports effective decision-making (Bhattacharya and et.al., 2014).
3. Formulate a plan for implementing technology solution
An appropriate plan will be taken into consideration for better analysis and effective
management if decision-making processes will help in effective rise for compatibility of an
organisation. The effective following and implementation of technical plan will support a good
growth in effectiveness of the organisation. The better implementation of the business activities
will help in proper rise in the customer satisfaction level that will help in effective decision
making and gain a better productivity. The formulated plan for the implementation of the latest
technologies by the enterprise is as follows:
Step 1: defining the requirements and adopting the plan accordingly: this will help in the
improvement of the operational capability of the organisation and meeting of the targeted goals
and objectives. This will involve the better analysis of the resources and actions by the experts
and analysts in the retail enterprise and suggesting the appropriate solution to the different
business operations that are been developed by the organisation (Laudon & Laudon, 2015).
Step 2: seeking the appropriate system to meet the feasibility: management of Marks &
Spencer will look after the adoption of the system and gain a good share of the operation that
facilitates the different obligation within the firm. This will involve the better planning of
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costing, operations and execution of wide range of operations that will help in good rise in
functional capability of the organisation. This will short list the appropriate options for the firm
and help the organisation to choose the best among it, meeting its criteria. This will save time
and effort for the organisation (Feng and et.al., 2014, April).
Step 3: Creation of a To do list: A creation of things to do status will help the organisation to
tackle the wide range of operations and activities helping in the increment in the operational
capacity of the firm. This will facilitate a good setting up of milestones and plan accordingly in
order to gain a good control over the actions that are been taken in consideration by the
organisation. Besides this, it will help in proper summarisation of the activities in order to
support a good and effective decision making process at Marks & Spencer.
Step 4: setting up of a prototype and taking a trial: a prototype will be developed by the
organisation that will help in proper management of the actions and operations that will help in
finding of the feasibility and effectiveness of the firm in using the appropriate decision making
process.
Step 5: Implementation, monitoring and adaption of changes: once the trial of the prototype
is successfully executed, the system is effectively installed and is been monitored in order to test
the effectiveness of the technological system within the firm. The change curve is been
monitored and essential changes are been made and adapted if necessary in a very effective way.
4.) What specific barriers to success do you see in your organisation?
Various barriers to the successful are needed to be analysed and mitigated by the
organisation. In order to ensure a better decision making within the firm and improve the
effectiveness of the organisation, certain risk elements are needed to be eradicated by the
organisation for the better management of the operations and meting of targeted operations by
the firm. Some major barriers to the success of the organisation is as follows:
 Lack of Communication: Marks & Spencer has to see through the better handling of the
communication process that will help in good management of the business operations
(Ewing and et.al.,2015). The lack of communication process will lead to rise in conflict
and confusion that can impact the operations of the organisation and thus requires a
proper attention for the rectification and assessment of the decision making process
within the cited retail enterprise.
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 Reluctance to changes: This is the major issue that impacts the growth of the operations
and effective decision making within the organisation (Chawla, Hartline & Sivan, 2015).
The company has to look after and keep an insight about the acceptance of the latest
business measures and technologies that will help in increase in the satisfaction of stake
holders of the organisation and improving the effectiveness of the business enterprise.
 Lack of proper leadership: the leadership plays a good and vital role in the execution of
the operations by the firm that will help in suitable rise in the operational capability of the
organisation and thus requires a good management of the business activities. Marks &
Spencer has to see through the better execution of leadership that will support a good
management of the business operations in a better way.
 Inability to maintain the latest technologies: the firm has to see through the effective
management of certain operations that will help in good growth and management of the
business activities that are been followed by the organisation. Many times the
organisation fails to maintain the coordination with the ongoing market trends and thus, it
causes the lacking behind of the firm.
 Absence of strategic planning: the lack of proper business strategy will cause the
business enterprise to fail. The management of the firm has to see through the effective
management of the operations and meeting of the targeted goals and operations. The
strategic planning which will be followed within the firm will help the enterprise to
increase its effectiveness and improve the collaboration measures with the other
companies and departments.
Topic 3 Crowdsourcing beyond the Firm
Waze is the major example of the effective success of the crowdsourcing process that is
been followed and help people to contribute in a very effective way.
(http://tweakyourbiz.com/marketing/2015/07/10/9-great-examples-crowdsourcing-age-
empowered-consumers/)
1. Analyse in detail how in the normative decision model crowdsourcing is being used.
The concept of crowdsourcing will help in the better management of the operations that
will help in effective handling of the actions that will help in suitable rise in the effectiveness and
operations of the organisation that help in outgrowth in the compatibility of the organisation and
thus help in effective improvement of the operations. In a normative decision making process,
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the organisation will look after the better management of the operations and meeting of the
targeted goals and operations and meeting of the operations (Piezunka & Dahlander, 2015).
Crowdsourcing will be used in normative decision making in the following manner:
 Decide: The crowdsourcing will be looked after by a leader and the leader will look after
the better management of the operations in a better way and thus will support a good rise
in the compatibility and meeting of the targeted goals and actions. The leader will look
after the better deciding of group, that will carry out the decision making and helps in
better gathering of information related to members of group and its requirements.
 Consultation: The leader of the concerning body will look after the effective
management of the operations and better assessment of the problem's ore the issues that
are been followed by the organisation. The leader will communicate with the group
members, gathers the information and will look through its better utilization (Prpić and
et.al.,2015).
 Group discussion: the leader will also look after the better group discussion that will
help in accessing the risk factors that are associated with decision making and help the
leader or management of crowdsourcing firm to make a better decision related to the
operations of the organisation. He will choose the information that is been gathered and
make an effective plan.
 Facilitation: In this the leader will look after the better handling of the operations that
will help in effective presentation of the problem or the issue that is been faced by
organisation. It is not the consulting approach, which involves the communication with
the group, but helps in the decision-making with the involvement of the team and not the
leader alone (Zhao & Zhu, 2014).
 Delegation: In this the leader will not participate in the planning of crowdsourcing but
will look after the delivery and allocation of essential resources that will be required by
the firm for the execution of the operations. Other than this, he will motivate his work
force to perform the crowdsourcing activities in an effective and significant manner.
2. Specify the technology and the key features used.
Various technical and other features are been used by the firm that will facilitate a good
rise in the operations of the organisation that will help in effective management of the operations
that will help in effective execution of the business operations and meeting of targeted goals and
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operations. In the present era of technical advancement, crowdsourcing will be deeply influenced
by it. Some major technology and features that is been used by the organisation are:
 Face to face Crowdsourcing: In this the leader or te team will look after the better
promotional measures to gain a better crowdsourcing. This approach is quite time costing
and less economic and requires the good participation of the sources to get the desired
result (Zhou and et.al.,2015).
 Online Crowdsourcing: this will involve the use of a specific website to make an
effective platform for the organisation where people can communicate with the
organisation and handle a good rise in the operations and organisations. It will depend on
the traffic received on the site.
 Social media crowdsourcing: It involves the use of various social media platforms
where the organization or crowdsourcing firm will look after the better management of
the operations and activities and meet the functionality of the organisation in a better
way. The use of social media platform like Facebook and twitter will help in improving
the reach of crowdsource firm to a wider audience (Arganda-Carreras And et.al.,2015).
 Mobile crowdsourcing: with the advancement of the technology and effective increase
in the mobile deceives, the crowdsourcing approach will also use it effectively that will
help in good outgrowth in the customer satisfaction level and meet the operations of the
organisation in a better way. The hand held deceives can be used as the medium to
contribute in the crowdsourcing and get the desired outcomes.
This crowdsourcing approaches will lead to the rise in financial stability of the
organisation and thus will lead to the good growth and meeting of the targeted goals and
operations which will cause the organisation to meet the requirements of their clients and stake
holders. Other than this, it will help the firm to connect and interact with their users and come up
with high quality product and services and thus will lead to the effective growth and
development of the operations and thus will help in good rise in effectiveness and meeting of the
targeted aimas and objectives that are been set by a business enterprise in sustainable manner.
3 Describe which conventional decision-making problems of distortions are being overcome
through crowdsourcing in the article.
It the article cited above, Waze app has effectively used the crowdsourcing approach that
will help in the increase in the compatibility ans effective functional procedure of the mobile
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app. Waze is based on a crowdsourcing project where any of the user can contribute by
uploading the details about the barriers or restriction in the way caused by any factor like
accident, event etc. and divert the drivers to another route. This help in the proper management
of the travelling routes and saves the time of the respective user as well as the other travellers on
that route. The effective management of these crowdsourcing operations also help in better
growth and development of the operations, leading to the improvement in effectiveness of the
operations and come up with innovative ideas and services (Zhou and et.al.,2015).
A good involvement of public is the major advantage and key feature of these
crowdsourced app. It helps the wider community of user with the crowdsourced information and
saves their time and resources. Other than this, the generation of real time information and its
update will help the users of app to get a better idea about choosing the path and gain a good
control over the operations that are been followed by the enterprise. The users of this app are the
dedicated contributors in its data base that help in better improvement of the operations of the
organisation and help in better facilitation of information gathering and using it for the benefit of
larger number of audience. Thus, in this case, the Waze app has helped to control the restriction
or disturbance that is been caused while travelling on a route, caused by an accident or any other
factor. This improves the performance of the organisation, effectively using crowdsourcing.
The crowdsourcing will help the enterprise to grow and develop its overall functionality
and meeting of the solutions that are been associated to the enterprise. The proper elimination of
the risk factors and the problem factor will help in the effective management of the business
activities and get the proper funding to carry out their actions that will also look after the
operations of the organisations and meeting of the targeted goals and objectives that are been set
by the organisation. Other than this, the involvement of the public and their contribution will
support a good management of the actions by the enterprise and thus will help in better growth of
the company or enterprise
4. In general, discuss and evaluate the objections and resistance to using crowdsourcing for
making decisions.
The crowdsourcing approach is an advantage providing process that help in effective and
good growth of the operations that are been taken in consideration by an organisation. It helps
the firm to gather the good amount of resources and meet the functional requirement of the
operations in a better way. However, sometimes the approach of crowdsourcing can lead to the
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adverse impact on business activities and thus, is required to be analysed and implemented with
great care and caution (Feng and et.al., 2014, April). The implementation of the crowdsourcing
approach with the usage of the high quality services will help in the improving the operations
and thus facilitate a good generation of the market activities and meeting of targeted goals and
operations in a better way. Some major adverse implication of Crowdsourcing is as follows:
 Equality issue: during the discussion and setting up of the planning of a crowdsourcing
process or project, thus in this case, the leader will be the main authority to take all the
decisions and actions and thus, the success of the project is deeply dependent on the
actions and decision of the leader and the team is not involved in this situation. In case,
the judgement of the leader or the head of team went wrong, it can impact the overall
functionality and performance of the team which can't be reversed or altered later on.
 Communication: the success of crowdsourcing is largely dependent on the
communication process that is been carried out by the firm, thus, the organisation or the
team working for the crowdsourcing will help in the better management of the operations
and will look after the carrying out of interpersonal communication in an effective and
better way. The lack of proper interaction may lad up the team in critical situations and
thus, is required to be managed in an effective and better way (Piezunka & Dahlander,
2015). On the other hand, a good communication will remove the doubts and concerns
and help in developing a better mutual understanding within the team.
 Planning: the leader has to see through the proper planning of the business operations
failing to which, the enterprise can fail.
 Lack of discipline: it is the major issues that is to be looked after by the leaders or
managers and thus requires a good management of the business operations. The absence
of ethicalness and discipline will cause the structure of company to break down.
 Doubts: the managers has to see through rectification of the doubts that can impact the
overall performance of the business entity.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of report, this can be said that the proper collaboration and decision making
is very vital for an organisation. For an effective decision making process, the effective risk
assessment and rectification of issues are been carried out. On the other hand the proper
management of the crowdsourcing is also vital for an enterprise to grow and develop. This will
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help in increase in customer satisfaction level and meeting of the targeted goals in a better way.
The risk associated with the crowdsourcing and its consequences are been analysed for better
management of functions.
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